What to Do If Your Car Was Towed From Your Apartment in Birmingham

Step 1 — Don't panic. Your vehicle is logged by the towing company and reported to Birmingham Police. You can get it back. Here's exactly what to do.

Step 1 — Find Out Where Your Car Is

The fastest way to locate your vehicle is to look at the signs at your apartment complex entrance. Alabama law requires private property towing signs to include the name and phone number of the towing company. Call that number first — they are required to tell you where your vehicle is being held.

If there are no signs or you can't find a number, call Birmingham Police non-emergency: (205) 254-1764. Alabama towing companies must report all private property tows to local police within one hour of the tow. Police dispatch can tell you which yard has your vehicle.

Step 2 — Call the Tow Yard Before You Go

Before you drive to the tow yard, call ahead and ask:

• What are your current hours for vehicle release?
• What is the total amount owed (tow fee + storage)?
• What forms of payment do you accept?
• What ID and documents do I need to bring?

Tow yards in Alabama are required to release your vehicle at any time, but after-hours releases may carry an additional fee. Storage fees accumulate daily — often $30–$50 per day — so the faster you retrieve your vehicle, the less you pay.

Step 3 — What to Bring to Retrieve Your Vehicle

• Your government-issued photo ID
• Proof of vehicle ownership (your title or registration is ideal)
• Cash or a payment method the yard accepts (many tow yards are cash-only)
• Your insurance card (some yards may request it)

Typical Costs for Towed Vehicles in Birmingham

Fee Type	Typical Range
Base tow fee	$125 – $250
Daily storage (day 1)	$30 – $50
After-hours release fee	$25 – $75
Gate or admin fee	$0 – $25

Can You Dispute the Tow?

Yes — if any of the following are true, you may have grounds to dispute and potentially recover your fees through Jefferson County small claims court:

• There were no signs at the apartment entrance (or signs did not meet legal requirements)
• The signs did not include the towing company's name and 24-hour phone number
• Your vehicle was towed from a public street, not private property
• The towing company was not licensed in Alabama
• The tow occurred despite you having a valid parking permit for that space

If you believe your tow was unlawful, photograph the entrance area immediately to document the absence or inadequacy of signs. This is your primary evidence.

Getting Your Personal Belongings

Alabama law allows you to retrieve personal belongings from a towed vehicle even if you cannot pay the retrieval fee at that time. The tow yard cannot hold your belongings hostage. Bring your ID and tell them you need to access your personal property.

If You're a Property Manager Reading This

Private property towing done right protects your property AND your tenants. If you're getting complaints about unauthorized vehicles but want to run a clean, legally compliant towing program, Honeycutt Towing offers a free property management towing portal with digital authorization, photo documentation, and VIN logging on every tow. Call 877-729-6639 to get set up.