AI-generated illustration
The short answer: there is no single national price for a tow. What you pay depends mostly on how far the car goes, how big it is, how hard it is to reach, when you call, and whether you asked for the tow or police or a property owner did. AAA Club Alliance says a short 5-mile tow typically costs between $75 and $150 for someone without a membership, and longer tows can run several hundred dollars. Some cities and states also cap or publish what towers can charge for tows they did not get to negotiate with you. This guide explains each cost factor, shows real published rates, and covers how insurance and roadside plans change what comes out of your pocket.
Disclaimer: TowCars.com is a nationwide towing information and referral service. We don’t tow, dispatch, or store vehicles, and we don’t guarantee any towing company. If you send us a request, we pass it to independent providers who set their own prices and terms. See our disclosure.
Watch: what a tow really costs in 2026 (52 sec)
Quick Answer: What Affects the Price of a Tow?
- Distance. Most towers charge a base or hook-up fee that includes a short distance, then a per-mile rate. Distance is usually the biggest variable.
- Vehicle size and weight. Heavier vehicles need bigger trucks. Many official rate schedules have separate light-, medium-, and heavy-duty prices.
- Towing method. A flatbed, a wheel-lift, and dollies use different equipment and labor. See our guide to vehicle weight and towing methods.
- Extra work. Winching a car out of a ditch, a car in a parking garage, a locked car in Park, or an EV that needs dollies all add time.
- Timing. Night, weekend, and holiday calls often cost more, and some city schedules include after-hours release fees.
- Who ordered the tow. A tow you request is priced by the company. A non-consent tow ordered by police or a property owner is often governed by a city or state rate schedule.
- Storage. If the car sits at a storage lot, daily fees add up fast.
Real Published Towing Rates (Examples, Not Quotes)
The numbers below come straight from official or industry sources that publish them. They are examples of how pricing is structured, not a quote for your tow. Rates change, and a private tow company you call yourself can usually set its own price.
AAA: Roadside Membership Distance Limits
AAA Club Alliance lists three membership levels:
- Classic: 5 miles per tow (or up to 40 miles to a AAA Tire & Auto Center), up to 4 service calls per year
- Plus: up to 100 miles per tow, 4 service calls per year
- Premier: up to 100 miles per tow and 5 service calls per year, with one tow per household of up to 200 miles
When a tow goes past the covered distance, you pay for the extra miles. AAA Mountain West Group’s FAQ says those charges are at the service provider’s current rates and gives these general ranges: about $5 to $6 per mile in Arizona, $10 to $15 per mile in California, and $5 to $10 per mile in Alaska, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. AAA clubs are regional, so check the terms for your own club.
Texas: State Caps on Private-Property Tows
For tows from private property (for example, a parking lot) without the owner’s consent, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) publishes statewide maximum tow fees unless a city or county sets a lower one:
- Up to 10,000 lbs: $272
- 10,001–24,999 lbs: $380
- 25,000 lbs or more: $489 per unit, up to a maximum of $978
TDLR’s 2023 adjustment also caps daily storage at a vehicle storage facility at $22.85 a day for vehicles 25 feet or shorter and $39.99 a day for longer vehicles. There is also a one-time notification fee of up to $50 and an impoundment fee of up to $22.85. Texas storage facilities must accept cash, debit cards, and credit cards.
Houston: City Non-Consent Rate
The City of Houston adjusted its non-consent tow rate (for tows other than private-property tows) to $232, effective January 1, 2026. The Houston Police Department’s towed-vehicle FAQ says the $232 rate covers the first 20 miles, plus $4.64 per mile after that. Houston’s TOW AND GO program can also move a stalled car off a covered freeway for free. See our Houston towing guide.
Los Angeles: Official Police Garage Rates
The City of Los Angeles uses Official Police Garages (OPGs) for police-directed tows. The 2026 rate table approved by the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners lists a standard-vehicle tow at $220 for the first hour by credit card, or $215 paid another way. Each additional half-hour is $109/$106. Daily storage for a standard vehicle is $68 by card or $66 otherwise. The table also lists a $12-per-mile mileage rate and an EV surcharge of $77/$75. See our Los Angeles towing guide.
Phoenix: Storage Caps for Police Tows
The Phoenix Police Department says storage fees are capped at $25 per day for vehicles impounded under Arizona’s mandatory impound law (ARS 28-3511) and $15 per day for vehicles stored under Phoenix City Code 23-55. Picking up after hours costs $75. For a mandatory impound there is also a $150 administrative fee paid to the City of Phoenix. See our Phoenix towing guide.
How Distance and Mileage Charges Work
Most tow bills combine a base charge (sometimes called a hook-up fee) and a per-mile charge. Some include a set number of miles in the base, as Houston’s 20-mile non-consent rate does. Others charge per mile from the first mile, or bill by the hour, as the Los Angeles OPG table does. When you get a quote, ask:
- What does the base charge include, and how many miles?
