Need a rough price before you call a tow truck? This calculator estimates what a tow is likely to cost based on your vehicle, the distance, the type of tow, the time of day and your situation. Every rate in it comes from a public source we checked in October 2026, listed at the bottom of this page. Treat the result as a ballpark figure, not a quote.
Disclaimer: TowCars.com is a nationwide towing information and referral service. We don’t tow, dispatch, or store vehicles, and we aren’t responsible for the work, prices, or conduct of 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.
Free estimate tool
Tow Cost Calculator
Pick your vehicle, distance and situation to see a typical price range, built from published 2026 tow rates and national cost data. It is an estimate, not a quote.
Typical range. Your actual price is set by the provider.
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Estimate only. Figures are built from the published rate schedules and national cost data listed under Sources below, checked October 2026. They are not a quote or a price guarantee. TowCars.com is a referral service: we don’t tow, dispatch or store vehicles, and the independent providers we connect you with set their own prices and terms. Always confirm the total price before the truck hooks up.
How towing is priced
Most tow bills are built from the same few pieces. Knowing them makes it easier to read a quote and spot a padded invoice.
- Hook-up (base) fee. A flat charge for coming out and attaching the vehicle. It often includes the first few miles. AAA Club Alliance puts a typical 5-mile tow at $75 to $150.
- Mileage. A per-mile charge after the included miles, typically $2.50 to $7 per mile according to J.D. Power data cited by AAA.
- Equipment. A flatbed, wheel dollies for AWD cars, or a heavy-duty wrecker for vehicles over 10,000 lb.
- Time and labor. After-hours charges, extra time at an accident scene, and winching a car out of a ditch, mud or snow.
- Storage and fees. If the car goes to a lot, daily storage and sometimes an administrative or release fee.
Published tow rates in sample areas
Cities and counties often set maximum rates for police-ordered and other non-consent tows. These public schedules are a useful reality check, even for tows you arrange yourself.
| Area (source) | Standard car tow | Mileage | Storage / other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $215–$220 first hour | $12/mile | $66–$68/day; EV fee $75–$77 |
| Houston, TX | $232 (first 20 miles) | $4.64/mile after 20 | — |
| Indian River County, FL (schedule headed 2025) | $145 per call | $5/mile | Dollies $45; flatbed call $155 |
| Sarpy County, NE | $150 | $3/mile (outside county) | Motorcycle $125; +$150 if on side/roof |
| Ithaca, NY | $275 | — | $50/day after 24 hours |
| Utah (statewide) | $211/hour max | — | After-hours max $75; admin fee $44 |
| Texas (private-property tows) | $272 max | — | Vehicles ≤10,000 lb |
Consent vs. non-consent tows
A consent tow is one you request, for example after a breakdown. In most places the company sets its own price, so it pays to ask for a total before you agree. A non-consent tow is ordered by police or a property owner, and many cities and states cap what can be charged. If your car was towed without your consent, ask for an itemized bill and compare it with the local schedule, or run it through our tow bill checker.
How to avoid overpaying for a tow
- Check your coverage first. AAA, your car insurance, your credit card or your new-car warranty may include roadside towing.
- Ask for the total price before hook-up, including the per-mile rate, after-hours charges and any equipment fees.
- Ask whether the first few miles are included in the hook-up fee.
- Choose the drop-off carefully. Towing to the right shop the first time avoids paying for a second tow.
- Ask for a flatbed when your car needs one (AWD, EVs, low or modified cars). Repairing tow damage costs far more than a flatbed.
- After an accident, don’t sign blank forms or accept a truck you didn’t call without checking who sent it. See our guide to avoiding tow scams.
- If your car is impounded, move fast. Storage is charged per day. Our impound lot finder has the official lookups and lots for the 25 largest U.S. cities. To see where getting a car back costs the most, read our 2026 report on the most expensive places to get towed.
- Get a receipt that lists every charge.
- Run a website or blog? You can add this towing cost calculator to your site for free.
How this calculator works
The estimate adds a hook-up fee that includes the first 5 miles, mileage after that, and extras for your vehicle, timing and situation. Low and high totals are rounded to the nearest $5. For the full breakdown behind any result, see the table under the total.
- Light-duty hook-up: $75–$150 (AAA Club Alliance 5-mile tow). Motorcycles: $75–$125 (high end from Sarpy County’s $125 motorcycle rate).
