There is no single price for a tow in Atlanta, because the answer depends on who ordered it. If you called for help, the operator quotes a price for your car and your route. If a police agency or an apartment lot ordered the tow, a published ceiling applies instead. Work out which one you have first, and the number gets much easier to judge.

This post gives the public figures that exist and explains why a tow you request has none. It does not invent a rate card, and Quick Tow ATL does not set operator prices.

Tow you ask for: the operator sets the price

When you phone for a breakdown tow, you are making a private deal with an independent operator. Georgia does not publish a price list for that kind of job, and I found no statutory per-mile figure for it, so a “typical” number you see online is somebody’s average and not a rule.

What shapes the quote:

  • The vehicle. A compact car that rolls is a simple job. A van, a lifted truck, or a car with a locked wheel needs more equipment.
  • The distance. Some operators bundle the first miles into a hook-up charge and others price one total. Compare totals, not per-mile claims.
  • The scene. A driveway is easy. A lane on I-285 or a tight parking deck is slower and riskier for the crew.
  • The hour. Late-night and holiday calls may cost more. Ask whether that is already in the figure.
  • The truck type. Flatbed and wheel-lift jobs are priced differently. Our pages on flatbed towing and wheel-lift towing cover when each makes sense.

Before anyone rolls, say your car’s year, make and model, whether it rolls and steers, the pickup address and the drop address. Then ask for one total and what it includes. You can compare it with the tow cost calculator, which is a planning estimate and not an operator’s quote.

Tow a police agency ordered

When police order the tow, the lot’s fees are public.

  • City of Atlanta. Atlanta Code § 162-227 sets a maximum towing fee of $125 and no storage charge for the first 24 hours. The fee is all-inclusive, so there is no extra line for dollies or lifts, and the city requires cash, check, debit or major credit card accepted without a surcharge.
  • DeKalb County. The county lot at 2158 Tucker Industrial Rd in Tucker charges $125 to impound and $15 per day for storage. A higher daily rate was proposed in 2024, but the verified current figure is $15.
  • Fulton County. Cars are released through the Marshal’s administrative office at 185 Central Ave SW, 9th Floor, rather than at the tow yard. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Hartsfield-Jackson. Impound storage is $2.50 per day after the first day, and illegal shoulder or ramp stops near the airport draw fines from $50 to over $350 on top of the tow.

The details on getting a car out are on the specific lot’s page, and the Atlanta ordinance is the source for the $125 figure.

Tow from an apartment or shopping center

A private lot that has your car hauled away without asking you is covered by O.C.G.A. § 44-1-13 and the state’s non-consensual towing rule. The Georgia Department of Public Safety publishes the ceilings in Maximum Rate Tariff No. 5, effective June 17, 2024. For a vehicle of 10,000 pounds gross weight or less:

  • Tow fee: up to $228.
  • Storage: up to $33 per day, with no storage charge for the first 24 hours.
  • A further charge of up to $65 after 72 hours.
  • Notification charges: up to $91 in total.

These are ceilings the operator may not exceed, not a price they have to charge. The state’s rule 570-38-7 also says the fees are all-inclusive, so extras for dollies, trailers or lifts are not allowed, and no storage fee may be charged on a day the lot is closed or the car is otherwise unavailable to you. One more protection: if the crew has not yet hooked or loaded your car and you arrive with the key and drive off at once, no fee is owed.

I could not confirm a per-mile rate for these tows from the tariff itself, so I am not quoting one.

A quick way to sort your situation

Ask yourself who asked for the truck.

  1. You or your insurer did: expect a quote, and get it before the truck rolls.
  2. A police officer did: expect the agency’s fees, and a call to the lot will confirm them.
  3. An apartment manager or lot owner did: expect the Tariff No. 5 ceilings and the signage and notice rules.

Mixing these up is how people overpay or argue with the wrong number. A police impound fee is not a private-lot fee, and neither is a quote for a ride you ordered.

Frequently asked questions

I found no statewide cap for a consensual tow. The operator’s quote is the price, so get the total and what it includes before dispatch.

Is a night or weekend tow more expensive?

It can be. Some operators add an after-hours charge. Ask whether it is already inside the total you were given.

What is the most a private lot can charge in Georgia?

For a car of 10,000 pounds or under, the tariff caps the tow at $228 and storage at $33 per day after the first free 24 hours.

Does the cost change for an electric car or a lowered car?

It can, since the right truck may differ. Read about Tesla and EV towing before you call.

For a tow or roadside call in metro Atlanta, the line is (858) 925-5546.