If you are arrested for DUI in metro Atlanta and nobody sober can drive your car away, it is usually towed by a wrecker the police call. That makes it a police tow, which is the first of three kinds of tow in this region. It follows different rules from a tow you ordered or a tow from an apartment lot.
This post covers the car only. The charge itself, your license and your court dates are legal questions for a Georgia attorney and the court. We are a referral line, not a law office, and nothing here is legal advice.
Why a police tow is its own category
Quick Tow ATL does not tow vehicles. We connect drivers with independent licensed operators. That matters here because a police tow is not something you can shop around. The officer’s department chooses the wrecker.
In the City of Atlanta, the police department assigns contract wreckers by police zone. The assigned wrecker for the zone where the car was taken is the one that holds it and releases it. We did not confirm a current list of those contractors, so we do not name any. Ask the arresting agency which yard has your vehicle.
Outside the city, the county or town agency makes the call. Fulton and DeKalb run their own release process, covered below.
What the City of Atlanta caps
Atlanta Code of Ordinances section 162-227 sets the city rules for these tows. The figures that matter:
- The towing fee is capped at $125.
- There is no storage charge for the first 24 hours after the car is removed.
- The fee is all-inclusive. The operator cannot add separate charges for dollies, lifts or similar equipment.
- The yard must accept cash, check, debit or a major credit card with no surcharge.
The text of the ordinance is on Atlanta’s online code library. These caps apply to tows the city’s police order. They do not apply to a tow you requested yourself.
What happens in Fulton and DeKalb counties
The two big counties handle release differently, and the address you need depends on who holds the car.
Fulton County. Impounded vehicles are released from the Fulton County Marshal’s administrative office at 185 Central Ave SW, 9th Floor, Atlanta 30303, not from the tow yard. The office phone is (404) 612-5100, and it is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Check the Fulton County site before you go.
DeKalb County. The county lot is at 2158 Tucker Industrial Rd, Tucker, GA 30084, phone (770) 493-9083. The published figures are a $125 impound fee and $15 per day in storage. A higher daily rate was proposed in 2024, but we could only confirm $15, so that is the number we use. Confirm it by phone.
The clock runs while you sort out your arrest
Storage charges are the part people miss. If you spend a night or two in custody, the car is sitting on a daily meter in the meantime. In the city, the first 24 hours are free of storage. After that, the yard’s daily fee starts.
A short example. Someone is arrested late on a Friday and released Saturday afternoon. The tow was a police tow in the city, so the first day carries no storage. If they get to the yard Sunday, a day of storage may already be on the bill. Waiting until Monday adds another. None of this is a penalty. It is just rent, and it is the cheapest part of the whole situation to control.
What to bring to the yard
We could not find a Georgia rule that is specific to DUI tows about who may pick up the car, so plan on the ordinary release requirements and call first. Most yards will want:
- Government photo ID.
- Proof the car is yours, such as the registration or title.
- Proof of current insurance.
- Payment in an accepted form.
If you cannot come yourself, ask the yard whether someone else can retrieve the car and what they need from you. Do not assume a friend with your keys is enough.
When registration or insurance is part of the problem
Sometimes the registration is already suspended when the arrest happens. The Georgia Department of Revenue says a lapse of 10 or more consecutive days without liability insurance on record triggers a $25 fine, and an unpaid fine can lead to an added penalty and registration suspension. A vehicle with a suspended registration can be impounded, and getting it back requires proof of insurance. See the DOR page on insurance lapses.
If that describes your car, the registration problem has to be cleared on its own track. Our post on a car towed for an expired registration walks through it.
What we could not confirm
To keep this honest, here is what is not covered because we could not tie it to a primary source:
- Any DUI-specific impound period or holding rule for the car.
- Any DUI-specific fee on top of the normal tow and storage charges.
- Who is allowed to retrieve a car after a DUI arrest.
Ask the arresting agency and the yard these three things directly, and write down the answers with the name of the person who gave them.
Frequently asked questions
Does the car always get towed after a DUI arrest?
Not always. It depends on the officer, the location and whether a licensed, sober person can lawfully take the car. If it is towed, expect a police tow with the rules above.
Can I pick my car up the same day?
Possibly, if the yard or county office is open and you have what they ask for. Fulton’s release office keeps weekday business hours, so a weekend arrest often means waiting.
How much will it cost?
In the City of Atlanta the tow fee is capped at $125 with no storage for the first 24 hours. DeKalb publishes $125 plus $15 a day. Fulton’s totals vary by yard, so call before you go. For the broader process, see how to get your car back from impound in Atlanta and our impound release cost guide.
Can Quick Tow ATL get the car out for me?
We do not release police-held vehicles, and we do not set their fees. If your car is out of the yard and needs to be moved somewhere else, the line takes calls 24/7 at (858) 925-5546, and we can connect you with an independent operator for that separate trip.