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If your car was towed within the City of Atlanta, search the Atlanta Police Department’s official vehicle lookup tool at web.atlantaga.gov using your license plate number and state, or your VIN. The tool is updated approximately two hours after a tow. If your car does not appear yet or was towed from outside the city limits, call ATL311 (dial 311 within Atlanta or 404-546-0311 from outside the city) or contact the police non-emergency line for the county where your vehicle was parked. Once you locate your car, you will need a Vehicle Release Form from the Atlanta Police Department before most contracted impound lots will release the vehicle to you. Call PMA Transportation Services at (470) 785-3743 for 24/7 towing throughout metro Atlanta and surrounding counties.

The moment you realize your car is gone, the instinct is to check your pockets, retrace your steps, and then panic. This guide removes the guesswork entirely. Here is the exact sequence of steps to find your car in Atlanta, with real phone numbers and the correct agency for every scenario.

Step 1: Rule Out Theft Before Assuming a Tow

Before calling impound lots, take 60 seconds to rule out vehicle theft. If your car was stolen rather than towed, the response process is entirely different.

Signs that point to a tow rather than theft:

• You parked in a clearly marked no-parking zone, permit-only area, or private lot
• There are signs posted nearby indicating towing enforcement
• You received a parking ticket in the recent past from this location
• You can see from the pavement where your car was parked that no glass was broken

Signs that point to possible theft:

• You parked in an area with no visible parking restrictions
• You notice broken glass or disturbed surroundings
• No other cars nearby have been towed

If theft is possible, call 911 first. If a tow is the more likely explanation, move to Step 2.

Step 2: Search the APD Vehicle Lookup Tool

If your vehicle has been impounded within the City of Atlanta, you can search for it at web.atlantaga.gov/impx by entering a tag number and state where the tag was issued, or a VIN.

This is the fastest and most direct way to locate a towed vehicle within Atlanta city limits. The tool is run by the Atlanta Police Department’s Auto Dealers Detail unit, which oversees the city’s contracted towing and impound network.

Two important things to know before searching:

• Allow two hours from the time of tow to the time of entry. Vehicles that have been released are not searchable. If your car was towed very recently, it may not yet appear in the system. Wait two hours and search again before concluding your car was not towed within city limits.
• The tool requires either your license plate number and issuing state, or your VIN. Have both available before you search.

Step 3: If the APD Lookup Does Not Return Results

If your vehicle does not appear in the APD system after two hours, there are three likely explanations: the tow was from outside Atlanta city limits, the tow was from private property and was not reported to APD, or there is a reporting delay.

For each scenario:

Outside Atlanta city limits: Each surrounding county has its own impound network and lookup process. Contact the relevant non-emergency line:

• Fulton County (outside Atlanta city limits): Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, 404-612-5100
• DeKalb County: DeKalb County Police non-emergency, 770-724-7710
• Cobb County: Cobb County Police non-emergency, 770-499-3911
• Gwinnett County: Gwinnett County Police non-emergency, 770-513-5000
• Clayton County: Clayton County Police non-emergency, 770-477-3550

Private property tow within Atlanta: Vehicles are released directly from the towing company using Georgia Department of Public Safety rule 570-36 (Non-Consensual Towing) proof of ownership requirements. All parking tickets must be paid before retrieval. Private property towing companies in Georgia are required to report tows to local law enforcement within 24 hours, but this information may not appear in the APD vehicle lookup immediately. Calling ATL311 at 311 (or 404-546-0311 from outside the city) is often faster for tracking down a private property tow within city limits.

Step 4: Identify Which Zone Your Car Is In

The Atlanta Police Department uses a zone-based towing system. Use the Find My Zone link on the APD website to determine the zone your car was towed from, then contact the associated contracted towing company for that zone.

Here are the contracted towing companies for each Atlanta police zone:

Knowing which zone your vehicle was towed from allows you to call the right company directly, which is almost always faster than waiting on hold with the general APD non-emergency line.

