Towing Cost Calculator
Get an instant, no-obligation tow price by distance, vehicle type, and service. See real per-mile rates and typical costs for any tow - before you call.
How much does a tow truck cost?
A typical tow costs about $84 to $150 for a short local tow (up to roughly 5 miles), plus about $2.25 to $5.00 per mile beyond that for a car (the rate falls on longer trips). The three biggest cost drivers are distance, your vehicle type (heavier vehicles cost more), and timing - nights, weekends, and flatbed service raise the price. Use the calculator below for an exact estimate for your tow.
Pickup & Drop-off
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Enter both addresses to calculate distance automatically
Vehicle Type
Service Options
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Average towing costs in the US:
- • Local tow (5 miles): $100 - $150
- • Medium distance (25 miles): $180 - $270
- • Long distance (50+ miles): $240 - $360+
Already been towed and the bill looks too high?
Every state limits what a towing company can charge. If your bill breaks those rules, you can push back - our Dispute a Tow Bill tool builds a ready-to-send demand letter tailored to your state laws.
Check my tow billTowing cost per mile by vehicle
Most tows are priced as a base hook-up fee plus a per-mile rate that falls on longer trips. These are the rates our calculator uses for the first 25 miles; after that the rate drops by 40%, and past 100 miles by 55% (before flatbed, heavy-duty, or after-hours adjustments):
| Vehicle | Base fee | Per mile (first 25 mi) | Typical 10-mile local tow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car / Sedan | $100 | $5.00/mi | $120 - $180 |
| SUV | $115 | $5.75/mi | $138 - $208 |
| Pickup Truck | $130 | $6.50/mi | $176 - $264 |
| Motorcycle | $85 | $4.25/mi | $102 - $154 |
| RV / Motorhome | $190 | $9.50/mi | $268 - $402 |
Flatbed towing adds about 30%; heavy-duty or specialty equipment can double the rate; after-hours and weekends add 25-50%. See our methodology for the full formula.
How much does it cost to tow a car by distance?
Typical cost to tow a standard car during normal hours (base fee + mileage):
5 mile tow
$100-$150
10 mile tow
$120-$180
25 mile tow
$180-$270
50 mile tow
$240-$360
100 mile tow
$360-$540
Moving a car 100+ miles? Long tows are priced differently and an auto-transport carrier is often cheaper - see the cost to tow a car 200 or 500 miles below, or browse real city-to-city tow routes.
How much does it cost to tow a car 200 or 500 miles?
Past about 100 miles a dedicated long-distance tow is priced differently from a local hook, and an auto-transport carrier - which hauls several cars at once - is usually the cheaper way to move a car. Typical ranges for a standard car:
| Distance | Tow truck | Car carrier | Usually cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 miles | $540 - $810 | $350 - $550 | Car carrier |
| 500 miles | $1,080 - $1,620 | $550 - $850 | Car carrier |
Long-distance figures use our reconciled tow-vs-carrier model: tow-truck rates taper on very long hauls, and carriers carry a $150 to $300 minimum on short moves. For 1,000+ mile moves, shipping is almost always the cheaper and easier option.
Moving a car over 150 miles? Compare tow truck vs. auto-transport in our long-distance towing cost guide or get a car-shipping estimate on our car transport cost page.
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Towing cost by type of tow
Different tows need different equipment. Below is the typical cost of a short local tow (about 10 miles) by type, computed from the same model as the calculator. For a car, add roughly $2.25 to $5.00 per mile for longer distances.
| Type of tow | Typical short local tow | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Standard tow (wheel-lift) | $120 - $180 | The default modern hook. A wheel-lift cradles the drive wheels and lifts one axle - the everyday, lowest-cost option. |
| Flatbed tow | $156 - $234 | The whole vehicle rides on the bed, so nothing touches the road. About 30% more than a standard hook. Best for AWD, low, luxury, or damaged cars. |
| Hook-and-chain tow | $120 - $180 | The old chain-lift method, largely phased out because it can damage the vehicle. When still offered it is priced like a standard hook. |
| Heavy-duty tow | $352 - $528 | Needed for oversized consumer vehicles - large trucks, big RVs, and dual-axle loads that a standard truck cannot handle. |
| Motorcycle tow | $102 - $154 | Lighter equipment and a lower base fee make a motorcycle tow the cheapest common tow. A flatbed or motorcycle cradle protects the bike. |
| Winch-out / recovery | $180 - $270 | Pulling a car out of mud, a ditch, or snow adds a winching charge (around $75) on top of the tow before any mileage. |
| Emergency / after-hours tow | $180 - $270 | Nights, weekends, and holidays add roughly 25% to 50%. This row shows the standard after-hours surcharge. |
Heavy-duty rates above are for oversized consumer vehicles (large trucks and RVs). Commercial semi-truck, bus, and equipment recovery is billed by the hour, typically $250 to $600+ per hour, and can run well over $1,000 - it is not covered by the estimate above.
