Towing Cost Calculator

This tool builds a towing bill from the rates the operator gives you rather than from a price list. Enter the hook-up fee, the per-mile rate, how many miles the hook-up already covers, then any after-hours surcharge, winch-out charge, storage days and sales tax, and it returns each line and the total with the average cost per mile. A second mode works backwards from a quote you have already been given, splitting out the mileage portion so you can see the effective rate per mile you are being charged. Nothing here is a national average, because tow pricing swings too much by company, state and time of day for an average to mean anything.

Calculator Type

Distance In

Miles Kilometres

The tow distance, the distance the hook-up covers and the rate charged for each one are all read in whichever you pick.

Hook-Up Fee ($) *

The flat charge for sending the truck out, sometimes called the base or call-out fee.

Distance Towed (miles) *

Rate per Mile or per Kilometre ($) *

Per mile, or per kilometre if you chose kilometres. A rate of $4.00 a mile is $2.49 a kilometre, not $6.44.

Distance Included in the Hook-Up Fee (miles)

Many operators include the first few miles, or the first few kilometres. Leave at 0 if every one is billed.

After-Hours or Holiday Surcharge ($)

Winch-Out or Recovery Charge ($)

Charged when the vehicle has to be pulled out of a ditch, snow, mud or a garage.

Days in the Storage Lot

Storage Rate per Day ($)

Sales Tax (%)

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