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Getting your car out of towing in Georgia costs $100 to $175 for the initial tow fee, plus $33 per day in storage after the first 24 hours, which are free. A vehicle retrieved within one day costs $100 to $228. A vehicle sitting three days costs $166 to $294. Every day you wait adds $33 to the total. Georgia law caps these fees for non-consensual tows, gives you the right to retrieve personal belongings at any time, and requires towing companies to accept credit cards. Call (470) 785-3743 if you need towing assistance anywhere in metro Atlanta and the surrounding Georgia counties.

 

Finding out your car has been towed is stressful enough. Suddenly, you are dealing with missed plans, lost time, and the worry of how much it will cost to get your vehicle back. Then comes the unexpected towing bill, making an already difficult situation even more frustrating. The good news is that Georgia gives drivers some of the strongest consumer protections in the country. Knowing your rights before you step into the impound lot can help you avoid unfair charges and take back control of the situation.

What Does It Cost to Get Your Car Out of Towing in Georgia?

The total release cost in Georgia has two parts: the tow fee and the accumulated storage fees.

The tow fee covers the cost of removing and transporting your vehicle. For non-consensual tows, Georgia’s Maximum Rate Tariff No. 5 caps the fee for a standard passenger vehicle at $228. In practice, many companies charge less than the cap, with actual tow fees running $100 to $175 for standard passenger vehicles in most Georgia markets.

The storage fee starts accumulating after the first 24 hours. No storage fees shall be charged for the first 24-hour period, which begins at the time the vehicle is removed from the property. After that, daily storage is capped at $33 per day.

Here is how the total builds over time:

Time in Impound	Tow Fee Range	Storage Fees	Estimated Total
Under 24 hours	$100 to $228	$0	$100 to $228
2 days	$100 to $228	$33	$133 to $261
3 days	$100 to $228	$66	$166 to $294
5 days	$100 to $228	$132	$232 to $360
7 days	$100 to $228	$198	$298 to $426

The longer your vehicle sits, the higher the total. Acting within the first 24 hours is always the lowest-cost option.

What Documents You Need to Release Your Vehicle

To release a towed vehicle in Georgia, you must produce an ignition key that operates the vehicle or otherwise demonstrate the ability to properly start and operate it, produce evidence of ownership or right of possession such as a certificate of title, a valid and current registration card, bill of sale, or a lease or rental contract, and pay all towing charges and storage fees that have accrued.

In plain terms, bring these to the lot:

• A valid, government-issued photo ID
• Your vehicle registration or title (or bill of sale if recently purchased)
• Your payment method (cash or credit card)
• If the vehicle belongs to someone else, a notarized letter of authorization from the registered owner

Having all of these ready on your first visit avoids a second trip, which means another day of storage fees added to your bill.

Your Legal Rights When Getting a Car Out of Towing in Georgia

Georgia law gives vehicle owners specific, enforceable rights in towing situations. Most drivers do not know these exist.

Right to personal belongings. You are entitled to retrieve your personal belongings from an impounded vehicle during the lot’s regular business hours, regardless of whether you have paid the release fee. A company cannot hold your belongings hostage until you pay.

Right to no storage charge on closed days. No storage fees may be charged for days on which the impound lot is closed or otherwise unavailable to the vehicle owner for redemption. If the lot is closed on Sunday, that day cannot be added to your storage total.

Right to contest an invalid tow. Under O.C.G.A. 44-1-13, a vehicle can only be towed from private property if parked without permission, obstructing access, or violating posted parking restrictions, and property owners must display clear signage indicating parking rules and the potential for towing. If proper signage was not posted, the tow may be invalid and the fees may be legally challengeable.

Right to payment by card. Towing and storage firms may also accept debit cards or credit cards as a form of payment but shall not charge an additional fee for use of such cards. A lot that refuses card payment or adds a surcharge for using one is violating state rules.

Right to notification. A towing and storage firm that removes a vehicle from private property must, within three days of the removal, request owner identification from the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicles and submit notification of the removal to the local law enforcement agency no later than one day after that request. If you have not heard anything within 72 hours of your vehicle disappearing, contact local law enforcement to locate it.

What to Do If the Tow Was From Private Property

Private property tows in Georgia are governed by O.C.G.A. 44-1-13, which requires that notice be conspicuously posted on the private property indicating that any unauthorized vehicle may be removed at the owner’s expense, along with information about where the vehicle can be recovered, the cost of recovery, and relevant contact information.

