A breakdown on the side of the highway is stressful enough without staring at a vague quote. Most tow companies price a job the same way: a flat hook-up fee, a per-mile charge from where you stopped to where the car needs to go, and one or two optional surcharges for time of night, weekend service, or a heavier-than-normal vehicle. This towing cost calculator puts all three lines on one page so you can estimate the bill before you call, compare quotes, and know whether the price on the dispatch sheet is reasonable.
Adjust the sliders and the total updates instantly. Run the same numbers at a $3 per-mile rate and a $6 per-mile rate and you will see how much a long-distance tow actually moves the final number — which is exactly the question drivers ask when they are broken down 40 miles from home.
How to Use
- Enter the Hook-Up Fee. This is the flat charge the dispatcher quotes to send a truck to you; it typically runs $50–$150 nationwide and covers the driver arrival, the winch, and the first small amount of rolling.
- Set the Cost Per Mile. Urban rates usually land near $2.50–$5.00 per mile; rural or long-distance contracts sometimes quote $1.50–$3.00 per mile. Ask for this number explicitly when you call — it is the line that grows the fastest.
- Type the Tow Distance in miles. Use the route the driver will actually take, not the straight-line distance on the map; a detour around a closed ramp is still a charged mile.
- Add an After-Hours Surcharge if the call is outside normal business hours. Many companies add $30–$75 for nights, weekends, and holidays.
- Add a Heavy Vehicle Surcharge if you drive a pickup, van, SUV, RV, or need a winch-out from a ditch. Flatbed and recovery work commonly adds $40–$150.
- Read the result card: the hook-up fee, the per-mile charge, each surcharge, and the Total Tow Cost at the bottom.
The engine applies the standard linear pricing formula used by AAA, Angi, and most independent dispatchers:
Total = Hook-Up Fee + (Miles × Per-Mile Rate) + After-Hours Surcharge + Heavy Vehicle Surcharge
There is no compounding, no interest, and no hidden tier — the bill is the sum of those four lines.
What a Tow Usually Costs
Industry surveys put a local tow (under 10 miles) at roughly $50–$150, a medium-distance tow (10–30 miles) at $120–$350, and a long-distance tow (50+ miles) at $350–$1,000+. A few rules of thumb:
- Hook-up fee — usually $35–$100 for a standard car, $75–$175 for a truck, SUV, or van.
- Per-mile rate — $2–$7 per mile inside city limits; $1.50–$3 on long hauls between towns.
- After-hours / weekend surcharge — typically $30–$75, sometimes a 25% uplift on the whole bill.
- Heavy vehicle / recovery surcharge — $50–$200 for winch-outs, dolly lifts, motorcycles, RVs, or overturned loads.
- Storage fees — if the vehicle is dropped at an impound lot, you may face $30–$80 per day on top of the tow. This calculator does not include storage; ask the lot before you sign the release.
Insurance clubs like AAA and Allstate Motor Club cap member tows at 5–10 miles per service call, then charge the member the overage at the contract rate. If you have a membership, enter the overage miles only.
Examples
Example 1 — A dead battery on a Tuesday afternoon. Your hook-up fee is $75, the rate is $3 per mile, and the shop is 20 miles away. The per-mile charge is 20 × $3 = $60, so the total tow cost is $75 + $60 = $135. No after-hours or heavy-vehicle surcharge applies.
Example 2 — A 2 a.m. breakdown on a Saturday. Same $75 hook-up and $3 per-mile rate, same 20 miles, but the dispatcher adds a $50 after-hours surcharge. The per-mile charge is still $60, and the total is $75 + $60 + $50 = $185.
Example 3 — A long-distance tow across the metro. Hook-up $100, per-mile $2.50, distance 100 miles, no surcharges. The per-mile charge is 100 × $2.50 = $250, and the total bill is $100 + $250 = $350. At $6 per mile instead, the same tow would jump to $700 — which is why getting the per-mile rate in writing matters.
Example 4 — A pickup truck winched out of a ditch. Hook-up $85, per-mile $4, 45 miles, $65 after-hours surcharge, $50 heavy-vehicle surcharge. The per-mile charge is 45 × $4 = $180, and the total is $85 + $180 + $65 + $50 = $380.
FAQ
How much does a tow cost on average?
A local tow within a city usually runs $50–$150 for a short hop, $120–$350 for 10–30 miles, and $350–$1,000 or more for long-distance hauls of 50 miles or beyond. The final number is driven mostly by the per-mile rate multiplied by the tow distance, plus any after-hours or heavy-vehicle surcharge.
How much does towing cost per mile?
Most companies charge between $2 and $7 per mile inside city limits and $1.50–$3 per mile on long hauls. The hook-up fee is separate and is charged once per dispatch, regardless of distance. Enter your quoted per-mile rate in this calculator to see how the total scales with distance.
Does insurance cover towing?
It depends. Auto insurance with roadside assistance or towing and labor coverage usually pays for the tow itself, often capped at a fixed dollar amount or a fixed number of miles (commonly 5–10 miles). Liability-only policies almost never cover towing. Ask your insurer what the per-event limit is before you dispatch a truck.
Is there an after-hours towing fee?
Yes. Many tow companies add $30–$75 for nights, weekends, and holidays, or apply a 20–30% uplift on the whole bill. Enter the flat surcharge your dispatcher quoted in the After-Hours Surcharge field of this calculator; if they quoted a percentage, convert it to a dollar amount first.
Why does a truck or SUV cost more to tow?
Heavier vehicles require a larger wheel-lift or flatbed truck, more chain and strap work, and sometimes a second driver. Expect a $40–$150 surcharge for pickups, vans, SUVs, RVs, motorcycles, or any winch-out / recovery job. Add that number in the Heavy Vehicle Surcharge field.
How can I avoid being overcharged on a tow?
Get the hook-up fee, the per-mile rate, and any after-hours or heavy-vehicle surcharge in writing (a text message is fine) before the truck leaves the yard. Ask whether storage fees will start immediately if you cannot pick the car up the same day, and compare the quote to this calculator's estimate. If the driver tries to add a surcharge you were never told about, you can dispute it with the dispatch company or your insurer.
Disclaimer
This towing cost calculator is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute a binding quote, estimate, or contract from any towing company. Actual prices vary by city, company, time of day, vehicle type, traffic conditions, impound storage, and road-access difficulty. Always confirm the final price directly with the dispatcher or your roadside assistance provider before authorizing a tow.