How Much Does It Cost to Tow a Car in Montgomery County?
Call us with where the car is, where it needs to go and what’s wrong with it. We’ll give you a price on the phone before we send anyone.
- Dispatch on site 24/7
- Towing since 1993
- WreckMaster certified operators
Have this ready when you call
- Where the car is nowStreet address, exit or landmark
- Where it’s goingA shop, a dealer or home
- Year, make and modelMention AWD, an EV or a lowered car
- What happenedWon’t start, crash damage, stuck
Stopped in a travel lane on I-270, or is anyone hurt? Call 911 first. If you can get out safely, wait behind the guardrail, away from traffic. Then call us at (301) 540-1600.
What changes the cost to tow a car
Every towing quote adds up the same way. The first two parts are in every tow. The extras only show up when your car or the spot it’s in calls for them.
Hookup
The base charge to send a truck and get your car loaded.
Miles
Pickup to drop-off. We need both addresses, and it’s worth asking any company how many miles are included and what each extra mile costs.
Extras, only if your tow needs them
- A flatbed. A Civic and a lifted F-250 don’t ride on the same truck. AWD cars, EVs and low cars usually go on a flatbed. See light-duty and heavy-duty towing.
- Recovery. Locked wheels, crash damage, a ditch or a low parking garage can mean winching or extra time before the tow starts.
- Nights and storage. Ask whether nights, weekends or holidays change the price, and about storage if the car can’t go straight to a shop.
Get a free quote online
Not an emergency? Send us the details and we’ll get back to you with a price.
Comparing companies? A low number can climb once the driver shows up, so give everyone the same pickup, destination, vehicle and condition, and ask which parts of the job their price covers.
“Not only were they cheaper than every tow company we called in Frederick, but they also had a quicker response time.”
Michael S., towed from Frederick to Montgomery County · Google review
- Since 1993Towing in Maryland
- 24/7Dispatch on site
- Up to 75 tonsRecovery equipment
Towing prices Maryland caps by law
If a property owner or the police had your car towed, you didn’t pick the company. That’s why the county and the state cap what it can charge.
Nobody sets the price when you call a tow yourself. Montgomery County’s consumer protection office calls those tows unregulated, which is one more reason to ask what a quote covers.
| Where it was towed from | A private parking lot in Montgomery County | A police tow on an MDTA road, like the ICC (MD 200) | A parking lot anywhere in Maryland without a county limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most for the tow | $170Car, SUV or light truck up to 8,000 lb, first 24 hours of storage included | $240Car or light truck | $250Tow and recovery |
| Storage per day | $35After the first 24 hours | $60After the first 24 hours | $30Per day |
| Caught before it leaves | $25Only if the car is already hooked and lifted | See the MDTA schedule | Up to half the tow charge |
Sources: Montgomery County trespass towing rates, effective March 19, 2024 · MDTA police tow rates, effective May 9, 2024 · Maryland Transportation Article §21-10A-04
Came back to an empty parking space? Our guide to what happens after your car gets towed walks through getting it back, and our page on police rotation towing explains how the police pick a company.
Towing cost questions
How much does it cost to tow a car 10 miles?
Not much past the base charge, as long as the car rolls and steers. It’s the hookup plus a short drive across town. A flatbed, crash damage or a car stuck somewhere awkward adds to it. Give us both addresses and we’ll tell you the exact price.
How much does a 100-mile tow cost?
It’s priced on the whole trip plus the vehicle and its condition, so expect a lot more than a local tow. If the car still runs and the move is planned, ask us about auto transport instead.
Does a flatbed tow cost more?
Sometimes. Plenty of cars need one anyway, including many all-wheel-drive cars, EVs, low cars and damaged ones. Our guide to tow trucks and flatbeds explains when each one gets used.
Will my insurance pay for the tow?
It might. Your car insurance, a roadside club, a credit card or the car’s warranty can each pay for part or all of a tow, with its own mileage limit and its own rules about which company you can use. Call them first if you want them paying. Not sure you need a tow at all? Our comparison of towing and roadside assistance covers when a jump start or a tire change will do.
Can I get the price before the truck comes?
Yes. Give us the pickup address, where the car’s going, the year, make and model, and what happened. We’ll quote it and tell you what could change once the driver sees the car.
What if my car was towed without my permission?
Then a limit usually applies. A car towed from a private lot in Montgomery County can’t be charged more than $170, and that includes the first day of storage. A police tow on an MDTA road such as the ICC is capped at $240. The table above lists the limits and links to each source.
Get your price before we send a truck
Tell us where the car is, where it’s going and what happened, and we’ll take it from there. We’re on Waters Road in Germantown.
