You have to tow your vehicle at least once in your lifetime. You might need to call a tow truck if your vehicle breaks down so that it can be taken somewhere to be repaired. If you don't get roadside assistance from your insurance company, towing costs might be expensive. It could be challenging for someone without an emergency amount to pay for a tow when needed.

It might be surprising that tow services provide more options than just moving cars from one location to another. Depending on your situation, different fees may apply to the services you require, where you are, and the towing firm. That being said, there is consistency across towing companies in providing you with an approximate estimate of the cost of a tow. In this guide, we will discuss everything about how much are towing fees.

How Much are Towing Fees?

You will pay a flat fee to tow your vehicle to your desired location. Towing companies usually charge a flat rate for towing your car to their truck. The cost ranges from $5 to $500. Additionally, you will pay a per-mile fee, which varies depending on the towing company. It will be between $2 and $7 each mile.

If you need a short tow, some services may include the first few miles in their base charge to avoid charging you per mile. You might have questions like how much does it cost to tow a car 100 miles or how much to tow a vehicle 10 miles based on your need. Here is an average towing cost charged by most companies.

• Average 1 mile tow cost: $5 to $7
• Between 5 and 7 miles: $30 to $100
• 40 miles: $100 to $200
• 100 miles: $300 to $600

Here are some cases where you will have to pay extra fees to get towed to your destination.

• You may also have to pay more if you require a tow service after regular business hours and on non-holiday days
• Larger, heavier, and bulkier cars can have higher rates that might include an additional 25% of the standard fee
• Your fee may increase if your car needs a flatbed tow truck due to damage or bad shape.
• Your fee may increase if your car needs a flatbed tow truck due to damage or bad shape.
• You should be ready to pay more if a tow company dispatches a tow truck during bad weather, such as flooding or snowfall.
• Your towing rate may increase due to hazardous terrain and the additional distance the truck must travel to get to you.

Policies That Cover Towing Costs

Here are the policies that cover towing costs.

Roadside assistance insurance

Depending on your policy, insurance may or may not cover the cost of towing your vehicle. Even with complete coverage plans, towing coverage is not guaranteed. However, certain insurance companies can pay for towing costs if you have an accident that is covered by your policy. Towing service policies are an addition to your basic auto policy. Roadside assistance insurance also covers the cost of other services like jump starts in case your car breaks down.

Depending on the coverage, roadside assistance policies typically cost between $30 and $60 annually. A policy can partially pay the cost of a typical tow service within a particular distance or to the closest auto shop, but it will have limitations on what or how much it covers. Roadside assistance is a service that some independent businesses provide to their clients. It includes automakers, who may provide roadside assistance while the vehicle is still under warranty.

Companies that provide roadside assistance

Independent roadside assistance companies are not linked to your vehicle insurance provider. When your automobile needs to be towed, you pay for the policy and get discounted services. Most roadside assistance providers offer towing assistance plans with higher upfront costs. Basic coverage for these plans can cost as little as $60 annually, while premium coverage can cost as much as $120 annually. Make sure there are no problems with your insurance's roadside assistance before enrolling in a roadside assistance plan.

Do Credit Cards Offer Roadside Assistance?

Some credit cards offer holders free or inexpensive roadside assistance as a perk. For example, many Visa credit cards have the Roadside Dispatch feature. Up to five miles of towing are included in the fixed service call fee; any additional miles are at the cardholder's expense. In addition, fuel delivery, lockout assistance, tyre changes, and jump starts are all included in the typical service call. Therefore, it's wise to be aware of the limits on your credit card before you need to use it.

What affects the cost of a tow?

You'll probably have trouble finding an exact price if you look for it straight on the website of a towing company. Towing costs are generally uniform so that you may get a rough idea. Depending on the kind of tow and your location, towing costs typically start at $50 and can easily reach $100.

You might have questions like how much does it cost to tow a car 20 miles or other distances based on the location of your vehicle from your desired destination. Generally, the basic tow cost is between $30 to $50, and it doesn't matter if you need your car towed one mile or twenty. Increased mileage is associated with higher costs, and a standard tow is less expensive than a flatbed tow. An automobile accident can result in a much larger tow cost.

What Services Do Towing Companies Offer?

Towing firms do much more than just tow cars. Even if you don't need a tow, calling a towing firm for assistance can be handy. Additional services that a towing firm frequently offers are as follows:

• Delivery of gas
• Door unlocking
• Changing tyres
• Relocating a car
• Rescuing you in case you are stuck

Conclusion

You are sometimes in a situation where you desperately need to have your vehicle towed to a repair shop or a safer location. So, it is wise to have roadside assistance insurance if your vehicle manufacturer doesn't provide it. Different roadside assistance companies have almost the same costs and provide seamless towing services, including many other perks. I hope this guide answers your queries regarding how much are towing fees and policies that cover towing costs and provide roadside assistance.