Towing Costs in Texas: If you’ve ever been stranded on I-10 outside Houston or broken down on the 635 in Dallas, you know that the last thing you want to do is haggle over price from the roadside. This guide breaks down exactly what towing costs in Texas in 2026 — by city, by service type, and by time of day — based on real pricing data collected from towing companies actively serving Texas drivers.
Table of Contents
What Does a Tow Truck Cost in Texas?
Based on pricing data from providers across the state, here’s what Texas drivers typically pay:
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local tow (standard) | $75 | $85–$135 hook-up + $3–$5/mile | $200+ |
| Roadside (lockout, jump, tire) | $40 | $75–$95 | $125 |
| Heavy duty / semi tow | $250/hr | $300–$400/hr | $500+/hr |
| After-hours surcharge | $40 | $50–$75 | $149 |
| Storage fee (per day) | $35 | $75 | $150 |
| Fuel delivery | $50 | $75 | $125 + fuel cost |
The median price mention across Texas providers listed on iFindTowTruck is $88, though full-service tows with mileage commonly run $150–$300 depending on distance and vehicle type.
How Texas Towing Pricing Works
Most Texas towing companies use a two-part pricing structure: a hook-up fee (sometimes called a base rate or dispatch fee) plus a per-mile charge once the truck is rolling.
As one Houston-area provider listed on iFindTowTruck explains it: a standard tow typically consists of a hook-up fee in the $85–$135 range, plus a mileage rate — meaning a 10-mile tow could cost anywhere from $115 to $185 before any extras. Providers in Sugar Land, Dallas, and South Houston consistently quoted this same structure in their pricing disclosures.
What drives the final price up:
- Distance (every mile adds $3–$5+)
- Vehicle size (motorcycles and RVs are priced differently than sedans)
- Time of day (after-hours and weekend surcharges are common)
- Type of service (a winch-out costs more than a flatbed tow)
- Location (rural call-outs cost more than city tows)
Towing Costs in Texas – Towing Costs by Texas City
Houston
Houston has the highest concentration of towing providers in the iFindTowTruck Texas directory, with 15 companies actively pricing services across the metro area. Rates here trend slightly above the state median due to traffic complexity, long-haul distances, and the city’s sprawl.
Typical Houston towing prices from providers listed on iFindTowTruck:
- Local tow: $75–$200 depending on distance
- Flat tire change: $95 (base price within 5-mile radius)
- Jump start: $75 (base price within 5-mile radius)
- Car lockout: $75 (base price within 5-mile radius)
South County Wrecker Service in Conroe is one example of a provider just north of Houston that openly publishes base prices for each roadside service — a transparency that’s increasingly common among well-established operators serving the Houston metro.
Looking for towing in Houston? → Browse Houston tow truck providers
Dallas / Fort Worth
The DFW market is competitive, and that competition shows in pricing. Several providers in our Dallas dataset advertise flat rates starting at $100 for local tows — lower than the Houston average — with Irving and Arlington operators frequently competing for the same metro customers.
Towing Dallas TX & Beyond, operating out of Irving, is one of several DFW providers that advertises a flat $100 tow for local distances, positioning itself as a budget option in a high-volume market.
Looking for towing in Dallas? → Browse Dallas tow truck providers
Austin
Austin’s towing market sits between Houston and Dallas in price. With 4 providers with published pricing listed on iFindTowTruck, the data suggests standard local tows run $95–$120 for most calls within city limits — consistent with the statewide hook-up + mileage model.
ResQ Rangers, serving the greater Austin and Bryan-College Station corridor, is one of the most price-transparent operators in the iFindTowTruck Texas directory. They publish a $50 flat rate for most roadside services — lockout, tire change, jump start, fuel delivery — and $95 base for local towing, with a $3–$4 per-mile rate and dollies at $35 extra when needed. They also offer EV charging at $75 per half hour, making them one of the few Texas providers listed on iFindTowTruck with published EV-specific pricing.
Looking for towing in Austin? → Browse Austin tow truck providers
Corpus Christi, El Paso & Other Texas Cities
Outside the major metros, pricing tends to be slightly lower for local tows but higher for anything requiring extra equipment or long-distance recovery. Rural call-outs in areas like Crowell, Streetman, and El Campo often involve higher effective per-mile costs simply due to distance.
Find towing providers across all Texas cities →
Heavy Duty Towing in Texas
Commercial vehicle towing is a different pricing category entirely. Providers listed on iFindTowTruck in Texas who specialize in heavy duty recovery — semi trucks, box trucks, construction equipment — typically charge $250–$400 per hour, plus mileage, equipment fees, and permits where required.
