How much does a tow
cost?
Median US tow is $109 local · $185 flatbed · $350+ heavy-duty. The honest answer depends — so we built a calculator.
739
Verified companies
$38
Avg. driver savings
$3–$10
Per-lead pricing
As of May 2026
Estimate your tow cost — before you call.
Use the calculator below. Every result is based on real quotes from LocalTowing-verified companies in your region.
Price estimator
Based on 739 LocalTowing-verified companies. Your actual quote is binding at the call.
ServiceBase rate
$130
8 mi (5 free)
$12
After-hours
$0
Your estimate
Median for flatbed tow, 8 mi, daytime, in major US metros.
See 3 companies in your range →What you're actually paying for.
Every tow invoice combines a few line items. Knowing them is how you spot a rip-off.
Hookup
Flat fee for getting your car on the truck. Same for a 1-mile or 5-mile tow.
$65–$90
Often bundled into base rate
Per-mile
Charged after the first 5 miles (included). Rate varies by truck size.
$2.75–$6.50 / mi
Published upfront on LocalTowing
After-hours
Some companies add a surcharge 10pm–6am. Transparent ones don't.
$15–$35
64% of our verified companies charge $0
Storage
If we tow to a lot instead of your address. First 24 hrs usually free.
$25–$60 / day
Common at impound yards
Mileage back
Bad operators charge from their yard to you AND back. We flag this.
$0 on LocalTowing
Deadhead fees are banned
Drivers save an average of $38 per tow.
Local tow (5 mi)
$85–$125
$135
Flatbed (8 mi)
$135–$175
$210
Heavy-duty RV
$380–$525
$680
Jump start
$45–$75
$95
Lockout
$55–$85
$110
Cross-state transport (200 mi)
$480–$720
$880
Run a tow company?
Here's what you'll pay.
List your business free. Get matched to drivers requesting your services. Pay $3–$10 per lead you take — never per job, never as commission.
Avg. operator economics
$67
lead spend / wk
$1,280
job revenue / wk
19×
ROI on lead $
4.6m
avg response time
From driver request to your inbox in under 30 seconds.
No bidding wars. No phone-spam. No shared leads. Just three nearby companies, one driver, one job.
Driver requests
Driver fills the Find form — service type, vehicle, what happened, pickup spot, photos.
We match 3 companies
The 3 closest verified companies with matching equipment and a 4.5★+ rating get the lead.
You see, you choose
Lead lands in your inbox with a 5-minute countdown. Claim or skip — viewing is always free.
Quote & close
On claim, customer details unlock. You quote them directly. Win the job. Repeat.
The bigger the job, the more the lead.
Tier set by service type — never auctioned, never a surprise. Pay only for leads you take.
Roadside assistance
Jump start, lockout, tire change
High volume · 40+/day in SF metro
+$72 avg job
Local tow
Standard tow ≤15 mi
Steady stream · ~22/day metro
+$118 avg job
Flatbed / luxury
Premium vehicle, low clearance
Higher ticket · ~12/day metro
+$165 avg job
Long-distance
Cross-city or interstate tow
Premium · ~3/day metro
+$540 avg job
Heavy / RV / Semi
Commercial, RV, winch-out
Specialized · ~2/day metro
+$680 avg job
Listing visibility that pays for itself on the first lead.
Listing plans cover where you appear, how you stand out, and which features are unlocked. Separate from per-lead pricing.
Starter
No card required. Live within 24 hrs of approval.
- 1 active listing
- City, state & ZIP search visibility
- Direct customer contact (no commission)
- Basic owner dashboard
- Email support
Growth
Save $840+/yr vs. directories charging $99/mo.
- Up to 5 active listings
- ★ Featured badge & priority placement
- Response time & availability badge
- Owner analytics — views & contact clicks
- Reviews & ratings system
- Up to 5 gallery photos
- Priority email support
Pro
$20/mo less than competitors' standard plan ($99/mo).
- Unlimited listings — all locations
- Verified badge (Pro-only trust signal)
- Pinned to top of all search results
- Quote request lead inbox included
- Up to 10 gallery photos
- Advanced analytics & monthly report
- Embeddable directory badge
- Dedicated onboarding call
- Priority phone & email support
The math is broken in operators' favor.
"$67 in lead spend last week. $1,280 in jobs. The math is broken in my favor."
Carlos M.
Redline Towing · SF
19×
ROI
"I pause leads during lunch and on Sundays. Total control of the spend, never overpay."
Janet P.
Bay Area Roadside · Oakland
4.6m
avg response
"Heavy-duty leads at $10 are the steal of the year. One winch covers a month of leads."
Frank D.
Peninsula Heavy · SSF
$680
avg ticket
FAQ.
For drivers
For operators
See your actual price, from real companies, right now.
Live quotes from verified companies in under 60 seconds.
Turn on the lead inbox. Pay $0 today.
First 3 leads free. Top up $20 in credits or stay on Pro to keep it on. Pause anytime.