Towing fees in Georgia are partially regulated. The Georgia Department of Public Safety sets Maximum Rate Tariff No. 5 as a ceiling on non-consensual tows, and cities and counties can set lower caps that apply inside their jurisdictions. The City of Atlanta does exactly that on its police ordered tows, with a tow fee cap below the state ceiling. Consensual roadside calls are not capped at the state level; the operator’s quote before dispatch is the price. This page walks Tariff No. 5, the Atlanta overlay, and what each one means for your bill.

If your question is the dollar amount you will pay for a specific breakdown, the Atlanta tow cost page covers the three regimes side by side.

Tariff No. 5: the state ceiling

DPS Maximum Rate Tariff No. 5 took effect on June 17, 2024 and governs non-consensual tows in Georgia. For a vehicle 10,000 lbs GVWR or under, the ceilings are:

  • $228 maximum tow fee.
  • $33 per day maximum storage.
  • No storage fee for the first 24 hours from removal.
  • Up to $65 in additional fees after 72 hours.
  • $91 maximum total notification charges per tow.

Tariff No. 5 also sets the conduct rules that have to hold for a non-consensual tow to be lawful: a written contract between the operator and the property owner, a posted sign at every entrance (or visible from every space if there is no entrance), and same-day call from the owner or their agent. O.C.G.A. § 44-1-13 carries the $1,000 fines for automatic patrol and for kickbacks.

A specific per-mile non-consensual tow rate was not confirmed from the DPS tariff in our research and is not stated on this page.

City of Atlanta: lower than the state

Atlanta Code § 162-227 caps the police ordered tow fee at $125, with no storage fee for the first 24 hours from removal, and that fee is all inclusive (no extra charge for dollies, trailers, lifts, or slim jims). Cash, check, debit, or a major credit card accepted at no surcharge. APD contracts wreckers by police zone; the assigned zone wrecker releases the vehicle.

The Atlanta cap is well below the state $228 ceiling, and the no surcharge rule is stricter than the state rule on payment methods. A City of Atlanta police tow billed above $125 with the first 24 hours free is a red flag. APD tows are different from non-consensual apartment lot tows; apartment lot tows are governed by § 44-1-13 and Tariff No. 5, not by § 162-227.

County overlays

DeKalb County runs its own lot at 2158 Tucker Industrial Rd, with $125 impound + $15 per day storage. Fulton County releases vehicles from the Marshal office at 185 Central Ave SW, 9th Floor, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hartsfield-Jackson impound storage is $2.50 per day after the first day. These agency fees sit on top of the operator’s tow fee and apply to the police ordered impound, not to the apartment lot tow.

What is not capped

The state does not cap:

  • A consensual roadside call’s price. The operator quotes before dispatch.
  • A motorcycle, exotic, or heavy duty tow. Tariff No. 5 applies to vehicles 10,000 lbs GVWR or under.
  • A long distance tow. Distance is part of the consensual quote.
  • The operator’s chosen rate within the ceiling. The ceiling is a maximum, not a recommended price.

How to use the ceilings

A reader who knows the ceilings has three practical uses:

  1. At the scene. If the operator quotes above Tariff No. 5 for a non-consensual tow, ask for the written breakdown and the DPS permit number.
  2. At the lot. If the bill is above Tariff No. 5 for a non-consensual tow, file a complaint with the Georgia DPS and ask for a written itemization.
  3. At a consensual call. Tariff No. 5 ceilings do not apply, but the ceilings are a useful reference point for a quote that sounds high. Ask for the operator’s breakdown.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum towing fee in Georgia?

For a non-consensual tow of a vehicle 10,000 lbs GVWR or under, the DPS Tariff No. 5 ceiling is $228 for the tow and $33 per day of storage, with the first 24 hours free.

What is the City of Atlanta’s tow fee cap?

$125 under Atlanta Code § 162-227, with no storage for the first 24 hours, all inclusive (no extra charge for dollies, trailers, lifts, or slim jims). Cash, check, debit, or major credit card accepted at no surcharge.

Is a consensual tow capped in Georgia?

No. The operator’s quote before dispatch is the price. Tariff No. 5 ceilings do not apply to consensual calls.

Are per-mile rates regulated under Tariff No. 5?

A specific per-mile non-consensual tow rate was not confirmed from the DPS tariff in our research. The Tariff caps are stated above.

What happens if the bill is above the ceiling?

For a non-consensual tow, file a complaint with the Georgia DPS and ask for a written itemization. A lawful tow bills at or below the ceiling.

Do the ceilings apply to motorcycles or heavy duty tows?

Tariff No. 5 applies to vehicles 10,000 lbs GVWR or under. Motorcycles and heavy duty work fall outside that scope and are quoted as their own jobs.

Need help with a tow in metro Atlanta? Call (678) 379-5984 and the line can route you to an Atlanta area operator who knows the current rules.