- Mileage: $2.50–$7 per mile local; $2.50–$4.75 per mile for long-distance tows (J.D. Power via AAA and The Zebra).
- Flatbed: $0–$10 extra, based on Indian River County’s $155 flatbed vs. $145 standard tow. AWD on a wheel-lift adds $45 for dollies.
- EVs are priced as flatbed tows, plus an EV handling fee of $0–$77 (Los Angeles charges $75–$77).
- Heavy-duty (over 10,000 lb): $220–$519 per call and $6–$12 per mile (Indian River County Class B–D; Los Angeles mileage).
- Night/weekend/holiday: $0–$75 (Utah and Phoenix). Accident: $0–$150 extra scene time. Winch-out: $100–$250 (Ithaca and Sarpy County).
- Impound release: $145–$275 tow fee, $3–$12 per mile, $15–$68 per day of storage and a $0–$44 admin fee, plus an after-hours release fee of $0–$100 if you choose night/weekend.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tow truck cost per mile?
J.D. Power figures cited by AAA put typical towing mileage at about $2.50 to $7 per mile, and The Zebra gives $4.75 as the average. Many companies include the first few miles in the hook-up fee. Regulated police tows vary: Houston adds $4.64 per mile after the first 20 miles, while Los Angeles official police garages charge $12 per mile.
How much does a 5-mile tow cost?
AAA Club Alliance says a short 5-mile tow typically costs $75 to $150 if you don’t have a membership. Night, weekend and holiday calls, accidents and special equipment can push the price higher.
Is a flatbed tow more expensive than a wheel-lift tow?
Sometimes, but often not by much. In Indian River County, Florida’s maximum-rate schedule, a flatbed call is $155 compared with $145 for a standard tow. Private companies set their own prices, so ask whether a flatbed costs extra. For AWD cars, EVs and low cars a flatbed is usually worth it.
Why does a tow cost more at night or on weekends?
Fewer drivers are on call, so many companies add an after-hours charge. Some public schedules cap it: Utah allows up to $75 for after-hours non-consent tows, and Phoenix lists a $75 after-hours rate.
How much does it cost to get a car out of impound?
You usually pay the tow fee, a daily storage fee and sometimes an administrative or release fee. In Los Angeles, official police garages charge $215 to $220 for a standard tow plus $66 to $68 per day of storage. In Phoenix, storage for impounded vehicles is capped at $15 or $25 per day depending on the law used. Pick the car up quickly, because storage adds up every day.
Does insurance or AAA pay for a tow?
Often, if you have the right coverage. AAA Classic covers tows up to 5 miles, while Plus and Premier cover up to 100 miles per tow (AAA Club Alliance; limits vary by club). Many insurers sell roadside or towing coverage as an add-on, and some reimburse only a set amount, so call your insurer or check your policy before you pay.
How accurate is this tow cost calculator?
It gives a typical range, not a quote. The figures come from published 2026 government rate schedules and national cost data, but tow companies you hire yourself are generally free to set their own prices. Use the range to judge whether a quote is reasonable, and always get the total price before the truck hooks up.
Get real prices for your tow
A calculator can only give you a range. If you need a tow now or want to compare prices, send us a request and independent towing providers who serve your area can contact you with quotes.
TowCars.com doesn’t tow vehicles and doesn’t set or guarantee any provider’s prices. Rates and rules change, so check with your local authority or provider before you rely on any figure on this page.
Sources
- AAA Club Alliance – How Far Does AAA Tow? (Mar. 13, 2026)
- AAA Mountain West Group – Roadside Assistance Comprehensive Guide (cites J.D. Power)
- AAA Mountain West Group – Roadside Assistance FAQs
- The Zebra – How Much Does Towing a Car Cost? (cites J.D. Power)
- Kelley Blue Book – How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car in 2026?
- Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners – Official Police Garage rates, effective 1/1/2026 (BPC #26-256)
- Houston Police Department – Towed Vehicles FAQ
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation – Towing Consumer Information
- Indian River County (FL) Sheriff’s Office – Schedule for Towing, Maximum Rates
- Sarpy County (NE) – 2026 Towing Rates
- City of Ithaca (NY) – Towing & Storage Fees, effective 3/30/2026
- Utah Department of Transportation – 2026 Non-Consent Towing Fee Schedule
- City of Phoenix Police – Vehicle Towing Information
