The cost to get a car out of impound in Atlanta is not one number. The City of Atlanta, DeKalb County, Fulton County, and Hartsfield-Jackson each run their own impound fee schedule, and a car taken from a private apartment, retail, or HOA lot is a different system under O.C.G.A. § 44-1-13 and DPS Tariff No. 5. This page walks each agency’s actual published fee and what changes that number.
For the steps to find your car in the first place, the Atlanta find your towed car page is the right starting point.
City of Atlanta (APD police ordered tow)
Atlanta Code § 162-227 sets the published fee schedule for APD ordered tows:
- $125 maximum tow fee.
- No storage fee for the first 24 hours from removal.
- The tow fee is all inclusive (no extra charge for dollies, trailers, lifts, or slim jims).
- Cash, check, debit, or major credit card accepted at no surcharge.
APD contracts wreckers by police zone; the assigned zone wrecker releases the vehicle. The published zone contractor list is dated 1/1/2019 and is not confirmed for 2026 in our research, so name the police zone and the APD process rather than a contractor name.
A non-consensual tow from a private apartment lot is not a City of Atlanta police tow; it is governed by § 44-1-13 and Tariff No. 5, not by § 162-227.
DeKalb County
DeKalb County runs its own lot at 2158 Tucker Industrial Rd, Tucker 30084, (770) 493-9083.
- $125 impound fee.
- $15 per day of storage, starting on day two.
A proposed increase to $30 per day was under committee review in 2024 and is not the current figure. Confirm the current rate with the lot before you drive out, especially if the tow was more than a few months ago.
Fulton County
Fulton County does not release vehicles from a tow yard. Releases happen from the Fulton County Marshal’s administrative office at 185 Central Ave SW, 9th Floor, Atlanta 30303, (404) 612-5100, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Marshal’s office collects the agency fee and confirms the release. The tow fee and the storage fee are set by the holding operator, not by the Marshal’s office, so confirm those by phone before you drive downtown. The Marshal’s office can give you the operator name.
Hartsfield-Jackson
Airport impound storage is $2.50 per day after the first day. Illegal parking or shoulder stopping near the airport draws fines from $50 to over $350 plus tow and impound. The current airport impound contractor is not confirmed in our research. Call the airport’s parking office before you drive out.
Private apartment lot or HOA tow (non-consensual)
A tow from an apartment, retail, or HOA lot is governed by O.C.G.A. § 44-1-13 and capped by DPS Maximum Rate Tariff No. 5 (effective June 17, 2024). 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.
- Up to $65 in additional fees after 72 hours.
- $91 maximum total notification charges.
A lawful non-consensual tow bills at or below the ceiling. A billed amount above the ceiling is a red flag worth challenging. The Georgia private property towing sign page walks the sign, contract, and no patrol rules that have to hold for the tow to be lawful.
What changes the bill
Three things move the total up or down:
- Storage days. Every day past the first 24 hours adds a daily line. DeKalb is $15 per day; airport is $2.50 per day; private lots are $33 per day ceiling. The faster you pick up, the smaller the total.
- The vehicle size class. Tariff No. 5 caps apply to vehicles 10,000 lbs GVWR or under. Heavier work is quoted as its own job.
- Notification and after-hours charges. Tariff No. 5 caps total notification charges at $91 per tow. After-hours fees are not separately capped under the tariff.
What you need at the lot
- A valid photo ID.
- Registration or title in your name, or a notarized authorization letter.
- Proof of insurance.
- The keys, or proof you have them.
- Payment in the amount the lot or release office quotes you over the phone.
A suspended registration cannot be released until proof of insurance is on file with the Georgia DOR. The insurance lapse tow page walks the chain.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to get a car out of impound in Atlanta?
For an APD ordered tow, the cap is $125 with first 24 hours free (Atlanta Code § 162-227). For DeKalb, it is $125 impound plus $15 per day storage. For Fulton, the release fee is set by the Marshal’s office and the operator. For Hartsfield-Jackson, $2.50 per day after the first day. Private lot tows follow DPS Tariff No. 5 ceilings.
How much does DeKalb impound cost?
$125 impound plus $15 per day of storage at 2158 Tucker Industrial Rd, Tucker 30084, (770) 493-9083.
Where do I pick up a Fulton County tow?
The Fulton County Marshal’s administrative office at 185 Central Ave SW, 9th Floor, Atlanta 30303, (404) 612-5100, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Releases are not at a tow yard.
How much is the Hartsfield-Jackson impound fee?
$2.50 per day after the first day of storage.
Does Atlanta offer a payment plan for impound fees?
A specific payment plan schedule was not confirmed in our research. Ask the lot or release office about current payment options before you drive out.
Can I get my car out of impound without paying the lot?
No. The lot releases on payment. You can dispute a fee above the ceiling or for a tow that broke the rules, but the dispute happens after release or in small claims.
Need help reaching the right lot or release office? Call (678) 379-5984 and the line can route you to an Atlanta area operator who knows the current process.