How the towing cost calculator works
1. Distance
Enter pickup and drop-off, or the distance in miles. Mileage is the biggest cost driver.
2. Vehicle
Car, SUV, truck, motorcycle, or RV. Heavier vehicles carry a higher base fee and per-mile rate.
3. Service & time
Standard, flatbed, or heavy-duty, plus time of day. We apply the right multipliers for your case.
Towing cost calculator - FAQs
How to calculate a tow cost?
Add the base hook-up fee to the mileage charge, then adjust for service and timing. For a standard car that is about a $100 hook-up fee plus about $5.00 a mile for the first 25 miles, $3.00 a mile up to 100 miles, and about $2.25 a mile after that; flatbed adds roughly 30%, heavy-duty can double the rate, and after-hours or weekend calls add 25% to 50%. The calculator above runs this exact math for you in seconds.
How much does towing cost per mile?
Most tows run about $2 to $7 per mile on top of a hook-up fee, highest for the first miles and lower on long trips. For a standard car: about $5.00 a mile for the first 25 miles, $3.00 up to 100 miles, and about $2.25 after that, plus a hook-up fee of roughly $80 to $120. Motorcycles cost a little less; SUVs, pickups, and RVs cost more because they need heavier equipment.
How much does it cost to tow a car 5, 10, or 50 miles?
For a standard car during normal hours, a 5-mile tow is about $100 to $150, a 10-mile tow about $120 to $180, a 25-mile tow about $180 to $270, a 50-mile tow about $240 to $360, and a 100-mile tow about $360 to $540. Nights, weekends, flatbed service, and heavier vehicles push these higher.
How much would a 200-mile tow cost?
For a standard car, a 200-mile tow runs roughly $540 to $810 by tow truck, and a 500-mile tow about $1,080 to $1,620. At those distances an auto-transport carrier is usually cheaper (around $350 to $550 for 200 miles), and past about 1,000 miles almost everyone ships the car instead of towing it.
What is the minimum cost for a tow?
Most tow companies charge at least about $84 to $150 even for a very short tow, because the hook-up fee and first few miles are bundled into one flat call-out charge. A motorcycle or a quick local hook can be a little less; specialty equipment and after-hours calls cost more.
What is the cheapest way to tow a car?
For a short move, a standard wheel-lift tow is the cheapest option. For anything over about 100 to 150 miles, an auto-transport carrier is almost always cheaper than a tow truck because carriers are priced per mile and move several cars at once. A roadside membership like AAA also includes a set number of free tow miles.
How much can a tow company charge per mile?
There is no single national cap. Per-mile towing rates typically run about $2 to $7 per loaded mile depending on the vehicle and the distance, and many states set their own legal maximum on what a company can charge, especially for non-consent (police-ordered or trespass) tows. Check your state towing laws for the exact limit where you live.
What does AAA charge for towing?
AAA does not bill per tow, it is a yearly membership. Classic (about $60 to $90 a year) covers roughly 5 free tow miles per call, Plus (about $90 to $130 a year) covers up to 100 miles, and Premier (about $120 to $165 a year) covers one 200-mile tow. Beyond your included miles you pay roughly $4 to $7 per extra mile.
What is the 80% rule for towing?
The 80% rule is a trailer-towing safety guideline, not a pricing rule. It means you should keep a trailer under 80% of your vehicle's maximum rated tow capacity to leave a safety margin. It is not required by law and has nothing to do with what a tow company can charge you for a tow.
Is this towing estimate accurate?
The calculator combines a base fee, a per-mile rate, and multipliers for vehicle type, service type (flatbed or heavy-duty), and time of day. It shows a range of about 20% either side of the typical price, because real quotes vary by company and location. For an exact price, get 2 to 3 quotes from local companies and use this estimate to judge whether a quoted price is fair.
What makes a tow cost more?
Distance and the per-mile rate are the biggest drivers, followed by after-hours or weekend service (adds 25% to 50%), flatbed towing (about 30% more than a standard hook), heavy-duty or specialty equipment (up to 2x), and add-ons like winching, a jump-start, or a tire change. Storage or impound fees are separate if your vehicle is held.
Was your car already towed and the bill looks too high?
Every state caps what a towing company can legally charge, and many bills include fees that break those rules. Check your state towing laws, and if you were overcharged you can dispute it - our Dispute a Tow Bill tool builds a ready-to-send demand letter for your state.
Estimates are for informational purposes only and show a range of about 20% either side of a typical price. Actual towing prices are set by individual companies and vary by location, vehicle condition, and circumstances. Always confirm pricing with the towing company before authorizing service.
Know a fair price before you call
Check average towing costs in your state, know your rights, or dispute a bill you think is too high.