How Much Does a Tow Cost in 2026? Complete Pricing Breakdown

What is the average cost of a tow in 2026?

The average cost of a standard tow in 2026 ranges from $75 to $150 for a local service call within 5-10 miles. This base rate typically includes the hookup fee, the first few miles of transport, and basic labor.

Beyond the included mileage, per-mile charges range from $2.50 to $7.00 depending on your market and the type of tow. Urban areas like Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin tend to fall in the $3.00-5.00 per-mile range for standard towing.

These are retail rates — what a customer or business pays when dispatching directly. Motor club reimbursement rates are significantly lower, which we'll cover in a separate section.

How do costs break down by service type?

Towing is just one of six common roadside service types, each with its own pricing structure.

Standard towing (wheel-lift or hook-and-chain) costs $75-125 base plus $2.50-5.00 per loaded mile. Flatbed towing, required for AWD vehicles, luxury cars, and vehicles with significant damage, runs $95-175 base plus $3.50-7.00 per mile — a 20-40% premium over standard.

Jump start service averages $50-75, which is essentially a service call fee since the actual jump takes minutes. Lockout assistance ranges from $50-100, with higher rates for newer vehicles with more complex locking mechanisms. Flat tire changes run $50-80 (not including the tire), and fuel delivery costs $50-75 plus the actual cost of fuel.

Winch and recovery — extracting vehicles from ditches, mud, or embankments — is the most variable. Simple winch-outs start at $75-100, but complex off-road recoveries involving multiple trucks or specialized equipment can exceed $500.

What hidden fees should you watch for?

The base rate and per-mile charges are straightforward, but several additional fees can significantly increase the final bill.

After-hours surcharges are the most common, typically adding 15-30% to the total for calls between 6 PM and 8 AM, weekends, and holidays. Some operators apply these as a flat fee ($20-50) rather than a percentage.

Equipment fees cover specialized gear: dolly fees ($25-75) for towing vehicles that can't be wheel-lifted, go-jack fees ($30-50) for moving vehicles in tight spaces, and winch usage ($50-100) for any situation requiring cable extraction.

Storage fees accumulate if your vehicle sits at the tow yard. Most yards charge $25-75 per day, with some charging higher rates for larger vehicles or covered storage. Administrative fees ($25-50) may also appear for paperwork, releases, and after-hours access.

The key to avoiding surprise charges is using a dispatch platform that shows complete pricing breakdowns before the job starts — including all surcharges and equipment fees calculated into the total.

How does distance affect towing cost?

Distance is the single biggest cost multiplier for towing services. A 5-mile tow and a 50-mile tow of the same vehicle can differ by $200 or more.

Most towing companies structure their pricing with a base rate that includes the first 5-10 miles (sometimes called "included mileage" or "hookup radius"), then a per-mile rate for everything beyond that. Some also distinguish between "loaded miles" (vehicle on the truck) and "unloaded miles" (driving to the pickup location), charging a lower rate for unloaded.

For a concrete example: a standard tow in DFW with a $95 base rate (includes first 5 miles) at $4.00 per loaded mile would cost $95 for a 5-mile tow, $135 for a 15-mile tow, $175 for a 25-mile tow, and $295 for a 55-mile tow.

Long-distance towing (100+ miles) often uses a flat per-mile rate rather than a base-plus-mileage structure, typically ranging from $3.00-5.00 per mile for the entire distance.

Why do motor club rates differ from retail?

The most significant pricing gap in the towing industry is between what customers pay (retail rates) and what motor clubs reimburse operators.

According to operator surveys and industry forums, the average motor club payout for a standard local tow is $35-55 — roughly 30-40% of what the same job would pay at retail rates. For a service where the customer paid $125 to their motor club, the operator performing the work may receive only $40-50.

This gap exists because motor clubs operate as volume aggregators: they promise operators steady job flow in exchange for deeply discounted rates. In theory, the volume makes up for the lower per-job pay. In practice, many operators find that motor club work barely covers their operating costs after accounting for fuel, insurance, and truck depreciation.

This is why dispatch marketplace platforms are gaining rapid adoption. By connecting operators directly with dispatchers at retail rates (with a small platform fee of $3-5 per job rather than a 60-70% markup), operators can increase their per-job revenue by 60-100%.

How can businesses reduce their towing costs?

For dealerships, fleets, and businesses that dispatch multiple tow jobs per month, several strategies can significantly reduce per-job costs.

Building a direct operator network eliminates the motor club markup. By recruiting 3-5 tow companies directly and dispatching through a platform, you pay retail rates (which are still lower than what motor clubs charge customers) while operators earn more per job — creating alignment instead of friction.

Negotiating volume-based rate cards with your operators can reduce per-job costs by 10-20%. An operator who knows they'll receive 20-30 jobs per month from your network will often offer better rates than their posted retail pricing.

Using GPS-optimized dispatch reduces costs indirectly by matching jobs to the nearest available driver. Less drive time means lower per-job costs for mileage-based pricing and faster response times that improve customer satisfaction.

Finally, tracking and analyzing your job history data helps identify pricing patterns. Many businesses discover they're overpaying for certain service types or routes once they have transparent per-job breakdowns to review.

Frequently Asked Questions