To get a car out of an Atlanta-area impound, you need to know which agency holds it, bring original ownership papers, a valid ID and proof of insurance, and pay by a method that office accepts. The documents are the part that sends people home empty-handed. Fulton County says outright that copies are not accepted, so a photo on your phone will not do.
The details change by agency, so this page is organized the way you will experience it: first figure out who has the car, then gather the right paper, then plan the trip around office hours.
Step 1: confirm which agency has the car
A police tow inside the City of Atlanta goes to the wrecker assigned to that police zone, and ATL311 (dial 311 in the city, or atl311.com) is the usual starting point. A DeKalb County tow goes to the county lot in Tucker. A Fulton County tow is released through Fulton’s own offices. A private apartment or retail tow is a different animal that follows O.C.G.A. § 44-1-13, and our page on where is my towed car in Atlanta helps sort those.
Do this before you drive anywhere. A trip to the wrong lot costs half a day.
Step 2: gather the documents
Fulton County’s impound release page is the clearest published checklist in the metro. For an owner picking up the car, it lists:
- Proof of ownership, meaning the title or a valid registration
- A bill of sale, if the car was bought within the last 25 days
- Proof of current valid insurance
- A valid state ID
All of it has to be original. The page states, “No copies will be accepted.”
Other agencies may ask for something different. We did not find a published document list for the City of Atlanta zone wreckers or the DeKalb lot, so call the one holding your car and ask what it wants to see.
One extra snag comes from Georgia’s registration rules. A lapse in liability insurance of 10 or more consecutive days triggers a $25 lapse fine, and if that goes unpaid for 30 days an extra penalty of up to $160 and a registration suspension can follow, according to our research file drawn from the Georgia Department of Revenue. A car with a suspended registration can be impounded, and getting it out requires proof of insurance. Sort the insurance first.
Step 3: know what it will cost
The published figures differ by agency, so match the column to your tow.
| Who towed it | Published figure |
|---|---|
| City of Atlanta police tow | Tow fee capped at $125, no storage for the first 24 hours from removal (Atlanta Code § 162-227); cash, check, debit or major credit card accepted at no surcharge |
| DeKalb County lot | $125 impound fee plus $15 per day storage |
| Hartsfield-Jackson airport impound | $2.50 per day after the first day |
| Fulton County | No fee published on the release page |
A higher DeKalb daily rate has been proposed but is not the verified current figure, so ask the lot for the day’s total before you pay. For a private-lot tow, the state’s Maximum Rate Tariff No. 5 sets the ceilings, and our guide to are towing fees regulated in Georgia walks through them.
Step 4: pick the right door and the right hours
This is where Fulton County surprises people. Its page lists three pickup points depending on which Fulton agency ordered the tow:
- Sheriff’s Office: 185 Central Avenue SW, 9th Floor, Atlanta 30303, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., (404) 612-5100.
- Fulton County Police: S & W Towing, 2559 Jonesboro Road SE, Atlanta 30315, (404) 622-8360. The page does not list hours.
- Marshal’s Department: 160 Pryor St SW, Suite J-102, Atlanta 30303, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., (404) 612-4451.
The DeKalb lot is at 2158 Tucker Industrial Rd, Tucker, GA 30084, (770) 493-9083. We did not confirm its hours or accepted payment types, so call ahead.
A car taken on a Friday evening from a county office that closes at 5 p.m. may sit through the weekend. If the city tow carries no storage for the first 24 hours, speed saves money, but a Fulton office will not open early because you are in a hurry.
Step 5: if someone else is picking it up
You do not have to go yourself. Fulton lists what a different person needs: the owner’s original documents plus one of the following, all notarized. That is a Vehicle Owner Release Form, a power of attorney, or a letter of permission that lists the vehicle’s year, make, model and VIN and says the owner will not hold Fulton County or the Marshal’s Department liable.
Notarizing takes time, so start that before the pickup day. Whether the City of Atlanta wreckers or the DeKalb lot accept the same, we could not confirm.
What to do at the lot
- Walk around the car before you sign anything, and photograph any damage.
- Ask for an itemized receipt.
- Check the interior for missing items and report them before you leave the gate.
- If you think the tow itself was improper, pay what is required to get the car and keep every receipt. See was your private-lot tow illegal.
If the car cannot be driven out
Sometimes the car was damaged, the keys are inside, or the registration is suspended and you cannot drive it away. A tow from the lot to a shop or home is a normal consensual job, and a flatbed tow is common for cars that cannot roll. The operator quotes before dispatch.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get my car out of impound with a copy of the title?
Fulton County says no copies are accepted, and all documents must be originals. Ask any other agency what it will take before you go.
Can someone else pick up my car?
Fulton allows it with the owner’s original documents plus a notarized release form, power of attorney or permission letter that lists the vehicle details.
Does the City of Atlanta charge storage on the first day?
Atlanta Code § 162-227 says no storage fee for the first 24 hours from removal, and the tow fee is capped at $125.
What if I cannot afford the fees?
We could not confirm a hardship program at any of these agencies. Ask the office directly, and note that storage grows daily after the free period.
If you need a tow or roadside help in metro Atlanta, the line takes calls 24/7 at (858) 925-5546.