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Alabama towing laws

Alabama has no statewide tow price caps, and state law only gives the tower a lien for a reasonable towing and storage fee.

More about Alabama

State law has no drop-fee, sign, payment, or personal-belongings rules, so any such rules come from cities. Most of the state rules cover notice to the owner and the sale of unclaimed cars, and you can contest a sale in circuit court before it happens.

Checked Nov 15, 2026

At a glance

Tow fee limitNo state capAsk for a written rate sheet before you pay.Storage per dayNo state capAsk for a written rate sheet before you pay.Release if you get there first?NoState law has no rule requiring a tow truck to release your car for a drop fee.Get your belongings?NoState law does not give a right to take belongings out before paying.Right to a hearingYesBefore a sale you can contest it by filing a notice of appeal in circuit court in the county where the…Must take card?No state ruleLots can set their own payment terms. Call ahead.
  1. Find the carPolice non-emergency line
  2. Check the billFee calculator
  3. Contest itYour rights

Fee limits

Any kind of tow

FeeAmount
Private-property or police tow, light vehicle2
DetailsState law allows a lien for a reasonable removal fee but sets no number. Some cities may set their own rates.
No state cap
Daily storage25
DetailsState law allows a lien for a reasonable storage fee but sets no number. The owner notice must state the daily storage rate.
No state cap

Local rates. Alabama sets no statewide rates. Check the city or county where the car was towed for any local rate rules.

What will I owe in Alabama?

Estimate your bill

Who had it towed?

Got your receipt? Check it for overcharges

Type what the lot charged for each line. We flag anything above a confirmed legal cap.

Your rights: drop fee, belongings, hearing

No

Release for a drop feeIf you reach the car before it is towed away

State law has no rule requiring a tow truck to release your car for a drop fee. Check the city where the car was towed.2

No

Get your belongings outWithout paying the tow first

State law does not give a right to take belongings out before paying. If the car is sold as abandoned, items left inside can be disposed of by whoever runs the sale.34

Yes

Right to a hearingTo contest the tow

Before a sale you can contest it by filing a notice of appeal in circuit court in the county where the sale is set. The car cannot be sold while the court decides. Disputes over the cost of towing and storage also go to circuit court.4

No

Payment they must take

State law does not say which forms of payment a tow company or storage lot must accept.25

Yes

Owner noticeWhat the tower must tell you or police

Whoever holds an unclaimed car must report it to the Department of Revenue within five days, then look up the owner and send a certified letter. The letter must list where the car is, business hours, charges so far, and the daily storage rate. When police order a tow, the officer must report it to the state law enforcement agency within five days.25

Partly

Storage rules

There is no cap on storage. If the holder fails to report the car or notify the owner as required, it loses its claim to storage charges from before the report.5

Partly

What to bringTo get the car released

The owner or lienholder of record can redeem the car within 30 days of the certified notice, which lists the charges owed and the daily storage rate. State law does not list the documents you must show.5

No

Tow-away signsRequired on private lots

State law lets a property owner have an unclaimed car removed after it sits more than 48 hours without consent, but sets no sign rules for private lots. Some cities have their own sign rules.25

Other deadlines

Think the tow or the bill was wrong?

Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in Alabama, and request a hearing before the deadline. Our step-by-step guide and calculator are free.

Guides: how to fight a tow · what to bring · impound costs by city

Questions

Is there a limit on towing fees in Alabama?

Alabama has no statewide cap on the main towing fees. Cities and counties may set their own.

Does a tow truck have to release my car in Alabama if I get there first?

State law has no rule requiring a tow truck to release your car for a drop fee. Check the city where the car was towed.

Can I get my belongings out of a towed car in Alabama?

State law does not give a right to take belongings out before paying. If the car is sold as abandoned, items left inside can be disposed of by whoever runs the sale.

How do I contest a tow in Alabama?

Before a sale you can contest it by filing a notice of appeal in circuit court in the county where the sale is set. The car cannot be sold while the court decides. Disputes over the cost of towing and storage also go to circuit court.

What payment do tow lots have to accept in Alabama?

State law does not say which forms of payment a tow company or storage lot must accept.

Sources

Last checked Nov 15, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.

  1. Abandoned motor vehicle defined (Ala. Code 32-13-1), Alabama Legislature. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
  2. Removal of motor vehicles, liability, lien on vehicles removed, notice (Ala. Code 32-13-2), Alabama Legislature. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
  3. Authority to sell, notice, bill of sale (Ala. Code 32-13-3), Alabama Legislature. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
  4. Contesting sale, hearing (Ala. Code 32-13-4), Alabama Legislature. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
  5. Unclaimed motor vehicles (as amended by HB42, 2026, effective October 1, 2026) (Ala. Code 32-8-84), Alabama Legislature. Checked Nov 15, 2026.