Sometimes, your car gives up the ghost on the road, and there’s no way to fix it on the spot with the tools at hand. Your only choice is to call for a tow and bring your vehicle to the nearest car repair shop. However, the cost of hiring a towing service might make you balk. How can you avoid getting overcharged by the company towing your car?
How Much Does Towing a Car Cost?
You can expect towing companies to charge you $129 on average for their services. As of the time of writing, a towing service can set you back anywhere between $85 and $453.
Towing service costs are usually split between two fees: The hookup fee and the per-mile fee. The hookup fee covers the expenses for dispatching a tow truck to where you are and hooking up your car. Depending on the truck’s design, the towing personnel either attach your vehicle to a hook or winch it aboard a flatbed. Typically, the tow fee ranges between $25 and $100.
Meanwhile, the per-mile fee covers the expense of towing your car to the destination, including the fuel cost. Usually, the towing company charges anywhere between $2.50 and $5 for every mile their truck tows your vehicle.
Towing service fees vary between companies. Some towing companies set their prices according to mileage ranges. Others calculate the cost based on each mile.
What Factors Drive Towing Cost Up or Down?
The following factors can affect the towing service fee:
Your Vehicle’s Size and Weight
What do you drive? Large, heavy vehicles like SUVs, trucks, and vans usually cost more to tow than cars. They require bigger, more powerful tow trucks that can handle their weight. Since larger tow trucks burn more fuel and have higher maintenance costs, towing companies charge more for using them to recover an SUV, truck, or van.
Time and Day
What time are you calling for a tow? Many towing companies switch between different pricing ranges depending on the time of the day that they tow your car. The after-hour pricing might add anywhere between several dollars and more than $100 to the typical towing fee.
Towing companies might also charge more for their services during weekends and holidays.
Working Conditions
Where is your vehicle stranded? If the area is difficult to reach and tough to work in, the towing company might add another fee to your bill.
Furthermore, the company might charge you extra for performing other services. For example, if your car’s stuck in a ditch, the towing personnel must winch it out before they can tow it to the repair shop. They’ll apply an additional fee for the winch service.
Car Accidents
Did you call for a tow because your vehicle hit something? Towing companies charge extra if they have to work at a collision site. They need to use specialized equipment to prevent further damage to the vehicle they’re recovering.
Does Your Car Insurance Cover the Cost of Towing Service?
Not all insurance companies cover towing costs in their policies. Indeed, most car insurance packages don’t include roadside assistance in their base price. Instead, insurers offer towing services as an extra feature and charge an additional fee for roadside assistance.
Finding out if your car insurance policy includes towing is easy. Contact your insurance company and ask if they include roadside assistance as one of their services.
Is roadside assistance coverage prominently featured in your car’s insurance package? Read the fine print and look for limits on the mileage or price. Your insurance company might refuse to cover a part or even the entire towing cost if the bill or towing distance exceeds a certain value.
Your car insurance policy might include the following roadside assistance services in a 24-hour basis:
- Delivering gas or diesel to where you are
- Jump starts
- Tire changes
- Towing or hauling vehicles that cannot be driven
- Winching trapped vehicles
The insurance company might also cover only the first hour of roadside assistance. You’ll have to shoulder the rest of the repair bill, including towing cost.
How To Avoid Towing Companies That Try To Price Gouge You
Some towing companies might take advantage of your desperate need for their towing services. Such unsavory companies might charge you an arm and a leg, especially if they know you don’t have any time or alternative. If you grill them about their pricing structure, they might dismiss your concerns by claiming they don’t follow any standard.
Fortunately, you can avoid unscrupulous towing companies. Contact several companies during your spare time and get to know them as best as you can. If you can find one or two trustworthy providers, you’re set for emergencies.
Better yet, ask someone you trust for advice on what towing company to call for a tow in an emergency.
Leave a Tip For the Tow Driver
Last but not least, consider leaving a tip for the tow driver, especially if they went out of their way to help you. You can give them anywhere between 15% and 20% of the towing cost. If they did other jobs, such as freeing your stuck vehicle with a winch, think about tipping them 25% of your towing bill.
Remember: You’re not required to leave a tip. Some states even prohibit the practice of tipping. However, if you have cash to spare, it never hurts to reward the tow driver for bringing your disabled car to a repair shop.
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Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
