How Much Does It Cost to Tow a Car? Rates per Mile, Fees and Coverage
How much does it cost to tow a car? Here are typical rates. A local tow usually costs $75 to $250. Most companies charge a hook-up fee of about $75 to $150 plus $2.50 to $7 per mile, so a 5-mile tow might cost around $100 while a 50-mile tow can run $250 to $450. Flatbed towing, night and weekend calls, highways, heavy vehicles and cars stuck in ditches all cost more. If you have roadside assistance through AAA, your insurer or your car maker, the tow may be free up to a set distance.
Here is how towing is priced, typical costs by distance and situation, how to avoid overpaying, and what to do if your car was towed to an impound lot.
Key Takeaways
- Typical local tow: $75–$250.
- Pricing: hook-up fee ($75–$150) plus a per-mile rate ($2.50–$7).
- Flatbed: often 20–30% more, but required for many all-wheel-drive cars.
- Check coverage first: roadside assistance often includes free towing up to a limit.
- Impound fees are separate: roughly $100–$300 to tow plus $25–$75 a day in storage.
Towing Cost by Distance
| Tow distance | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| 5 miles | $85–$150 |
| 10 miles | $100–$200 |
| 25 miles | $150–$300 |
| 50 miles | $250–$450 |
| 100 miles | $350–$700 |
| 200+ miles (long distance) | $500–$1,500+ |
These are typical 2026 US ranges for a standard passenger car. Many companies lower the per-mile rate on long tows, while fuel surcharges and tolls can push it up. For moves of several hundred miles, an auto transport company is often cheaper than a tow truck.
How Towing Companies Price a Tow
- Hook-up fee: the base charge for arriving and securing your car, usually $75–$150.
- Per-mile charge: about $2.50–$5 per mile for a wheel-lift truck and $3.50–$7 for a flatbed. Some include the first 5–10 miles.
- After-hours surcharge: nights, weekends and holidays often add $25–$100 or more.
- Winching or recovery: pulling a car out of a ditch, mud or snow is usually billed separately, often $100–$300 or by the hour.
- Waiting time: some companies bill for time spent waiting at the scene.
- Storage: if the car goes to the tow yard instead of your home or a shop, daily storage fees apply.
Flatbed vs Wheel-Lift Towing
| Wheel-lift (tow truck) | Flatbed | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Lifts one end; the other wheels roll on the road | Carries the whole car on a platform |
| Typical cost | Lower | About 20–30% more |
| Best for | Two-wheel-drive cars over short distances | All-wheel-drive, 4×4, EVs, luxury, low or damaged cars, long distances |
| Risk | Can damage the drivetrain on AWD cars or scrape low bodywork | Minimal |
Many all-wheel-drive, 4×4 and electric vehicles should be towed with all four wheels off the ground. Towing them with two wheels on the road can damage the transfer case, differentials or electric motors. Check your owner’s manual for towing instructions and tell the dispatcher your drivetrain when you call.
Situations That Cost More
| Situation | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Car stuck in a ditch, snow or mud (winch-out) | $100–$300 extra |
| Accident recovery | $150–$500+, more if cleanup is needed |
| Heavy-duty pickup, van or RV | $150–$400 hook-up plus higher per-mile rates |
| Motorcycle | $100–$200 locally |
| Highway or interstate tow | Often higher rates or set fees in some areas |
| Parking garage or tight space | May need special equipment and extra fees |
Does Insurance Cover Towing?
- Roadside assistance add-on: many insurers sell it for roughly $10–$30 a year. It usually covers towing for breakdowns up to a set distance, often 10–15 miles or to the nearest repair shop, plus jump starts, lockouts and flat tires.
- After an accident: collision coverage usually pays to tow your car from the crash scene when the accident is covered.
- Not covered: impound and storage fees after a police or private-property tow, and usually towing beyond your plan’s distance limit.
Other Ways to Get a Free or Cheaper Tow
- AAA or another auto club: memberships include several tows a year, with longer distances on higher tiers.
- Manufacturer roadside assistance: most new cars include it during the warranty period.
- Credit cards: some offer roadside benefits or pay-per-use towing at set prices.
- Extended warranties often include towing to a repair shop.
What to Do When You Need a Tow
- Get safe first: pull as far off the road as possible, turn on your hazard lights and, if it is safe, stay in the car with your seat belt on or wait well away from traffic.
- Call your roadside assistance provider before calling a random tow company.
- Know your location: use your phone’s map, a mile marker or the nearest exit.
- Decide where the car should go: your home, your preferred repair shop or the nearest shop. Towing to a tow yard can add storage fees.
- Ask for a quote up front: hook-up fee, per-mile rate, estimated total and payment methods.
- Remove valuables and take photos of your car before it is loaded.
- Get a receipt with the company name, driver and charges.
Safety note: be cautious of tow trucks that arrive at an accident scene without being called. In some areas unsolicited “chaser” tow trucks charge inflated fees or tow cars to distant yards. Use a company sent by police, your insurer or your roadside assistance provider when possible.
If Your Car Was Towed to an Impound Lot
Cars towed for parking violations, from private lots or by police usually go to an impound lot. Costs add up quickly: roughly $100 to $300 for the tow plus $25 to $75 or more for each day of storage, plus any release or administrative fee.
- Call the local police non-emergency number or check your city’s towed-vehicle website to find your car.
- Bring your driver’s license, registration or title, and proof of insurance.
- Pay any required tickets or release fees; many lots only accept certain payment methods.
- Retrieve the car as soon as possible to stop daily storage charges.
- Inspect the car before leaving and photograph any new damage.
How to Save Money on Towing
- Add roadside assistance to your insurance or join an auto club before you need it.
- Tow to your own shop only if it is close; long tows can cost more than the repair difference.
- Ask whether your repair shop has a preferred tow partner with better rates.
- Keep your car maintained; battery, tire and cooling-system problems cause many breakdowns.
- For long-distance moves, compare car transport quotes instead of towing.
Towing Cost FAQ
A local tow usually costs $75 to $250. Most companies charge a hook-up fee of about $75 to $150 plus $2.50 to $7 per mile.
Typically about $100 to $200, depending on the hook-up fee, per-mile rate, time of day and whether a flatbed is needed.
Usually about $350 to $700. Long tows often have a lower per-mile rate, but fuel surcharges and tolls can add to the total.
Collision coverage usually pays to tow your car after a covered accident. Towing after a breakdown is covered only if you have roadside assistance on your policy or through another plan.
Yes, usually about 20 to 30 percent more than wheel-lift towing, but many all-wheel-drive, 4×4, electric and luxury cars should be towed on a flatbed.
AAA memberships include several service calls a year, with towing distance limits that increase with higher membership tiers. Check your plan for exact limits.
Often $100 to $300 for the tow plus $25 to $75 or more per day of storage, plus release fees and any tickets. Retrieve your car quickly to limit charges.
Usually yes for breakdowns and roadside assistance calls. After a police-ordered tow or accident, the car may go to a designated lot first.
