The short version
- Most towing bills are built from a hook-up fee, mileage, and any extra work like winching, plus storage if the vehicle isn’t picked up.
- Ask for a price before the truck is sent, and describe the situation accurately.
- Decide where the vehicle is going before it’s loaded, to avoid paying for two tows.
- For tows ordered by police or from private property, Idaho law limits fees and requires an itemized statement when the vehicle is released.
“How much is a tow?” is the question we hear most, and the honest answer is: it depends. Not because tow companies are being vague, but because a two-mile tow of a running sedan from a driveway and a winch-out of a loaded pickup from a ditch on a forest road are completely different jobs. Here’s what goes into the price, so you can ask the right questions and avoid surprises.
The usual pieces of a towing bill
| Charge | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Hook-up (base) fee | Sending the truck and operator, and securing your vehicle for transport. Every tow has one. |
| Mileage | A per-mile charge for the distance your vehicle is towed. Some companies include the first few miles in the hook-up fee. |
| Winching or recovery | Extra time and equipment to pull a vehicle out of a ditch, snow, mud or another hard-to-reach spot. Often billed by the job or by time. |
| Special equipment | Wheel dollies, a flatbed for an AWD or electric vehicle, go-jacks for a vehicle that won’t roll, or extra labor for a wreck. |
| Waiting time | If the operator has to wait on scene, for example for police to clear a scene or for someone to bring the keys. |
| Storage | A daily rate when a vehicle is kept at the tow company’s lot. It adds up, so plan to pick up quickly. |
| Roadside services | Lockouts, jump-starts, fuel delivery and tire changes are usually flat-rate, and cost less than a tow. |
Some companies also charge more at night, on weekends or on holidays, or for releasing a vehicle after hours. Ask, so you know.
What Idaho law says about towing charges
If you call a tow company yourself, the price is a matter between you and the company: agree on it up front. But when a vehicle is towed at the direction of law enforcement, or removed from private property, Idaho’s towing law (Title 49, Chapter 18 of the Idaho Code) adds protections:
- Rate sheets. For law-enforcement-directed tows, tow companies must give their rate sheet to the Idaho Transportation Department, post it at their place of business, and provide it on request. Tow fees can’t vary based on the value of the vehicle, and charging more than the rate sheet for any service is considered excessive (Idaho Code 49-1814).
- Storage limits. Storage can’t run longer than 60 days from the date of the tow. Storage fees can start on the day of the tow only if the tow company reported it in ITD’s towed-vehicle portal within one business day. If it reported late, storage doesn’t start until the report is made (Idaho Code 49-1814).
- An itemized statement. When the vehicle is released to the owner, the tow company must provide an itemized statement listing where it was towed from and stored, the company’s name, address and phone number, the vehicle’s year, make, model and plate, the itemized towing and recovery charges, and the daily storage charge and number of days (Idaho Code 49-1811).
- No surprise repairs. A tow company that makes repairs or improvements without a signed work order or recorded verbal consent loses the right to collect storage and other fees beyond the scheduled tow fee (Idaho Code 49-1811).
For more on these rules, see your rights when your vehicle is towed or impounded in Idaho.
Seven ways to keep your towing bill down
- Ask for the price before the truck is sent. A straightforward company will quote you, or at least explain exactly how the price will be figured.
- Describe the situation accurately. “It’s in the driveway and won’t start” and “it’s halfway down an embankment” call for different equipment. An accurate description means the right truck arrives the first time and the quote holds.
- Know where it’s going. Call your mechanic first to make sure they can take it. A vehicle towed to storage and then to a shop costs two tows.
- Check your coverage. Many auto insurance policies, new-vehicle warranties, credit cards and motor-club memberships include towing or reimburse it. Keep your receipt.
- Try roadside help first. If it might just be a dead battery, a flat or an empty tank, ask for a jump, a tire change or fuel delivery. They cost less than a tow.
- Pick up from storage promptly. Daily storage is often the part of the bill that grows fastest.
- Ask about payment. Find out which payment methods are accepted, and whether cards carry a processing fee.
Is it worth towing at all?
For an old vehicle with a major failure, the tow plus the repair can be more than it’s worth. If you’re ready to let it go, ask about junk vehicle removal instead. Having the title in hand makes it simpler.
Our approach
C.A.R.S. of Idaho keeps its rates among the most affordable in Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, Post Falls and Rathdrum, with the same services and insurance coverage as the bigger outfits. Call or text (208) 964-3081, tell us what’s going on, and ask for the price. You’ll get a straight answer. More about our towing and roadside services.
This article is general information about how things usually work in Idaho, not legal advice. Laws change, and your contract or situation may differ. Where we cite the Idaho Code, the official text is at legislature.idaho.gov.