Are you stuck on the side of the road? Have an old junker you need to get off your property? You need to find a local towing service you can trust. I have been in an a jam many times before and have had both great and sketchy experiences with towing services. Below I will share where to find a tow truck, the cost of a tow, general FAQ’s, and my experience with the towing service near me.
Map of Towing Service Near Me
If you are searching for “Towing Service Near Me” or “Tow Truck Near Me”, see below for locations…
How Does The Towing Service Near Me Work
Their main purpose is to move your vehicle safely from one location to another. This can be requested at the behest of the vehicle owner, a property owner, or an insurance company.
Emergency Service
Most towing companies are on call 24/7 for emergency service. You can call them up, give them your location and they will come and tow your vehicle. You will need to provide identification in order to have the vehicle towed. They will ask you how far they need to tow the vehicle, what is the vehicle type, make, and model, how difficult is it to get to the vehicle. If you have been in an accident, your insurance company can arrange this for you on your behalf.
Property Service and Towing Yards
Some services work on contract and tow vehicles parked in illegal areas or non designated parking spots. In these instances the property owner has the right to request a vehicle to be towed. Your vehicle will be taken to a towing yard, where it will be impounded until you pay the holding fee. These yards are fenced in, so that vehicles can;t be taken without paying.
How Much Does a Tow Cost?
The Towing service near me costs $50 to $125 for a local tow (5 to 10 mile range). For a long distance tow a $75 hook-up charge and then add $2 to $4 per mile. Below are the average costs nationally. Costs are based on an average 4 door sedan.
National Average for Towing Services Cost
On average most people need a tow of about 40 miles. That puts your cost between $125 and $250 when considering distance. Below you can see the average cost per mile for most companies…
National Average for Towing Cost Per Mile Traveled
Other Factors that impact the Cost
The price will be impacted by the distance traveled, time of day, and size of vehicle.
If you are requesting a flatbed service you can add 15 to 20% more in the pricing and $4 per mile. An after hours emergency tow could cost an additional $150 in some regions. After hours is usually a time between 8 pm and 6 am. If you have a larger vehicle like an SUV it may add another $50 on to the total cost.
Before You Call Consider If You Can Get a Free Tow…
Before you call a tow truck and run your credit card, you need to make sure that your insurance policy doesn’t include towing. If it does the service should be free and the towing company will bill your insurance provider.
What If I Don’t Need Towing, But I Need Road Side Help?
The most common reasons people call for a tow are issues related to the starter, battery, tire issues, or the motor. However you may have a different issue that requires some help.
Most tow services near me, will do more then just tow your vehicle they can also:
- Bring you gas
- Jump start your battery
- Unlock a car door
- Pull a car out of a ditch or the mud
- Change a tire for you if you have a spare
When you call them just be specific about what you need. They will charge you according to your needs.
I once had an issue with my radiator and my tow truck driver actually fixed the issue, topped me off with coolant and gave me directions to Pep Boys. He could have easily towed me to Pep Boys and charged me more. Instead he charged me $35 and went on his way.
How to Choose a Local Towing Service Near Me
If you are not experiencing an emergency, you may have the luxury of carefully selecting a company. Consider the following…
- Ask around to your friends for recommendations. Most people have used a tow company at least once.
- Read reviews of tow companies online . Look for customer reviews and testimonials.
- Call a few and check in. Ask about additional services and what kind of trucks they have dolly or flat bed.
- Compare the costs against other companies
Other Considerations When Calling a Tow Truck…
You Can Ask the Driver for a Ride to the Destination
In my experiences with the towing service near me, the drivers are often happy to let you ride in the cab with them. These days you could call an Uber, but that would add to your expense. When you call the company ask if they are able to transport you along with your vehicle to the destination.
If you are going somewhere other then where the vehicle is, they are not a taxi service.
Having Vehicle Towed to a Shop…
If you are having the vehicle taken anywhere other than your residence, then you should call ahead to the place and let them know your coming. For example, if you are having your vehicle towed to your mechanic, call them first so they are expecting the tow truck to show up and drop off the vehicle. If you are getting towed for a tire issue, you can get towed to your local
If you aren’t from the local area ask the towing company if they can recommend a local mechanic. They may not actually be able to provide a recommendation, but they can tell you who is in the area and who is popular.
Dolly vs a Flat Bed
The key difference is how secure your vehicle is in transport.
A dolly is a hook on your bumper and your vehicle rides at an angle behind the truck with the front wheels off the ground. It puts wear and tear on your vehicle and a strain on the power train. The good news about a dolly is that it is cheaper then a flat bed and costs less per mile. Dollies however are limited in the weight they can safely manage, so if you have an SUV you should consider paying more and asking for a flat bed.
A flatbed is where your vehicles rides on a flat surface behind the truck. Flatbed towing is the safest option, but also the most expensive. This style puts no wear and tear on your vehicle and ideal if you are having an issue with the tires or brakes. If you have a luxury or vintage vehicle a flat bed is the way to go.
Towing Service Near Me Conclusion
As we are a used tire blog, its always good to keep a good tow truck company number handy. Getting competitive rates is great, but finding a place you trust is even better. Some places do more then just hook your vehicle and relocate it, they can provide roadside assistance in a pinch. It’s best to communicate your needs when you call and get pricing up front. You will need to know the make and model of the vehicle, be able to describe the location, and know where you want to have the vehicle towed. If you have AAA or insurance coverage you can leverage that into free services. Those coverages may come with set mileage limits. This is what I have learned from the towing service near me.