In Georgia, a tenant generally cannot just phone a tow truck for a car sitting in their assigned space. The state’s rule says the tow has to be requested by the property owner or by a person the owner has named in a signed contract with the tow company. So your first call is to the property manager, not the tow operator.
This matters because a tow done outside that process can be unlawful, and the operator, not you, would be the one holding the permit at risk. Below is what the rule actually requires and what a tenant can do in practice.
Who is allowed to order the tow
The Georgia Department of Public Safety governs non-consensual towing, meaning the removal of a trespassing vehicle from private property without the car owner’s permission. Georgia rule 570-38-7 sets these conditions:
- The tow company must have a contract signed by the property owner or the owner’s authorized agent, on the state’s form.
- That contract must list the names and contact numbers of the people allowed to ask for a car to be removed.
- The request must be made on the day of the tow, for a specific vehicle, by the owner or the contractually named agent.
- The owner or agent signs a tow authorization the same day, which includes the vehicle’s make, model, color and plate, and the exact location.
- The company must keep telephone and email records and the signed authorization for three years.
A tenant is not on that list unless the contract says so. I could not confirm that any Georgia law gives a tenant with an assigned space a separate right to order a tow, so treat your lease and your building’s tow contract as the answer. Your property manager can tell you who the named contacts are.
What the lot has to have in place
Under O.C.G.A. § 44-1-13, the property must be signed before a non-consensual tow is lawful. The sign must be posted within 50 feet of each entrance, or be visible from every space if there is no entrance. It must be at least 12 by 18 inches with lettering at least three-quarters of an inch tall, and it has to name the tow company, give the retrieval address, state the cost of recovery and list accepted payment methods. You can read the statute on Justia.
The law also bars automatic or systematic surveillance of a lot for tow purposes. The operator has to be called for each trespass. A property that tows every unregistered car on a schedule without individual calls is out of line with that rule, and a violation carries a $1,000 fine. Kickbacks from a tow company to a property owner for removal rights are also unlawful.
What to do when a car is in your space
Work through these steps in order.
- Take photos. Show the car, its plate, your space number and any posted sign. Note the time.
- Check your lease and parking rules. Many leases say how assigned spaces are enforced and whom to call.
- Call the property manager or the number on the lot sign. Give the plate and the space. The manager can decide whether to authorize a tow, since they hold that authority.
- Try the owner of the car first if you can find them. A neighbor may simply have the wrong space.
- Do not block the car in yourself. I did not find any Georgia rule that lets a tenant box a car in, so leave that out.
If you are a tenant and your manager refuses to act on a repeat offender, put the request in writing and keep a copy.
If you own the lot
If you manage or own the property, the cleanest approach is a written contract with a permitted operator that names your authorized contacts. When a car needs to go, you or your named agent call that day, identify the exact vehicle, and sign the tow authorization. Post compliant signs. Our page on private property tows covers how the work is handled.
What the car’s owner can expect
If the car does get towed lawfully, the owner is protected too. The tariff ceilings for a car of 10,000 pounds or under are $228 for the tow and $33 per day for storage after a free first 24 hours, with no more than $91 in notification charges. A crew that has not yet hooked or loaded the car must release it without a fee if the owner returns with the key and drives away at once. If the car has already been hooked or loaded but has not yet left the lot, an operator’s fee under the tariff may apply before release. The DPS tariff page has the full schedule.
For a tenant on the receiving end of a tow, our guide to apartment complex tows in Georgia explains what to ask the lot.
Frequently asked questions
Can a tenant call a tow company directly in Georgia?
Not on their own authority in most cases. The request has to come from the owner or a person named in the tow contract, on the day of the tow.
Can a tow company patrol my complex and tow whatever it sees?
No. Georgia bars automatic or systematic surveillance for tow purposes, so the operator must be called for each vehicle.
What if there is no sign at the lot?
Signage is a requirement for a lawful non-consensual tow. A tow from an unsigned lot is worth questioning, so ask the lot to show you the sign and the signed authorization.
Can I tow a visitor’s car that blocks my driveway?
That is a different situation with different rules, and this post does not cover it.
For a tow or roadside call in metro Atlanta, the line is (858) 925-5546.