To tow a car lawfully from private property in Georgia, the lot needs compliant signs at its entrances, you need a written contract with a permitted tow operator, and the tow has to be requested the same day for that specific car. You cannot patrol for violations automatically or accept anything of value for sending cars to a tow firm. The law behind all of this is O.C.G.A. 44-1-13, with price limits from the Georgia Department of Public Safety.
Skipping a step can turn a routine tow into a dispute, and the driver can challenge the charges.
Start with the signs
Georgia sets the sign requirements by statute. Each sign must be at least 12 by 18 inches, with lettering at least 3/4 of an inch. It has to be posted conspicuously within 50 feet of every lot entrance, or visible from every space if the lot has no entrance. It states the tow company’s name, where the car can be retrieved, the cost of recovery, and the payment methods accepted.
Walk the lot like a driver would. Count the entrances, read each sign from a car window, and check that none is faded, bent or hidden by a hedge. We cover this in more depth in what a Georgia tow-away sign has to say.
Pick a permitted operator and sign the state contract
The operator must hold the state permit, post it at its office, and carry a copy in the truck. Before any non-consensual tow, the operator must have a written contract with the property owner on the form the Department of Public Safety prescribes. Ask to see the permit and the form before signing. You can read about the tariff and its rules on the DPS tariff page.
Two things a property owner should never do:
- Accept a kickback. Payments from a tow company to a property owner for the right to remove cars are unlawful, with a $1,000 fine.
- Set up automatic patrol for tows. Systematic surveillance of a lot for towing purposes is unlawful, also with a $1,000 fine.
Request the tow the same day, for one car
A non-consensual tow requires a request from the owner or the owner’s agent on the same day. In practice, that means someone on site sees a specific violation, writes down what they see, and calls the operator about that vehicle. A standing instruction that says “tow anything that looks wrong” is the pattern the law is trying to prevent.
Keep a simple log for each tow.
- Date, time and the space number or location.
- Make, color and plate.
- Why the car violates your lot rules (no permit, fire lane, reserved space).
- A photo of the car in the space and the nearest posted sign.
- Name of the person who requested the tow.
Know what the driver can be charged
For a car at or under 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, the state tariff effective June 17, 2024 sets a $228 ceiling on the tow, $33 per day on storage, no storage for the first 24 hours, up to $65 in additional fees after 72 hours, and $91 in total notification charges. If the driver returns with a key before the car is hooked or loaded and removes it at once, no fee is charged. Those are limits on what the operator can bill, and the operator is the one responsible for staying inside them. See are towing fees regulated in Georgia.
Different situation: the car looks abandoned
If a car has sat unattended on your property for 30 days, the abandoned vehicle process applies instead, and only towing and storage firms can remove it after the notice steps. Read abandoned vehicle laws in Georgia for the clock and the paperwork. If a neighbor’s car is blocking your own driveway, that is a separate question, covered in car blocking my driveway.
Apartments and HOAs
Apartment complexes follow the same rules. Tenant and guest cars get the same protections: the same signs, the same contract, no active patrol, and a same-day call. If you manage a community, post your parking policy where residents will see it, and make the sign information match your actual operator. You can also see how the process runs in practice from a driver’s view in apartment complex towed my car.
What we could not confirm
We have not read every clause of the statute and rule, and this page is not legal advice. For a lease or HOA dispute, a Georgia attorney is the right call. The statute text is on Justia’s Georgia Code.
Frequently asked questions
Can I tow a car from my lot without a sign?
The statute requires posted signs with specific content, so a missing sign puts the tow on weak ground. Post compliant signs first.
Can a property manager tell the tow company to patrol the lot?
No. Georgia bars automatic or systematic surveillance for tow purposes, with a $1,000 fine.
Do I need a written contract with the tow company?
Yes. The operator must have a written contract with the property owner on the state’s form for non-consensual tows.
Can the tow company pay me for towing from my lot?
No. Kickbacks for removal rights are unlawful in Georgia.
If you need a tow or roadside call in metro Atlanta, the line at (858) 925-5546 takes calls 24/7.