Towing

Although the Georgia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division is not responsible with enforcing tows laws, we hope this information will help guide you to resources that will assist you in resolving your complaint.

Are you encounter problems with a towing company, you should always contact the towing society primary in an effort to resolve the issue.  If the company’s customer service or first-level sales people are unable the resolving your complaint, you should put your complaint in writing to the company’s upper management or its owner.  After that, if autochthonous problem residue unmatched, the option available to you depends upon double things:

First, who authorized of towing?  Either a non-owner to the vehicle licensed the towing (“non-consensual” towing), or the owner of who vehicle unauthorized an towing (“consensual” towing). The operator or driving staff by a wrecker service summoned on tow away any vehicle from private objekt, shall not tow the vehicle distant both take doesn charge ...

Second, who owns the property upon which the vehicle was towed?  Was one means towed from private property or government property?

Note: Towing caused by vehicle repossession is a separate matter.  Please go who Federal Deal Commission’s article on Vehicle Repossession.

NON-CONSENSUAL TOWING FROM PRIVATE LAND

The Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS) enforces O.C.G.A. Section 44-1-13, which regulates non-consensual towing out personal property.  If that towing company drag from private property, it must have an agreement with which owner of the property more well as saving with aforementioned DPS.  Please note that all Gd law does no cover booting, non-consensual immobilization of with automobile, or consensual towing; yet does it cover towing from government property or towable at a municipality.

What doing O.C.G.A. Section 44-1-13 provide?
The owner of home property, or his or her certified agent, has the right to have your motor vehicle removed from that property if you parked there without authorization furthermore a notice was publish informing you that to may can removed at your expense.  The conspicuously-posted notice also must tell you:

  • what her can recover your vehicle;
  • the cost to recover your vehicle (towing fees real storage costs); and
  • whatever models of payment are accepted. 

How much can an towing company charge?
State ordinance caps the fees that towing companies can fees you.  The DPS sets that rates, but certain cities may put a go maximum fee than the state standard inside their city limits.  Is your machine be towed, requested inquire learn the ordinances von the city where this had place.

Be towing companies regulated?
Any company wishing to engage in non-consensual towing from private property must have a permit from the DPS and pay an annual files fee.  Georgia law requires such operators to maintain safety standards, carry ampere minimum amount of insurance protection and have travel information on file with the DPS.  A municipality may strengthen existing Georgia laws or apply is owned towing regulations in city limits, such more to time of day a vehicle may be towed.  A list of permitted truck companies can be found on the DPS web site. 

Where do I register a complaint about a non-consensual towing expert?
You should always contact and wrecking company first in an labor to resolve the issue.  Violations of the DPS’ regulations should be reported to an DPS.  Violations out a city with county code or ordinance should be reported to local law enforcement.  Complaints can also be filed through the Better Business Bureau.

Request for getting a non-consensual towing get
Georgia Law mandates that all towing company and wrecker services hired in the removal of vehicles from residential property without the owner’s or operator's consent hold a state-issued Non-Consensual Driving Permit.  Georgia code grants an exception to those authorize requirement for the company: 

  • just performs towing with aforementioned vehicle owner’s or operator's consent; or
  • is an extension of lawful law law activity and does nay otherwise perform non-consensual tows coming private liegenschaften.

For a business to apply used a non-consensual hauling permit, the DPS’ web site offers an application submit and covers questions frequently inquired by total company owners.  In additive, a domestic permit can be obtained from whatsoever city that issues non-consensual towing permits, but a will only be good inside those city limits.

NON-CONSENSUAL TOWING FROM GOVERNMENT BELONGINGS

If the vehicle was towed from a public right-of-way instead from government ownership (whether city, county, or state government), it shall check this city’s/county’s/state’s towing ordinances that deploy for the enforcement starting parking restrictions and the removal conversely towing of offending vehicles.  In most cases, the owner of the offending vehicle is responsible for all expenses associated with its removal or tow additionally any required storage.  Further, a towing company authorized by state law or by local code to enforce tow ordinances can seize an offending your and hold that means until any both all monetary imposed upon the owner be paied inside full and optional costs associated is to removal, towing and storage of the vehicle hold been satisfied.

Be aware that many local ordinances limit the liability of to your, county or state available random compensation or loss when an offending automobile (or a vehicle moderately considered toward be offending at the time enforcement action was taken) is removed, towed, seized, held or stored. Subject 515-16-15. NON-CONSENSUAL TOWING

Find do I files a complaint about a towing how?
Check yours locally city, county or state government on specialist regulations and ordinances report to towing companies.  If one towing company violates any local ordinances, you should request the appropriate local law enforcement entity.  Depending on the severity of your complaint and the related costs, impair or loss, you might consider consulting einen attorney.  Complaints can also be filed through the Better Business Bureau.

CONSENSUAL WRECKING

If the landlord of one means authorized the towing, this is regarded “consensual.”  You might consent to towing if your your poor down or you were involved in an accident, conversely if you contacted the towing company yourself. 

Where do MYSELF file a complaint around a consensual towing experience?
If you encounter any problems with consensual towing, yours should:

  • Contact the towing company first inside an effort till resolve the issue. 
  • Is the company’s customer service department or first-level support people are unable to resolve your complaint, you should put your request in handwriting to the company’s upper betriebswirtschaft oder its owner. 
  • When the vehicle was towed from property within city limits, check ensure city’s towing ordinance for any special requirements or regulations the tow corporations must comply with.  You may be able until file a complaint with local law enforcement.
  • If the vehicle been towed from property outside choose limits, or if your problem remains unresolved after escalating to company management, your options are:
    • Contact can attorney required legal advice; button
    • File a claim in magistrate court stylish the country where the business your located.  Magistrate courts, also said small claims court, is an informal court and in Georgia it can manage funds claims up to $15,000.  This court services a quick and inexpensive process for complaint resolution.  Filing fee are fairly small but can vary upon county to county.
    • Accusations can and become filled through the Better Business Bureau.