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Your rights after a tow in Alabama

Alabama law sets rules for towing from private property, such as apartment complexes and store lots. Counties and cities set the maximum rates. Here is what the law says, in plain English.

Pick your city

When a car can be towed

A car left on private property for more than 48 hours without the owner's or lessee's consent counts as an unclaimed vehicle. The state abandoned-vehicle process is built around that status. Ala. Code 32-8-84(a)(2) (opens in a new tab)
A property owner or lessee (or their agent) may have an unclaimed vehicle moved to a secure place. Whoever tows it at their direction gets a lien for a reasonable fee for removal and storage. Ala. Code 32-13-2(d) (opens in a new tab)
The property owner, lessee, agent and the tow company are liable to the vehicle owner or lienholder only for gross negligence for a tow done under this law. That is a high bar for a damage claim. Ala. Code 32-13-2(e) (opens in a new tab)
The state statutes I read (32-13-1 to 32-13-8 and 32-8-84) set no tow-away sign rules. Any sign, grace-period or tow-trigger rules would come from a city or county ordinance. Ala. Code 32-13-1 to 32-13-8; 32-8-84 (opens in a new tab)

Reporting and notice to you

The company holding the car must report it as unclaimed to the Alabama Department of Revenue within 5 calendar days, though it may report right after towing. The Department then puts a 60-day hold on the title record. Ala. Code 32-8-84(b)-(c) (opens in a new tab)
After reporting, the company must look up the owner and lienholder through the national title system (NMVTIS) and request the record from the title state within 5 calendar days. Ala. Code 32-8-84(d)(1)-(2) (opens in a new tab)
The company must send a certified-mail notice (or electronic delivery with confirmation) within 5 days of receiving the title record. It must state where the car is, business hours, accrued charges, the daily storage rate, and a contact address and phone number. Ala. Code 32-8-84(d)(3) (opens in a new tab)
That notice must warn, in 10-point type or larger, that the car is treated as abandoned if not claimed within 30 calendar days of the notice date, and may then be sold. Ala. Code 32-8-84(d)(3)b (opens in a new tab)
A company that fails to report the car or to send the required notice loses its claim and lien for garaging and storage charges before it reported the car. Its towing and repair claims are not lost. Ala. Code 32-8-84(d)(4) (opens in a new tab)

Charges and rates

State law sets no maximum towing or storage price for private-property tows; the lien is for a reasonable fee. Cities remain free to regulate towing, so check your city's ordinance. Ala. Code 32-13-2(d); 32-13-8 (opens in a new tab)
If the car is sold, the towing and storage costs deducted from the sale money may not exceed the customary charges for like services in the community. Ala. Code 32-13-6 (opens in a new tab)
The one state towing-rate rule I found covers commercial trucks towed at the direction of the State Law Enforcement Agency, not ordinary cars towed from private lots. Ala. Code 41-27-61 (opens in a new tab)

Getting your car back

If the car is returned to its owner or lienholder during the title hold, the company must report the return to the Department of Revenue within 5 calendar days. Ala. Code 32-8-84(c)(2) (opens in a new tab)
If the car is sold, personal property left inside can be disposed of however the seller decides. Remove your belongings as early as you can. Ala. Code 32-13-3(b)(3); 32-13-4(b)(1) (opens in a new tab)

If the car is not claimed

A car becomes sellable as abandoned only after being unclaimed for at least 30 calendar days from the date the required notice was sent to the owner and lienholder. Ala. Code 32-13-1(1) (opens in a new tab)
The sale must be advertised once a week for two weeks in a county newspaper, with the first notice at least 30 days before the sale. The seller must also tell the Department of Revenue at least 35 days before the auction. Ala. Code 32-13-3(b)(1) (opens in a new tab)
Before the sale, an owner or lienholder can contest it by filing an appeal with the circuit court in the county where the sale is set. The car cannot be sold while the court decides whether it was abandoned and the notices were proper. Ala. Code 32-13-4(a)-(b) (opens in a new tab)
A sale is void if the seller did not give the required notices, and the owner keeps ownership. Disputes over towing and storage costs go to the circuit court in the county of the sale. Ala. Code 32-13-3(c)(4); 32-13-4(b)(4) (opens in a new tab)

Disputing the charges

If you paid by credit card, you can dispute the charge with your card issuer. For billing errors, your written dispute generally must reach the issuer within 60 days of the first bill showing the charge. Whether a tow charge qualifies is up to the issuer. Fair Credit Billing Act (FTC guidance) (opens in a new tab)
Money claims up to $6,000 can be filed on the district court small claims docket, and you may appear without a lawyer. Ala. Code 12-12-31(a)-(b) (opens in a new tab)

Where to complain

Alabama Attorney General, Consumer Interest Division. Takes consumer complaints online; it does not give legal advice. Phone (334) 242-7300. File a complaint (opens in a new tab)
Your city's towing or police office. Alabama leaves private-property tow rules largely to cities. Ask your city whether it licenses tow companies or takes overcharge complaints.

Alabama district court small claims handles money claims up to $6,000, not counting interest and costs. You may appear without a lawyer.

Check your tow

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-17. These are the laws and official pages this page is based on.