- Is the per-mile rate counted from pickup or from the tow company’s yard?
- Are there charges for waiting time, winching, dollies, or going into a parking garage?
- Is there an after-hours, weekend, or holiday surcharge?
- What payment methods do you take?
For moves of hundreds of miles, a long tow is often the wrong tool. Our towing vs. car transport guide explains when shipping makes more sense.
Vehicle Type: Why Some Cars Cost More to Tow
A compact sedan and a loaded dually pickup need very different trucks. Official rate tables like TDLR’s and Los Angeles’s separate light-duty from medium- and heavy-duty tows, and the heavy-duty prices are much higher. Low sports cars, lifted trucks, all-wheel-drive cars, and electric vehicles may also need a flatbed or extra equipment. Many EV makers say all wheels should be off the ground, and the LA table even has a separate EV surcharge. Read our EV and hybrid towing guide and the hardest vehicles to tow for details.
Storage Fees: The Cost That Grows Every Day
If your car goes to a storage lot or impound yard, the daily storage fee often becomes the biggest part of the bill. As the examples above show, caps range from about $15–$25 a day in Phoenix to $68 a day for a standard vehicle at a Los Angeles OPG. To keep the bill down:
- Find out right away where the car is. Our impound lot guide explains how.
- Bring the right documents the first time so you don’t have to come back another day.
- Ask whether the lot charges per calendar day or per 24 hours. In Texas, for example, TDLR allows only one day of storage when a car spans two calendar days but leaves within a 12-hour period.
Does Insurance or Roadside Assistance Pay for Towing?
Sometimes, but only in part. Options vary by insurer and policy:
- Towing and labor coverage. Allstate describes this as optional coverage that helps pay for towing and some roadside labor up to a limit, and only for the insured car. Amica, for example, lists a $100 limit per disablement on one policy tier and $300 on another, and notes that availability and limits vary by state. Read your own policy for limits.
- Collision and comprehensive. The Texas Department of Insurance says that with collision and comprehensive coverage your policy will pay reasonable towing and storage fees after a crash. With liability-only coverage you’ll pay yourself. If the other driver caused the crash, their insurer might pay.
- Roadside memberships. AAA and similar plans cover a set distance per call and a set number of calls per year, as shown above.
Call your insurer or roadside provider before you agree to a tow from someone else, so you don’t pay for a service you already have.
How to Avoid Surprise Towing Fees
- Get the total in writing first. Ask for the base charge, mileage, and any extras before the car is hooked up.
- Choose the destination yourself. Don’t let a driver who showed up uninvited pick the shop. See how to choose a tow company and avoid scams.
- Don’t sign blank or partly filled forms. Photograph whatever you sign.
- Ask for an itemized receipt. It is easier to dispute a charge you can see.
- Avoid DIY shortcuts that cause damage. A wrong tow can cost far more than the tow itself. See costly towing mistakes and how to tow a car safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a short tow cost?
AAA Club Alliance says a short 5-mile tow typically costs between $75 and $150 without a membership. Your price depends on your area, the vehicle, and the time of day, so always ask for a total before the tow.
Why was my police-ordered tow more expensive than a tow I called?
Non-consent tows often follow city rate schedules that include set base fees, mileage, and daily storage, and you usually pay storage until you pick the car up. In Houston, for example, the 2026 non-consent rate is $232 for the first 20 miles.
Can a tow company charge whatever it wants?
For tows you request, prices are generally set by the company, so get a quote. For non-consent tows, many cities and states set maximums. Texas, for example, caps private-property tow fees statewide.
Does car insurance cover towing?
It may. Towing and labor coverage, collision, and comprehensive coverage can all help, each with its own limits and conditions. Check your policy or call your insurer.
Is it cheaper to tow or ship a car long distance?
For long, planned moves, car shipping is often the better value. Our towing vs. transport guide compares the two.
Need a Tow Quote?
TowCars.com doesn’t tow vehicles. We can pass your request to independent towing providers who serve your area so they can contact you with prices. Request a quote here.
Rates and rules change; verify with your local authority or provider before you rely on any figure above. All figures were checked against the sources below in October 2026.
Sources
- AAA Club Alliance – How Far Does AAA Tow?
- AAA Mountain West Group – Roadside Assistance FAQs
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation – VSF Fees
- City of Houston – Non-Consent Tow Rates (2026)
- Houston Police Department – Towed Vehicles FAQ
- Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners – TOPS Manual incl. 2026 OPG Towing & Storage Rates (PDF)
- Phoenix Police Department – Vehicle Towing
- Phoenix Police Department – ARS 28-3511 Vehicle Impoundment FAQ
- Allstate – Towing and Labor Coverage
- Amica – Towing and Labor Coverage
- Texas Department of Insurance – Don’t Fall Victim to a Towing Scam
About the Author
