Georgia towing laws

If you return before the car is hooked up or loaded and produce the key, the tower can't tow it and can't charge anything. If it's already hooked up but still on the property, the tower has to let it go for an operator fee of no more than $130, or $195 for vehicles 20,000 lb or more, with no storage or other fees. Once the truck leaves the property, normal tariff charges apply.110

The tow company has to let you take personal property out of the stored car for up to 30 days from the date the notice letter was sent. After that, items left inside count as abandoned. Parts attached to the car don't count as personal property. The tariff lists no charge for getting items, and the rules ban fees the tariff doesn't allow.717

Private-property towers have to accept cash, common traveler's checks, money orders, certified checks or cashier's checks, whichever you choose. Personal checks are not on the list. Cards are optional, but a company that takes debit or credit cards can't add a fee for them. Boot companies have to accept cash and at least one major credit card and one major debit card.1312

Within three days of a private-property tow, the tow company has to request the owners' names and addresses from state vehicle records. No later than one day after that request, it has to notify the local police for the area the car was towed from, by hand delivery, fax or electronic transmission. Within 15 calendar days of the tow, it has to send every owner the state notice letter by certified mail or hand delivery. The letter lists where the car is, the tow and daily storage charges and the company's right to ask a court to foreclose a lien. If no owner can be found, the company has to run a newspaper notice within 60 days of the tow.151823

No storage can be charged for the first 24 hours after the car leaves the property, for days the lot is closed, or after you have paid and driven away. The lot has to be secure, with fencing at least 6 feet high, lighting and a lock, and it has to be in the county where the company's office is unless DPS approves otherwise. Drop zones are not allowed. An attendant has to be on site during business hours five days a week plus at least four hours on one more day, and has to be reachable by phone 24 hours a day to release cars. Business hours mean at least 8 hours on weekdays, opening by 9 a.m. and closing no earlier than 4 p.m. After 30 days the state's abandoned vehicle process applies.14671114

To release a privately towed car, bring a valid driver's license, a working key and proof that it's yours, and pay the allowed charges. The company has to give you a signed receipt listing every charge, the release date and time, and where the car was towed from.111213

The state tow fees can be charged only if the property is posted, and no car can be towed unless compliant signs were up at the time of the tow and for at least 24 hours before it. Put a sign within 50 feet of each entrance to the parking area, or as close as terrain allows. If there is no set entrance, signs have to be clearly visible from every parking space. Signs have to be at least 12 by 18 inches, with lettering at least 3/4 inch tall and the words Private Parking in bold letters at least 1 1/2 inches tall. Mount them at least 4 feet above grade at entrances, or 6 feet above grade where there is no entrance, with nothing blocking the view. Each sign has to include a warning that unauthorized vehicles will be towed, the towing company's name, address and phone number, where towed cars can be picked up, the towing fees and daily storage fees, hours of operation and accepted payment methods. Tow signs have to be separate from all other signs and contain nothing else. A sign listing minimum fees means those are the actual rates for the smallest vehicles, even if the tariff goes up later. If more than one tow company is used, the signs have to list all of them. Take the signs down within 15 days after the towing contract ends, authorization is withdrawn or the tow company's permit lapses. Owners of residential property with four or fewer units don't have to post signs. Booting needs its own signs at each entrance, visible at night. They have to say Immobilization Enforced and show the boot company's full legal name, the property owner's full legal name, a 24-hour number for boot removal, the maximum fee and accepted payment methods. The property owner also needs a signed contract with a DPS-permitted tow company, and has to request and sign off on each tow individually on the day it happens. The tow company can't patrol the lot or tow on its own initiative, and it can't pay the owner for towing rights, which carries a $1,000 fine. Cars left in a paid private parking lot can't be towed or booted between midnight and 9 a.m., though the lot can charge up to $25 above normal parking. In cities of 100,000 or more, a commercial lot that wants to tow after closing has to chain off its entrances at least 18 inches high and post a notice where the city police approve.1345891622