A towed car in metro Atlanta is not in one place. The City of Atlanta, DeKalb County, Fulton County, MARTA, and Hartsfield-Jackson each run their own lot or release office, and each one bills on its own paperwork. The fastest way to lose half a day is to drive to the wrong address. The fastest way to get the car back is to confirm which agency has it before you leave home.
This page walks the four most common release paths in the metro: a police ordered City of Atlanta tow, a DeKalb Sheriff’s Office tow, a Fulton County Sheriff or Marshal tow, and an airport impound. For the dollar side of the bill, the Atlanta impound cost guide is the right page.
First question: who took it
- If the car was parked on a city street and an officer or boots unit ordered the tow, it is most likely at the City of Atlanta contracted wrecker for that police zone. Call the City of Atlanta non emergency line (311) or check the City of Atlanta impound page to confirm.
- If the car was parked in DeKalb County (Decatur, Tucker, Stone Mountain, Chamblee, Doraville, Brookhaven, Dunwoody) and a deputy ordered the tow, it is at the DeKalb County lot.
- If the car was in unincorporated Fulton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Milton, or College Park and a deputy or marshal ordered the tow, it is released from the Fulton County Marshal office, not from a yard.
- If the car was towed from Hartsfield-Jackson property, it is at the airport’s impound contractor. The current contractor is not confirmed in our research; call the airport’s parking office before driving out.
A car booted or towed from a private apartment, retail, or HOA lot is a different situation. The car is at the operator’s yard, and O.C.G.A. § 44-1-13 governs how you collect it. The Atlanta private property towing rights page covers that path.
City of Atlanta (APD police zone tow)
Atlanta Code § 162-227 caps the tow fee at $125 with no storage for the first 24 hours from removal. Cash, check, debit, or major credit card at no surcharge.
What to bring:
- A valid photo ID.
- Proof of ownership or legal right to the vehicle (title, registration, or insurance in your name; a lien holder letter if financed).
- The vehicle’s keys, or proof you can produce them.
- Payment in the amount the lot quotes you over the phone.
The car releases from the zone wrecker’s lot. The current list of zone contractors is dated 1/1/2019 and is not confirmed for 2026; name the police zone and the assigned contractor when you call rather than assume a name. Lines that take calls 24/7 can put you in touch with an operator who knows the current zone rotation.
DeKalb County
Lot address: 2158 Tucker Industrial Rd, Tucker, GA 30084. Lot phone: (770) 493-9083. Impound fee $125 plus $15 per day of storage. The lot is open seven days a week; call ahead for hours.
What to bring:
- A valid photo ID.
- The vehicle registration or title in your name.
- Proof of insurance (Georgia DOR requires current liability insurance before release).
- The keys, or proof you have them.
- Payment in the amount the lot quotes you over the phone.
If the registration is suspended for an insurance lapse or unpaid tickets, address that with the Georgia DOR before you drive out. A suspended registration cannot be released until insurance is on file.
Fulton County
Fulton County impounds are released from the Fulton County Marshal’s administrative office at 185 Central Ave SW, 9th Floor, Atlanta 30303, phone (404) 612-5100, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The vehicle is released from the office, not from the tow yard, so you do not need to find the yard first.
What to bring:
- A valid photo ID.
- Registration or title, or a notarized letter of authorization if you are not the registered owner.
- Proof of insurance.
- The keys.
- Payment in the amount the Marshal’s office quotes you over the phone.
This release process applies across unincorporated Fulton and the North Fulton cities that contract with the Fulton Sheriff. Confirm with the calling agency before driving downtown.
Hartsfield-Jackson
The airport’s impound storage is $2.50 per day after the first day. The current contractor is not confirmed in our research; call the airport’s parking office before driving out. Illegal parking or shoulder stopping near the airport draws fines from $50 to over $350 plus tow and impound. The free Park and Wait lot is at 1920 Autoport Dr, College Park 30337, and is the right lot if you were waved into a phone call lot while waiting on a rideshare.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out where my car was towed in Atlanta?
Call the non emergency line for the agency that had jurisdiction at the time of the tow. For City of Atlanta tows, start with 311 or the City of Atlanta non emergency line. For DeKalb, call the lot at (770) 493-9083. For Fulton, call (404) 612-5100.
How long do I have to pick up a towed car in Atlanta?
There is no public grace period beyond the first 24 hours of free storage. After the first day, every agency bills daily storage (DeKalb $15 per day, Hartsfield $2.50 per day, City of Atlanta by contract). Leaving it longer raises the bill.
What do I need to bring to get my car out of impound in Atlanta?
A valid photo ID, registration or title, proof of insurance, the keys, and the fee the lot quotes you. If you are not the registered owner, bring a notarized authorization letter.
Can I get my belongings out of a towed car before paying the tow?
For non-consensual tows in Georgia, the operator must allow retrieval of personal property during normal business hours. Bring a valid ID and be prepared to inventory what you take. Confirm the lot’s current process before you drive out.
Why was my car towed in Atlanta with no sticker on it?
Police ordered tows do not always leave a windshield sticker. The release office has the tow record. Call the agency that had jurisdiction and ask for the impound record by plate number.
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.