If the required signage was not properly posted before your vehicle was towed, the tow may be considered unlawful. In that case, document everything, including photos of the area where your vehicle was parked and the absence or inadequacy of any signage, before retrieving your vehicle.

The Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division outlines the formal process for filing a complaint against a towing company that violates state regulations, including charging above the tariff cap or towing from improperly signed private property.

Step-by-Step: How to Get Your Car Out of Towing in Georgia

Step 1: Locate your vehicle. If you did not see the tow happen, call your local police department’s non-emergency line or the county sheriff’s office and ask them to look up the vehicle by license plate. Towing companies are required to notify law enforcement within 24 hours of any removal.

Step 2: Call the impound lot before you go. Ask for the current total including the number of chargeable storage days. Verify the daily rate against the $33 state cap. Ask whether the lot will be open when you plan to arrive, since you cannot be charged for days the lot is closed.

Step 3: Gather your documents. Bring your photo ID, vehicle registration or title, and payment. If the vehicle belongs to someone else, bring a notarized authorization letter.

Step 4: Inspect before you sign. Before signing the release paperwork, do a quick walk-around of your vehicle to note any new damage that may have occurred during or after the tow. Document it with photos before driving away.

Step 5: Get an itemized receipt. You are entitled to a written receipt that shows every fee charged. If any charge looks unclear, ask the lot to explain it before you leave.

Step 6: Dispute if the bill is wrong. If fees exceed the legal cap or if the tow itself appears to have been invalid, file a complaint with the Georgia Department of Public Safety or the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. If you paid by card, your card company may also provide dispute options.

For a complete breakdown of how daily storage fees accumulate and what the full rate structure looks like across different vehicle classes, see our guide to towing company daily rates.

How to Minimize Your Total Release Cost

The single most effective way to minimize the bill is speed. Every day your vehicle sits in an impound lot adds $33 to your total. A vehicle retrieved on day one costs only the tow fee. The same vehicle retrieved on day seven costs that fee plus $198 in storage.

If cost is a barrier to immediate retrieval, contact the impound lot directly and ask whether a payment plan or partial release arrangement is available. Some lots will work with vehicle owners in difficult situations, though this is at their discretion, not a legal requirement.

For a full breakdown of what impound fees look like at every time interval in Georgia, our Georgia impound fee guide covers the complete cost structure in one place.

How Much to Get Your Car Out of Towing? Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to get your car out of towing in Georgia?

In Georgia, the tow fee for a standard passenger vehicle is capped at $228 for non-consensual tows, with most companies charging $100 to $175. Storage fees of $33 per day apply after the first 24 hours, which are free. A vehicle retrieved within one day costs $100 to $228 total.

How long do I have to get my car out of the impound lot in Georgia?

There is no hard deadline, but storage fees of $33 per day accumulate starting after the first 24 hours. After 30 days without communication from the owner, a vehicle on private property may begin the process of being classified as abandoned under Georgia law.

What do I need to bring to get my car out of towing?

You need a valid photo ID, proof of vehicle ownership (registration, title, or bill of sale), an ignition key, and payment. If the vehicle belongs to someone else, bring a notarized authorization letter from the registered owner.

Can a Georgia impound lot refuse to accept my credit card?

No. Georgia regulations require towing and storage firms to accept payment by card. A lot that refuses card payment or charges a surcharge for using one is violating state rules.

What if the tow was from private property without proper signage?

Under O.C.G.A. 44-1-13, a private property tow requires conspicuous signage posted before the removal. If proper signage was not in place, the tow may be invalid and the fees challengeable. Document the absence of signage and file a complaint with the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.

Can I get my belongings out of a towed car without paying the release fee?

Yes. Georgia law gives vehicle owners the right to retrieve personal belongings from an impounded vehicle during regular business hours regardless of whether the full release fee has been paid.

Keep Reading

If your vehicle was towed from private property and you want to understand the full fee structure before heading to the lot, our Georgia impound fee guide covers every charge in detail. For a broader view of what towing costs across all service types in Georgia, our complete towing cost guide has everything in one place.

Need Help With a Tow in Georgia?

PMA Transportation Services provides 24/7 towing throughout metro Atlanta and surrounding Georgia counties, with upfront pricing and no hidden fees before any truck is dispatched.

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