Towed in Auburn, AL? How to Find the Lot and Get Your Car Back

In Auburn, Alabama, a towed car almost always sits on a private tow company's lot inside city limits, whether the city ordered the tow or a property owner did. City code says the tow company must report every tow to the Auburn Public Safety Communications Division within one hour. So your first call is the police non-emergency line, (334) 501-3100. Ask which company has your car, then call that company before you go.

Was my car stolen or towed?

You walk out of a bar on College Street, and the spot is empty. Don't panic yet. Look around first.

• Read the signs. Look at the driveway or curb cut you came in through. A private lot that tows must post a "Tow Away Zone" sign there.
• Find the tow company's name. If the owner has a contract with a tow company, the sign must show its name and phone number.
• Check the curb. In Auburn, every place where parking is banned is also a tow-away zone.
• Call non-emergency. Dial (334) 501-3100. Give your plate number and where you parked. Tows must be reported to the Communications Division, so they can look it up.

If nobody has a record of a tow, tell the dispatcher you think the car was stolen.

Who can tow my car in Auburn?

Two different rule books cover tows in Auburn. Which one applies changes your rights.

City-ordered tows

Chapter 22 of the Auburn City Code lets the city have a car towed by a commercial tow company. That can happen when the car is parked illegally, left where parking is banned, or causing a traffic hazard. It can also happen when a car has piled up too many unpaid parking tickets downtown.

Private lot tows

Chapter 12, Article XIII covers tows from private property. That's apartment lots, store lots and restaurant lots near campus. A car left there without the owner's okay can be towed or wheel locked. The property owner calls the tow, not the police.

Either way, a private company hauls the car and holds it. There's no single city impound yard to drive to. The name on your receipt or the dispatcher's answer tells you where to go.

What must a private tow lot in Auburn look like?

City code is strict about where a towed car can go. The tow truck must take your car straight to the company's own lot. It can't park it in a temporary holding spot first.

The lot itself must be:

• Inside Auburn city limits
• Locked, with a chain link or solid fence at least six feet tall
• Lit well enough at night to see people and cars from 150 feet away

At the entrance, the company must post its name, its fees, its address, its phone number and its office hours. Read that sign when you pull up. It tells you what you can be charged.

What should I ask when I call the tow company?

For a private lot tow, Auburn code says the company must staff or watch its phones at all times. A pager alone doesn't count. When you call, they must tell you:

1. Every document or item you need to bring to get the car out
2. Your charges, based on the fees the ordinance allows
3. The payment methods they take
4. That the car can be picked up within one hour of your request

Write down the name of the person you talk to and the time you called. If what they tell you doesn't match the code, that note helps later.

What does Auburn city code say about fees?

We don't list dollar amounts here, because they can change. The city code has the current maximums. Here's what the private tow rules say in plain words:

• No surprise fees. A company can't charge any fee the ordinance doesn't list.
• The first day is free. No storage fee for the first 24 hours after the tow. After that, storage is charged by the day.
• Cash or card. They must take cash and at least one Visa or MasterCard. They can ask you to show the card in person.
• A real receipt. You get an itemized receipt. It shows the time your car was towed, the time it was released and the property owner who asked for the tow.

So move fast. A car picked up the next morning costs less than one left through the weekend.

City tows for parking tickets work a little differently. Storage is charged for each extra 24 hours or part of one. If the car was towed for unpaid tickets, it stays held until you pay those fines. You must show the city's receipt, then pay the tow and storage.

What if I catch the tow truck in the lot?

This one matters. You come back to your car and the truck is right there.

• Not hooked up yet? The driver can't tow it and can't charge you anything.
• Hooked up, but still on the lot? The driver must unhook it and let you leave. You can be charged no more than half the tow fee, and you get a receipt.
• Wheel lock on the tire? A wheel lock has to stay on at least four hours before the car can be towed. If it does get towed, you pay the tow fee, not both.

Stay calm and polite. Then move the car right away, or the rule doesn't protect you.

Did the lot have the right signs?

A private lot in Auburn can't tow you unless its signs follow the code. The sign must:

• Stand at each driveway or curb cut, within five feet of the public right of way
• Say "Tow Away Zone" or "Wheel Lock Zone" in big letters
• List the towing hours and the words "Fees are Regulated by City Ordinance"
• Be up for at least 24 hours before any tow

Take photos of the signs, or of the spot where a sign should be. Single-family home driveways don't need these signs.

Think a tow broke the rules? Auburn Police take complaints at (334) 501-3150. After hours, use the non-emergency line, (334) 501-3100. You can also visit Public Safety at 141 N Ross St, Suite A, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How do I avoid a tow downtown?

A quick stop that runs long can turn into a tow. A few habits help:

• Watch the two-hour limit. On-street spots downtown and the Gay Street and Tichenor Avenue lots have a two-hour limit on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Know the decks. The city also runs the Wright Street and Burton Street parking decks downtown.
• Pay your tickets. Unpaid parking fines can stack up to a tow.
• Don't borrow a store lot. A shop lot is private property, even on a Saturday. On game days, downtown parking is first come, first served.

Does Sentinel do impounds in Auburn?

No. Sentinel doesn't do impounds or private property tows, and we can't release your car. Only the tow company holding it can do that. Our part starts once the car is yours again.

A car that sat on a lot for days may not start. Auburn sees about 43 nights a year at or below freezing, which is hard on a weak battery. A jump start may be all you need. If the car can't be driven, a car tow can take it from the lot to your home or a shop in Auburn or Opelika.

Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We text you a locked price before anyone is sent. Then we check on you by text until your driver arrives. That's our Stay-With-You Promise. For I-85 exits, game days and weather, see our Auburn towing page.

Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.

Auburn Impound Questions

Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: Auburn Police: Parking and Towing, Auburn City Code, Chapter 12, Article XIII, Auburn City Code, Chapter 22, Article II, City of Auburn: Downtown Parking, NOAA climate normals.