What does this cost in your state?
California is the costliest state and Arkansas the cheapest; each square shows that state's midpoint of the estimate.
Lower-cost states ($114)MiddleHigher-cost states ($145)
What it shows: CA is the highest at $145 and AR the lowest at $114, across 51 states.
Which breakdowns end with the car being towed?
Airbag leads at 31%.
If your car shows one of these failures, plan for a tow instead of driving it in, and ask the shop whether it arranges one.
Our estimate for a 10-mile flatbed tow is $106–$156. The type of truck and the hour you call move that price most, so the same tow costs more at night, on a weekend or on a holiday.
What does a tow price cover, and what does it leave out?
A tow price normally covers the truck driving to you, hooking up and carrying your car to one drop-off point. That is the whole job. It does not usually cover waiting time, a second stop, or getting a car out of a ditch or a tight spot, which can take a winch and extra labor.
Companies describe their prices in different ways. Some quote a flat fee for a short distance, others a hook-up fee plus a rate for each mile. Two quotes that look far apart may describe different things, so compare the total for your pickup spot and your drop-off, not the headline rate.
How much does the tow change with truck type and time?
The calculator starts at a 10-mile daytime flatbed tow. Changing one setting at a time shows what each one adds.
| Setting | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Flatbed, 10 miles, daytime (default) | $106–$156 |
| Hook and chain / wheel-lift | $81–$119 |
| Flatbed, after hours or weekend | $144–$211 |
| Flatbed, holiday | $175–$258 |
The jump from a daytime flatbed to a holiday one is the price of an inconvenient hour. If the car is safe where it sits and can wait until morning, waiting is the cheapest move you have.
Which kind of tow do I need, and how urgent is it?
A flatbed carries the whole car on a deck, so nothing drags on the road. Pick it for an all-wheel-drive car, a low car, or any car that will not roll freely or steer. A hook-and-chain or wheel-lift truck lifts part of the car and tows the rest on its own wheels. It costs less, but it fits only a car that can roll safely, so tell the dispatcher what is wrong before they choose a truck.
Urgency depends on where you are. On a busy highway shoulder, safety comes first and the after-hours premium is worth paying. In your driveway or a shop parking lot, you have time to call a second company and compare.
How do I get a fair quote and avoid padded charges?
Call two companies and ask each the same four questions:
- What is the total for my pickup spot, my drop-off and my vehicle?
- What is the hook-up fee, and how many miles does it include?
- Do you charge extra for winching, waiting time or after-hours service?
- Will you text me the price before the truck leaves?
Keep the receipt and check that each line matches what you were told. If you change the drop-off after you agree, ask for the new total first. Check your auto policy and any roadside plan too, since a tow may already be covered and you would only be owed a call, not a bill.
What does this estimate leave out?
The estimate is a modeled range for the settings above, not a shop's price. A quote can land outside it for your area, your car or a tricky pickup. It does not include tolls, storage if the car sits at a yard, or fees a local authority adds when a car goes to an impound lot. Ask about each of those when you call.
Frequently asked questions
Is a flatbed or a wheel-lift tow cheaper?
Wheel-lift, in our estimate: $81–$119 against the flatbed default for a 10-mile daytime tow. Use a flatbed if the car cannot roll.
Does an after-hours call cost more?
Yes. The same 10-mile flatbed tow rises to $144–$211 after hours or on a weekend, and $175–$258 on a holiday.
Can I ask for the price before the tow starts?
Yes. Ask for the total, in writing if you can, before the driver hooks up.
Sources
Data shown on this page
- CalcScrape calculator model scaled by BEA Regional Price Parities data from 2024
- NHTSA owner complaint files, the vehicle-towed field file downloaded 2026-10-05
Terms: US government data, public domain.
Modeled: our estimate, not a quote. Observed: records as filed; owner reports are unverified and are not failure rates.
What is our own estimate
The price range comes from our calculator's formula. Its parts prices, labor hours per job and shop-rate tiers are CalcScrape estimates, not a published price dataset. Not independently checked: no established price guide publishes a general range for this exact job (looked 2026-10-06), so the default has no outside comparison. Methodology