How much can towing companies charge?

Dear Consumer Ed: 

My son was driving his car on the highway during a rainstorm, and it hydroplaned. The car did not leave the highway, but it did hit the guard rail. Although the car was still drivable, the police called a towing company that charged my son over $3,000 to tow the car ten miles. Are towing companies legally allowed to charge that much?

Consumer Ed says: 

 It depends. There are no applicable statewide laws or regulations that limit how much towing companies can charge for a police-initiated tow from public property. However, some municipalities may impose restrictions on towing companies used for towing vehicles from public property, including tows that were initiated by police.

Nevertheless, even if there are no municipal restrictions that apply to your son’s situation, a $3,000 charge for a ten-mile tow may be an unfair or deceptive practice in violation of the Georgia Fair Business Practices Act (FBPA). Suspected violations of the FBPA can be reported to the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by visiting consumer.ga.gov or calling (404) 651-8600. 

On the other hand, if your vehicle is ever towed from private property without your consent, there are statewide regulations limiting how much towing companies can charge for the towing and storage of your vehicle. These “nonconsensual towing” fees are set and enforced by the Georgia Department of Public Safety. The maximum allowable rates are published in the Department’s “Nonconsensual Towing Maximum Rate Tariff,” which can be found at gamccd.net/NonConsensualTowing.aspx. If a towing company charges you more than the authorized rates, you can file a Nonconsensual Towing Complaint with the Department of Public Safety or call the Department at (404) 624-7242. It should be noted that a municipality may also regulate the rates towing companies can charge for the towing of a vehicle from public or private property, so the maximum rate the towing company can charge may depend on where the tow occurred. In addition, a municipality may apply its own towing regulations within city limits, such as the time of day a vehicle may be towed. 

Submit your own question to Consumer Ed.  Remember…we do not give legal advice. Always consult a lawyer about legal issues.