Redline Wrecker Service in Cypress, TX, which specializes in heavy-duty recovery and winch-outs, notes that hourly rates in their market run $250–$400 per hour with additional charges for mileage, materials, and permits — a pricing structure consistent with what fleet operators across the state should budget for.
Reliable Road Service in Michigan (also available for long-haul) is one example of how semi-truck towing can escalate quickly — commercial recovery jobs can involve $2,000–$4,000+ depending on the complexity of the recovery situation.
After-Hours Towing in Texas
Towing doesn’t stop at 5pm, and neither do the surcharges. Most Texas providers listed on iFindTowTruck apply after-hours fees for calls outside standard business hours — typically anything after 5–6pm on weekdays and all weekend calls.
Across the iFindTowTruck Texas directory, after-hours surcharges range from $40 to $149 per call, layered on top of the standard tow rate. This is consistent with what we see in our national after-hours towing fee analysis, where the average surcharge across 63 providers nationwide is $151.
Tips for minimizing after-hours costs:
- Call during business hours if the situation is not an emergency
- Ask specifically whether an after-hours fee applies before the truck rolls
- Some providers waive the surcharge for members or repeat customers
Browse Texas providers with 24/7 availability →
EV Towing in Texas
As electric vehicle ownership grows in Texas — particularly in the Austin and Houston metros — a small but growing number of towing providers are adding EV-specific services. In the iFindTowTruck Texas directory, 3 providers have published EV towing or EV charging pricing.
ResQ Rangers is currently the most EV-forward operator listed on iFindTowTruck in Texas, offering mobile EV charging at $75 per half hour and explicitly noting they can service any electric vehicle at any location.
EV towing requires specialized flatbed equipment (EVs cannot be towed with drive wheels on the ground) and providers who understand battery safety protocols. If you drive an EV, it’s worth identifying a capable provider before you need one.
Find EV-capable towing providers in Texas →
Towing Costs in Texas – Roadside Assistance Pricing in Texas
Not every call requires a full tow. Texas providers listed on iFindTowTruck consistently offer these roadside services at flat rates:
| Service | Typical Texas Rate |
|---|---|
| Jump start | $50–$75 |
| Lockout / car unlock | $40–$100 |
| Tire change (spare install) | $50–$95 |
| Fuel delivery | $50–$75 + cost of fuel |
| Winch-out (minor off-road) | $75–$150 |
ResQ Rangers in Grimes, TX uses a consistent $50 flat fee across all basic roadside services — one of the cleaner pricing models in the iFindTowTruck directory and a useful benchmark for what competitive roadside assistance looks like in the Texas market.
Is Texas Towing Regulated?
Yes — partially. Texas does not have a single statewide cap on towing prices, but the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) licenses tow truck operators and vehicle storage facilities. Towing companies that operate under police-dispatch or non-consent towing (where you didn’t call them) are subject to rate caps set by the Texas Transportation Code.
What this means for drivers:
- If a towing company was called by police (not by you), different rules apply
- You have the right to request a written receipt
- Disputes can be filed with TDLR
- Consent tows (where you called the company) are generally unregulated on price
Always ask for a written estimate before authorizing any tow.
Towing Costs in Texas – How to Find a Reliable Tow Truck in Texas
When you’re stranded, the temptation is to call the first number you find. Here’s a smarter approach:
- Use a verified directory — iFindTowTruck lists providers with published contact info, pricing transparency, and DOT verification where available. Many Texas providers listed on iFindTowTruck carry verified DOT numbers.
- Ask for a price before the truck rolls — any reputable operator will give you a quote. If they won’t, that’s a red flag.
- Confirm after-hours fees upfront — if you’re calling outside business hours, ask explicitly whether an additional fee applies.
- Know your vehicle type — heavy vehicles, EVs, and all-wheel-drive cars have different towing requirements. Not every truck can safely tow every vehicle.
Texas Towing Providers in the iFindTowTruck Network
Houston metro:
- South County Wrecker Service — Conroe · roadside, storage, winch-out
- Silver Towing LLC — Houston · local towing
- Trinity Towing & Recovery — Harris County · flat tire, jump start
Dallas / Fort Worth:
- Towing Dallas TX & Beyond — Irving · local towing, flat rate
Austin / Central Texas:
- ResQ Rangers — Grimes / Bryan-College Station · full roadside, EV charging
Specialty / Heavy Duty:
- Redline Wrecker Service — Cypress · heavy duty recovery, winch-out
View all Texas towing providers →
Pricing data sourced from towing service providers listed on iFindTowTruck. Individual company rates are subject to change. Always confirm pricing directly with the provider before authorizing service. For the most accurate quote, contact providers directly through their listing pages.
