In Georgia, an operator is required to let you collect personal property from a towed car during normal business hours without first paying the tow fee. What the operator may treat as “belongings” versus “part of the vehicle,” and which items (tools, aftermarket parts, child seats, paperwork in the trunk) the lot will release, are set by the operator’s own policy and by what the lot calls “personal property” on the release form. A specific, lot by lot published belongings policy was not confirmed in our research and is not stated on this page.

This page walks what is confirmed, how to ask the lot in writing, and how § 44-1-13 and Tariff No. 5 intersect with the question.

What is confirmed

  • Under Georgia practice and § 44-1-13, the operator must allow retrieval of personal property during normal business hours without first paying the tow.
  • The first 24 hours of storage are free. After that, storage bills begin.
  • A non-consensual tow has to follow the sign, the no automatic patrol rule, the same day call rule, and the Tariff No. 5 ceilings.
  • The release form asks you to inventory what you take.

What is not confirmed

A specific, published lot by lot belongings policy was not confirmed in our research. Items that sometimes become contested:

  • Aftermarket parts (radio, speakers, subwoofer, alarm). Some lots treat these as vehicle parts and require payment first.
  • Tools and toolboxes. Same question.
  • Child seats and car seats. Often a gray area.
  • Personal documents in the trunk (mail, work papers, school work). Most lots release these without payment.
  • The vehicle’s contents that the operator considers “vehicle parts” (floor mats, seat covers).

The lot’s policy on each of these is set by the operator. Confirm it in writing before you assume.

How to ask the lot in writing

A clean approach if you want a clear answer before you drive out:

  1. Email or text the operator’s published line. State the plate number, the VIN if you have it, the tow date, and ask which items the operator considers personal property and which items require the tow paid first.
  2. Ask for the policy in writing. A written response is the evidence a complaint stands on if the lot changes its position at the window.
  3. Ask for the hours during which the operator allows retrieval.
  4. Ask what ID and proof you need. Most lots require a valid photo ID and registration or title in your name.

A written response from the lot, even a brief text reply, is worth more than a phone call for the dispute path.

§ 44-1-13 and Tariff No. 5 in the background

§ 44-1-13 governs the tow itself and the operator’s relationship with the property owner. Tariff No. 5 sets the rate ceiling ($228 / $33 per day / first 24 hours free / $91 notification cap). Neither statute, in our reading, grants the operator a right to keep personal belongings until the tow is paid. But the practical release depends on the lot’s written policy and on the operator’s willingness to release items.

If the operator refuses to release personal property without payment and you have a written response that says otherwise, file a complaint with the Georgia DPS Non-Consensual Towing program.

What to bring for the retrieval

  • A valid photo ID.
  • Registration or title, or a notarized letter of authorization if you are not the registered owner.
  • A bag for the items.
  • A phone camera to photo the inventory list you sign.

The lot will give you an inventory form. Read it. The form is the record of what you took.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Georgia tow yard hold my belongings until I pay?

The general rule is that the operator must let you collect personal property during normal business hours without first paying the tow. Specific contested items (aftermarket parts, tools, child seats) depend on the lot’s written policy. Ask the lot in writing before you drive out.

Can a tow yard charge a fee to release personal property?

A specific belongings release fee was not confirmed in our research. Tariff No. 5 caps notification charges at $91 per tow and does not name a personal property release fee. Confirm the lot’s policy in writing.

Do I have to pay the tow to get my car registration out of the trunk?

Most lots release registration and other personal documents without payment. Ask before you drive out and confirm in writing.

What if the operator refuses to release my child seat without payment?

A specific policy on child seats was not confirmed in our research. File a complaint with the Georgia DPS Non-Consensual Towing program and ask for the written policy.

Does the operator have to release tools from my truck bed?

Same answer. The operator’s policy decides. Ask in writing before you drive out.

Can I take the floor mats and the spare tire?

Floor mats are usually personal property. The spare tire is usually treated as a vehicle part. Confirm in writing.

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