Step 5: Get Your Vehicle Release Form from APD

Before reclaiming a vehicle at the wrecker company lot, you must get a Vehicle Release Form from the Atlanta Police Department.

This is a step most drivers do not know about until they show up at the impound lot without it, only to be sent away. The Vehicle Release Form is issued by APD and must be obtained before the contracted towing company will release your vehicle.

You can obtain the release form at any Atlanta Police Department precinct. Bring your valid government-issued photo ID and your vehicle registration or title.

Step 6: Gather Everything You Need Before Going to the Lot

Arriving at the impound lot without the right documents means a wasted trip and another day of storage fees accumulating at up to $33 per day. Before leaving:

• Vehicle Release Form from APD (see Step 5)
• Valid government-issued photo ID
• Vehicle registration, title, or bill of sale
• Payment method (Georgia regulations require impound lots to accept at least two major credit cards)
• Your ignition key

If the vehicle is registered to someone other than you, bring a notarized authorization letter from the registered owner.

Step 7: Know What You Will Pay

Storage fees begin accumulating after the first 24 hours, which are free under Georgia law. The maximum daily storage rate for non-consensual tows is $33 per day under Maximum Rate Tariff No. 5. The maximum tow fee for a standard passenger vehicle is $228.

Retrieving your vehicle on the same day as the tow is always the lowest-cost outcome. Every additional day adds $33. For the full breakdown of what Georgia law allows impound operators to charge, see our Georgia impound fee guide.

What If You Think the Tow Was Illegal?

If you believe the tow did not meet Georgia’s legal requirements, such as missing signage, an unpermitted towing company, or fees above the state cap, our guide to what to do if your car was towed illegally in Georgia walks through every step for documenting the situation, filing with the Georgia DPS and the Attorney General, and pursuing a civil claim if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my towed car in Atlanta?

Search the Atlanta Police Department’s vehicle lookup tool at web.atlantaga.gov/impx using your license plate number and state or your VIN. Allow at least two hours after the tow for your vehicle to appear in the system.

What number do I call to find out if my car was towed in Atlanta?

Call ATL311 by dialing 311 from within the City of Atlanta, or 404-546-0311 from outside the city. For police-ordered tows, the APD non-emergency line is also an option.

How long before my car shows up in the Atlanta tow lookup?

The APD vehicle lookup tool is updated approximately two hours after a tow. If your car was towed recently, wait two hours before searching.

Do I need anything special to pick up my towed car in Atlanta?

Yes. Before going to the impound lot, you must first obtain a Vehicle Release Form from any Atlanta Police Department precinct. You will also need a valid photo ID, vehicle registration or title, your ignition key, and payment.

How much does it cost to get a towed car back in Atlanta?

The tow fee for a standard passenger vehicle is capped at $228 for non-consensual tows in Georgia. Storage fees of $33 per day apply after the first 24 hours, which are free under Georgia law. A vehicle retrieved within one day costs $100 to $228 total.

What if my car was towed from a private lot in Atlanta?

Private property tows may not appear immediately in the APD vehicle lookup. Call ATL311 or the police non-emergency line for your area. The towing company is required to notify law enforcement within 24 hours of any removal, and you can request the company’s name and location.

Keep Reading

Once you locate your car and understand what you owe, our step-by-step guide to getting your car out of towing walks through the full release process, including what documents to bring, how to pay, and what an itemized receipt should look like. And if you suspect the tow was not legal, our illegal towing guide for Georgia drivers covers exactly how to challenge it.

Need a Tow in Atlanta You Can Trust?

PMA Transportation Services provides 24/7 licensed, permitted towing across metro Atlanta and surrounding Georgia counties. Transparent pricing, upfront rates confirmed before dispatch, and no predatory practices.

View our full towing and roadside services or reach our team through our contact page. Call (470) 785-3743 anytime, day or night.