Breaking down on the side of the road is stressful enough without worrying about getting overcharged or having your car damaged by a careless tow operator. Knowing your rights and what to expect can save you hundreds of dollars and a lot of headaches.
Types of Towing Services
Flatbed towing is the gold standard. Your vehicle is loaded onto a flat trailer and transported without any wheels touching the ground. This is safest for AWD and 4WD vehicles, lowered cars, and luxury vehicles. Wheel-lift towing picks up the front or rear wheels while the other set rolls on the road — it’s cheaper but not suitable for all vehicles. Dolly towing places the drive wheels on a small trailer, which is common for longer-distance tows.
For minor issues like lockouts, dead batteries, flat tires, or running out of gas, most towing companies also offer roadside assistance without needing a full tow.
What Should a Tow Cost?
Typical towing rates include a hook-up fee ($50-$100) plus a per-mile charge ($2-$7 per mile). A standard 10-mile tow usually runs $75-$175. After-hours, weekends, and holidays often carry surcharges of $25-$75. Long-distance tows are priced per mile, typically $2-$4 per mile for distances over 40 miles.
Get the total price in writing or confirmed verbally before authorizing the tow. Reputable companies give you a clear quote upfront — if a driver can’t or won’t tell you the total cost, that’s a major red flag.
Know Your Rights
Towing is regulated in most states. Key rights you should know: tow companies must provide a written receipt with itemized charges, they cannot hold your vehicle hostage for disputed charges in most jurisdictions, you have the right to specify where your vehicle is towed, and predatory towing from private lots often has specific legal limits on what can be charged.
If you’re in an accident and a tow truck shows up that you didn’t call, you are not obligated to use them. “Chase towing” — where trucks listen to police scanners and rush to accident scenes — is a common practice, and these operators often charge premium rates and tow to their preferred (expensive) storage lots.
How to Choose a Towing Company
The best time to find a tow company is before you need one. Save a trusted company’s number in your phone. Look for companies that are licensed and insured, have transparent pricing, offer flatbed service, and have strong reviews mentioning professionalism and care with vehicles.
If you have roadside assistance through your insurance, AAA, or your vehicle manufacturer, use it — but know that they dispatch third-party tow companies, and you can request a specific company in many cases.
Browse top-rated towing companies on Automotive Club to find reliable operators near you before an emergency happens.
