Costs
What does an Atlanta tow run?
The public fee limits, the factors that shape a quote, and where the real price comes from.
You will not find a price list here, and that is on purpose. Quick Tow ATL refers drivers to independent tow operators, and each operator sets its own prices. Printing a number we made up would promise something nobody agreed to. You get the real figure for your job when the operator confirms it, before dispatch.
What is published is below: the fee limits that the City of Atlanta, the State of Georgia and DeKalb County set in public, each tied to its source, and a plain look at what pushes a private tow up or down.
How does mileage shape a quote?
Light-duty means cars, SUVs and pickups under 10,000 lb GVWR. Heavy-duty means box trucks, RVs and commercial vehicles, which need bigger equipment and are priced job by job.
| Trip length | Wheel-lift | Flatbed | Heavy-duty | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short hop, under 5 miles | Operator quotes it | Operator quotes it | Quoted per job | Usually a stalled car near home. Tight access can matter more than the mileage. |
| 5 to 10 miles | Operator quotes it | Operator quotes it | Quoted per job | A normal in-town move, such as to a nearby repair shop. |
| 10 to 25 miles | Operator quotes it | Operator quotes it | Quoted per job | Ask what mileage the quote includes and what happens past it. |
| 25 to 50 miles | One route total | One route total | Quoted per job | Crossing several counties usually lands in this band. |
| 50 to 100 miles | One route total | One route total | Quoted per job | Exurb and out-of-metro runs. Schedule ahead if you can. |
| Over 100 miles | One route total | One route total | Quoted per job | A single figure for the whole trip, including the operator reaching you. |
What are the published limits on city, state and county tows?
These are not Quick Tow ATL prices and they are not estimates. Each is a public limit from the agency named, and each applies only when that agency's rules cover your tow. A car you ask to have moved is not covered by any of them.
City of Atlanta tows
| Item | Limit | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Top towing fee | $125 | Atlanta Code section 162-227; sits below the state ceiling |
| Storage during day one | Nothing | No storage fee for the first 24 hours after the car is removed |
| Dollies, trailers, lifts, slim jims | Included | The fee is a single all-in figure |
| Ways to pay | Cash, check, debit or major card | No surcharge for any of them |
Source: Atlanta Code of Ordinances, section 162-227.
Private-lot tows anywhere in Georgia
The state sets a ceiling for non-consensual private-property tows in its DPS Maximum Rate Tariff No. 5. It is a different rule from the city's, so both appear here instead of one standing in for the other.
| Item | Limit | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Ceiling on the tow itself | $228 | For vehicles up to 10,000 lbs GVWR |
| Storage during day one | Nothing | No storage charge in the first 24 hours |
| Ceiling on daily storage | $33 a day | Applies once the first 24 hours have passed |
| Extra charges after 72 hours | Up to $65 | As set out in Tariff No. 5 |
| Ceiling on notification charges | $91 | Combined total for one tow |
Source: Georgia DPS Rule 570-38-7, Maximum Rate Tariff No. 5, effective June 17, 2024.
DeKalb County impound lot
| Item | Charge | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| DeKalb County impound fee | $125 | Lot at 2158 Tucker Industrial Rd, Tucker |
| DeKalb County daily storage | $15 a day | A higher rate was proposed in 2024; confirm the current figure with the county |
How are long runs out of Atlanta priced?
Interstates fan out of Atlanta in every direction, so a long haul usually has a clear destination. Each one gets a single route total that includes the operator reaching you first. Booking ahead generally goes smoother than ordering it in a crisis. Mileage for these runs is not listed because we could not confirm it from a source.
| Route | How it is priced |
|---|---|
| Atlanta to Macon | One route total |
| Atlanta to Chattanooga | One route total |
| Atlanta to Birmingham | One route total |
| Atlanta to Augusta | One route total |
| Atlanta to Nashville | One route total |
How are specialty and roadside jobs priced?
Motorcycles, electric vehicles, crash recovery, lockouts, jumps and more. The operator quotes each against the job itself.
| Job | Pricing | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle | Operator quotes it | Bike, scooter or trike, and its condition, decide the gear that is needed |
| Electric vehicle | Operator quotes it | Name the exact model; the maker's towing instructions govern the method |
| Crash recovery | Quoted for the scene | Where the car ended up and how damaged it is both change the work |
| Winching a stuck vehicle | Operator quotes it | Mud, a ditch and a soft shoulder are three different jobs |
| Lockout | Operator quotes it | Say whether keys are inside, lost or broken |
| Battery jump | Operator quotes it | Describe the symptoms when you turn the key |
| Spare-tire swap | Operator quotes it | Uses your own spare; a new tire is not part of it |
| Gas delivery | Operator quotes it | Fuel type, amount and your location are confirmed first |
Which factors push a quote up or down?
Size and weight
Cars and pickups below 10,000 lb count as light-duty. Box trucks, motorhomes and RVs need heavier gear. Tariff No. 5 applies to vehicles of up to 10,000 pounds.
Mileage
Ask what distance the quote includes, and what any extra miles will add. The figure should be stated up front instead of appearing at drop-off.
Equipment
The method has to follow the manufacturer's towing directions, along with drivetrain, clearance and free-rolling wheels. Share the year, make, model and state of the vehicle so the operator can plan.
How hard it is to reach
A car in an open driveway is easy. One wedged in a ditch, a median or a tight alley takes more work. Describe the scene honestly so that effort is built into the confirmed quote.
What do Atlanta drivers ask about tow prices?
What would a 10-mile tow cost me?
There is no standard figure to give you, because Quick Tow ATL does not set operator prices. Describe the vehicle, pickup point, drop-off and any access problems, and the independent operator confirms a price for that specific job before dispatch.
What is the most the City of Atlanta can charge for a tow?
Section 162-227 of the Atlanta Code of Ordinances puts the towing fee at no more than $125. Nothing is charged for storage during the first 24 hours after removal, and the fee already covers dollies, trailers, lifts and slim jims. Cash, check, debit and major cards are all accepted without a surcharge.
Why are there two sets of numbers on this page?
Two different rules govern two different situations. A City of Atlanta tow is capped at $125. A tow from a private lot anywhere in Georgia falls under DPS Maximum Rate Tariff No. 5, which allows up to $228 for vehicles of 10,000 pounds or less plus up to $33 a day for storage after day one. Work out who ordered the removal before you compare any numbers.
Do counties follow the city fee schedule?
No. Each county runs its own impound. DeKalb, for instance, uses a lot on Tucker Industrial Road with a $125 impound fee and $15 a day. Fulton releases cars from the Sheriff and Marshal office on Central Avenue SW. Contact the agency that ordered the tow to learn its terms.
Why does the type of truck change the price?
The method has to suit the vehicle. Drivetrain, ground clearance, and whether the wheels roll all decide whether a flatbed or wheel-lift is safe. Tell the operator the year, make, model and condition, and read the towing section of your owner's manual.
Is a late-night call more expensive?
That is up to the independent operator. Ask whether any after-hours, weekend or holiday charge applies, and make sure it is part of the confirmed quote before the truck is dispatched.
How do I end up with an accurate quote?
Be exact about the vehicle, where it sits, where it is going, how hard it is to reach and whether the wheels turn. Also check your insurance or motor-club terms on your own, since dispatch rules differ. The operator then confirms the service and the whole price.
Covering Metro Atlanta, GA
Ready for a confirmed price?
Phone the line. It takes calls 24/7, and the operator gives you the figure before dispatch.