Chattanooga Implements Higher Tow Rates

Chattanooga drivers will now face higher towing costs after accidents or illegal parking, as new maximum rates have officially taken effect. The updated fees apply when the Chattanooga Police Department requests a tow, affecting passenger vehicles, pickup trucks, small trailers and other light-duty vehicles.

Daytime tows are now capped at $239, while nights, weekends and holidays rise to $266. Additional charges begin on Day 1, including daily storage at $35, a $75 administrative fee for locating and notifying the owner or lienholder, a gate fee of $50 to $150 depending on release time, and applicable taxes. According to Shackleford Towing & Recovery owner Mark Shackleford, these costs fall on the vehicle owner or lienholder—not the city.

The increase follows two missed years of inflation-based adjustments and comes nearly a year later than scheduled due to delays in the approval process after the city restructured its Beer and Wrecker Board. Shackleford said tow companies needed the update, noting that a third of the vehicles he tows each month are never reclaimed. Rising equipment, insurance, labor, and truck costs also strain operators.

Source: https://www.timesfreepress.com