Alabama Towing Laws: Your Rights When Your Car Is Towed

Primary law: Ala. Code § 32-13-1 et seq. (Abandoned Motor Vehicles) · Last verified July 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Alabama is one of the least regulated states for private-property (non-consent) towing. State law is built around the Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act (Ala. Code § 32-13-1 et seq.), which mainly governs how unattended vehicles are removed, lien rights, and how unclaimed cars are sold. There is no statewide towing consumer-protection statute: no required warning signs before a trespass tow, no state fee schedule, and no state licensing board dedicated to towing. Protections that do exist come mostly from the abandoned-vehicle notice and sale process, plus whatever ordinances your city or county has adopted, so your rights can vary significantly by municipality.

Whoever tows your car in Alabama gets a lien for a 'reasonable fee' for removal and storage, but the state does not define maximums, cap storage rates, or require a drop fee option if you catch the tow in progress. The main procedural checks are on the back end: the tower must report the removal to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency within 5 calendar days, and before selling an unclaimed vehicle at public auction it must notify the state at least 35 days ahead, publish notice, and the state must send the owner and any lienholder a notice that their interest will be terminated. You have statutory appeal rights to contest a proposed sale.

If your car disappears from a lot in Alabama, first call local police or the sheriff to confirm it was towed rather than stolen and learn which company has it. Ask the tow company for an itemized bill and the legal basis for the tow, and photograph the lot, any signs (or their absence), and your bill. Pay under protest if you need the car back quickly, then dispute the charges afterward. If fees seem excessive or the tow seems unauthorized, you can pursue the tower in small claims court and file a complaint with the Alabama Attorney General's consumer division; act quickly because the sale clock starts once the vehicle is reported.

Alabama towing rules at a glance

How to get your car back in Alabama

1. Call the local police or sheriff to confirm the tow and locate the storage lot.
2. Gather your ID, registration or title, and proof of ownership before going to the lot.
3. Ask for an itemized invoice of all towing and storage charges in writing.
4. Pay the charges (under protest if you dispute them) to stop storage fees from accruing.
5. Dispute unfair charges in small claims court and complain to the Alabama Attorney General's office; respond immediately to any sale or interest-termination notice.

Where to complain about an illegal tow

Alabama Attorney General - Consumer Interest Division handles towing complaints in Alabama. Keep your receipt, photos of any signage (or lack of it), and notes on dates and times — they decide most fee disputes.

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