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, and most short tows of 5 to 10 miles land around $75 to $150. 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.

Towing Cost by Distance

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 to Calculate Towing Cost

Most tows follow one formula: towing cost = hook-up fee + (miles × per-mile rate) + any extras. For example, a 20-mile tow with a $100 hook-up fee and a $4 per-mile rate costs about $100 + $80 = $180. If the same tow happens at night (+$50) on a flatbed (about 25% more), expect closer to $275. Ask the dispatcher for the hook-up fee, the per-mile rate and whether any miles are included, then use the estimator below.

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.

Why Towing Prices Vary by Location

The same 10-mile tow can cost noticeably more in a big city than in a small town. Labor, fuel, insurance and yard rent all cost more in expensive metro areas, and coastal states such as California tend to sit at the high end of national ranges. Rural tows often have lower hook-up fees but longer distances, so the mileage charge does more of the damage.

Some cities and states cap what tow companies can charge for police-ordered or private-property tows (called non-consent tows), and post those maximum rates online. Those caps usually do not apply when you call a tow company yourself, which is why getting a quote before the truck is dispatched matters.

Long Distance: Tow Truck vs Car Transport vs Tow Dolly

• Tow truck: best for breakdowns and trips up to about 100 miles. Beyond that, per-mile charges add up fast.
• Car transport company: for moves of a few hundred miles or more, an open-carrier transport is often cheaper per mile than a tow truck, though pickup dates are less flexible.
• Tow dolly or car trailer rental: the cheapest do-it-yourself option for a move if you have a vehicle rated to tow the weight. Check your car’s weight against the towing vehicle’s capacity first.

Flatbed vs Wheel-Lift Towing

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

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.
• Junk or scrap cars: salvage yards and car-buying services often tow a car away for free when they buy it.
• Your repair shop: some shops cover or discount the tow if they do the repair.

What to Do When You Need a Tow

Before you call: some problems do not need a tow at all. A car that clicks but will not crank may only have a dead battery that a jump start can fix; see how to tell if your car battery is dead and our checklist for when a car won’t start. If the temperature gauge spikes, stop driving and follow the steps for a car that is overheating; driving on can turn a cheap fix into a ruined engine and a tow anyway.

1. 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.
2. Call your roadside assistance provider before calling a random tow company.
3. Know your location: use your phone’s map, a mile marker or the nearest exit.
4. 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.
5. Ask for a quote up front: hook-up fee, per-mile rate, estimated total and payment methods.
6. Remove valuables and take photos of your car before it is loaded.
7. Get a receipt with the company name, driver and charges.

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.

1. Call the local police non-emergency number or check your city’s towed-vehicle website to find your car.
2. Bring your driver’s license, registration or title, and proof of insurance.
3. Pay any required tickets or release fees; many lots only accept certain payment methods.
4. Retrieve the car as soon as possible to stop daily storage charges.
5. 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