How much does a tow cost in Boston?
What drives the price, what the City of Boston charges, and why our own number is quoted before the truck rolls.
We do not publish a rate card, and that is deliberate. Quick Tow Boston is a referral service. The operator who does the work sets the price, and a figure we invented here would be a promise nobody had agreed to. What you get instead is the actual number for your actual job, on the phone, before anyone is dispatched.
What this page does give you is the part that is genuinely published: the City of Boston's own tow-lot fees, as the city publishes them, and an honest account of what moves the price of a private tow up or down.
How does distance change a tow quote?
Light-duty covers most cars, SUVs and pickups under 10,000 lb GVWR. Heavy-duty covers box trucks, RVs and commercial vehicles, which is a bigger share of the work here than in most metros because of the freight corridors.
| Distance | Wheel-lift | Flatbed | Heavy-duty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 miles | Quoted before dispatch | Quoted before dispatch | Quoted per job | The most common local call. In the city, access is usually harder than distance. |
| 5 - 10 miles | Quoted before dispatch | Quoted before dispatch | Quoted per job | Still a local move. Most quotes include a set number of miles. |
| 10 - 25 miles | Quoted before dispatch | Quoted before dispatch | Quoted per job | Mileage beyond what the quote covers is stated in the quote. |
| 25 - 50 miles | Quoted as a route total | Quoted as a route total | Quoted per job | Typical of a run from the city out past Route 128 to the far suburbs. |
| 50 - 100 miles | Quoted as a route total | Quoted as a route total | Quoted per job | Worcester, Providence and the far side of I-95 sit here. |
| 100+ miles | Quoted as a route total | Quoted as a route total | Quoted per job | One number for the whole route, including the reach to get to you. |
What the City of Boston charges
These are not our prices and they are not estimates. The city publishes them, and they only apply when the City of Boston is the one that towed you. A suburban village impound sets its own fee entirely.
| Item | Amount | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Tow fee | $90 | City of Boston tow lot, 200 Frontage Road |
| Storage per hour | $3 | Charged by the hour, up to the daily cap below |
| Storage per day, maximum | $15 | The hourly rate never exceeds this in a day |
| Accepted payment | Cash, money order, cashier's check or card | Debit and credit cards add a 2.5% fee |
| Find your vehicle | cityofboston.gov/towing/search | Covers vehicles towed in the past 15 days |
Street-cleaning tows use a different set
Street-cleaning tows are carried out by private companies the city uses, and they carry their own figures. We show both rather than picking one.
| Item | Amount | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Street-cleaning tow | $108 | Carried out by private tow companies |
| Storage per day | $35 | Accrues daily from the tow |
| Season | April 1 to November 30 | Runs through December 31 in the North End, South End and Beacon Hill |
What about a long-distance tow out of Boston?
Boston is where the interstates meet, so a long run from here usually has a real destination. Every one is quoted as a single route total, including the reach to get to you. Scheduling ahead beats dispatching it as an emergency.
| Route | Distance | How it is priced |
|---|---|---|
| Boston to Providence | about 50 miles | Route quoted |
| Boston to Worcester | about 50 miles | Route quoted |
| Boston to Hartford | about 100 miles | Route quoted |
| Boston to Portland, Maine | about 110 miles | Route quoted |
| Boston to New York | about 215 miles | Route quoted |
What do specialty towing and roadside jobs involve?
Motorcycles, electric vehicles, accident recovery, lockouts, jump starts and more. Each is quoted for the job in front of it.
| Service | How it is priced | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle tow | Quoted before dispatch | Bike, scooter or trike type and condition affect the equipment needed |
| EV tow (Tesla, Rivian and others) | Quoted before dispatch | Give the exact model and follow its manufacturer towing instructions |
| Accident and collision recovery | Quoted for the job | Scene access and the vehicle condition affect the quote |
| Winch-out (stuck vehicle) | Quoted before dispatch | A snow ditch and a soft event lot are different jobs |
| Lockout service | Quoted before dispatch | Give the year, make, model and key situation |
| Jump start | Quoted before dispatch | Describe the starting symptoms and vehicle before dispatch |
| Tire change | Quoted before dispatch | Using your spare. Does not include buying a tire |
| Fuel delivery | Quoted before dispatch | Fuel type, quantity and location are confirmed with the operator |
What factors affect how much a tow costs?
Vehicle size and weight
Cars and pickups under 10,000 lb are light-duty. Box trucks, RVs and motorhomes are heavy-duty and need different equipment. Inside the city the 8,000 lb line also decides which city fee tier applies if the city is the one towing you.
Distance
A quote covers a set number of miles and says so. Beyond that, mileage is stated in the quote rather than discovered at the drop. Anything past about fifty miles is quoted as one route total.
Truck type required
The method must match the manufacturer's towing instructions, drivetrain, clearance and whether the wheels roll freely. Give the operator the year, make, model and condition so the required equipment can be confirmed.
Hookup difficulty
A clear driveway pickup and a vehicle in a ditch, median or narrow alley require different access and recovery work. Describe the scene accurately so the operator can include that difficulty in the quote before dispatch.
What do Boston drivers ask about tow pricing?
How much does it cost to tow a car 10 miles in Boston?
You get the number before an operator is dispatched, and that number covers the job rather than a starting figure that grows on arrival. We do not publish a private rate card here, because this brand does not set the operator's price. Give the vehicle, pickup location, destination and access details so the operator can confirm the quote.
What does the City of Boston charge if it tows my car?
The city publishes it. The tow fee at the city lot on 200 Frontage Road is $90, and storage is $3 per hour up to a maximum of $15 per day. You can pay with cash, a money order, a cashier's check, or a debit or credit card, and cards add a 2.5% fee. Look your vehicle up at cityofboston.gov/towing/search, which covers the past 15 days.
Why do I see two different Boston fee sets?
Because there are two. A tow to the City of Boston lot on 200 Frontage Road is $90 plus $3 per hour, capped at $15 a day. A street-cleaning tow is different: private companies carry it out, the tow is $108 and storage is $35 per day. Street cleaning runs April 1 to November 30, and through December 31 in the North End, South End and Beacon Hill. Check which situation you are in before you argue about a number.
Does a suburb charge the same as the city?
Not the same, but there are caps. Suburban municipal and private-property tows follow the state DPU maximums in 220 CMR 272: a base tow up to 5 miles is capped at $132, each mile over 5 adds up to $4.40, and storage is capped at $35 per 24 hours in a fenced, lit lot or $17.50 otherwise. A private-property tow also has to meet the sign and notice rules in M.G.L. c. 266 s. 120D. Call the department or lot that ordered the tow.
How does the required tow method affect the quote?
The operator has to match the method to the manufacturer instructions, drivetrain, clearance and whether the wheels roll freely. Give the year, make, model and condition, and check the towing section of the owner's manual before the method and quote are confirmed.
Do you charge extra at night or on weekends?
The independent operator sets any night, weekend or holiday charge. Ask whether one applies and have it included in the confirmed quote before dispatch.
How can I get an accurate tow quote?
Give the exact vehicle, pickup point, destination, access conditions and whether the wheels roll. Check your own insurance or motor-club terms separately, because coverage and required dispatch steps vary. The operator confirms the service and complete quote before dispatch.
Need an exact quote right now?
Call us. The line takes calls any hour, and you get the number before an operator is dispatched.