Ask these before the truck is sent
- What's the hook-up fee?
- What's the rate per mile, and where do the miles start? From the pickup, or from the company's yard?
- Are there extra charges for nights, weekends, holidays, the type of vehicle, or the situation?
- What's the total for my trip, start to finish?
- How can I pay?
A company that won't answer those before the truck rolls is a company to skip.
Our answers, posted
- Hook-up $120, plus $8 a mile from pickup to drop-off
- Sunday tows +$75; exotic cars +$100; nights cost the same as days
- Jump start $65, lockout $75, tire change $100, each plus $3 a mile for the drive to you
- We take Cash, Credit Card, Zelle or Cash App
Run your own numbers with the towing cost calculator.
Skip the tow when you can
A dead battery, a lockout, a flat with a good spare or an empty tank can usually be fixed where the car sits, for less than a tow. If a 10-mile jump start ($95) gets you running, that beats a 10-mile tow ($200) and a shop bill.
Know where the car is going
Storage fees add up by the day if a car sits at a yard. Have the car taken straight home or to your mechanic. If your shop is closed, home tonight and the shop tomorrow is often the better deal.
Check your coverage
Many auto insurance policies, new-car warranties, credit cards and roadside memberships cover some towing or reimburse it. Call your insurer, or check your card's benefits, and keep the receipt.
Watch out for
- A truck that shows up at a crash without being called. Unless police sent it, you can choose your own company. Ask for the price before anything is hooked up.
- "We'll figure out the price later." Get the total first.
- Cash-only with no receipt. You need a receipt for insurance.
- A rock-bottom quote that turns into extra fees once your car is on the truck.
Towed by the city?
If the City of Milwaukee towed your car, the city sets those fees, and storage is charged per day. Go as soon as you can. Our Milwaukee tow lot guide explains the process.
Want the full breakdown of tow pricing? Read how much a tow costs in Milwaukee.