What towing actually costs
Almost all light-duty towing is billed as a hook fee plus a per-mile rate, so distance matters more than vehicle type. There is no national rate table for consensual towing, which is why we do not publish a single national average.
$75$125$250
Illustrates the hook-plus-mile structure, not a published rate.
The only prices a state may cap
That last carve-out is the hinge. States and cities may cap what you are charged for a police-ordered tow or a tow off private property, because you did not choose it. They generally may not cap prices for a consensual tow you called for yourself.
Estimate a tow · Estimate an impound
Sources (2)
- Cornell Legal Information Institute — 49 U.S.C. § 14501 — Federal authority over intrastate transportation (accessed 2026-08-17) T1
- U.S. PIRG Education Fund — Predatory Towing — consumer protections by state (accessed 2026-08-17) T2