After-Hours Towing Fee Rates by State: Getting stranded at 11pm is stressful enough without discovering your tow bill just doubled. After-hours towing fees are one of the least talked-about — and most complained about — charges in the industry. This guide breaks down exactly what after-hours towing fees look like in 2026, what triggers them, how much extra they cost by state, and how to avoid getting blindsided when you need help most.

What Is an After-Hours Towing Fee?

An after-hours towing fee — sometimes called a gate fee, night surcharge, or after-hours release fee — is an additional charge applied when a tow truck responds to a call outside of standard business hours. Most companies define “after hours” as any call placed:

  • After 5pm or 6pm on weekdays
  • On weekends (Saturday and Sunday)
  • On federal or state holidays

The fee covers the extra cost of dispatching a driver who isn’t on a scheduled shift — overtime pay, fuel at off-peak hours, and the operational cost of keeping a 24/7 operation running. It is separate from and layered on top of your standard tow rate.

How Much Are After-Hours Towing Fees in 2026?

Based on published pricing from providers listed on iFindTowTruck across 15 states, after-hours towing surcharges in 2026 range from $40 to $149 per call, with the national average sitting around $60–$75 for a standard gate fee.

After-Hours Fee TypeLowTypicalHigh
Flat after-hours surcharge$40$60–$75$149
Weekend gate fee$40$60$100
Holiday surcharge$50$75$150
After-hours impound release fee$40$75$149 + tax
Night rate (% above base)15%25–30%50%

The wide range reflects regional differences, company size, and whether the fee is structured as a flat add-on or a percentage markup on the base tow rate.

After-Hours Towing Fee Rates by State

After-hours towing surcharges vary significantly by state, driven by local market competition, regulatory environments, and operational costs:

Washington State

Washington is one of the most regulated towing markets in the country. State regulations under WAC 204-91A-140 allow after-hours release fees only when a tow operator must be physically present at their facility specifically to release a vehicle — typically any weekday after 5pm or before 8am, and all day on weekends and state holidays. The after-hours fee is capped at no more than half the Class A hourly rate.

Providers listed on iFindTowTruck serving Washington publish after-hours release fees consistent with state caps. Find towing providers in Washington →

Ohio

Ohio providers in the iFindTowTruck directory show after-hours fees averaging $42 per call — among the lowest in our dataset, reflecting the competitive market in cities like Cleveland and Columbus.

Speedy Fleet Towing Service in Cleveland advises drivers to budget $75–$150 for emergency fuel and after-hours roadside costs when planning for unexpected breakdowns.

Find towing providers in Ohio →

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania shows a wide spread — after-hours fees averaging $196 in our dataset, pulled higher by impound-related gate fees. One provider in Reinholds charges up to $400 for after-hours impound releases, a figure that sparked significant customer complaints and underlines why asking upfront matters.

Find towing providers in Pennsylvania →

Illinois

Chuck’s Towing & Recovery in Peoria charges a clearly published $60 gate fee for all after-hours vehicle releases, with office hours of 9am–5pm Monday through Friday. Any pickup outside those hours — including major holidays — triggers the gate fee on top of standard tow and storage charges.

Find towing providers in Illinois →

Oregon

Seaside Towing in Seaside publishes a $50 after-hours fee for calls between 10pm and 6am. Outside those deep-night hours, their standard rates apply — an unusually transparent and consumer-friendly policy.

Find towing providers in Oregon →

South Carolina

Reliable Towing & Recovery NC, serving the Darlington area, publishes one of the clearest after-hours rate schedules in our dataset:

  • Weeknight after-hours (after 6pm Mon–Fri): $40
  • Weekend after-hours (after 7pm Sat/Sun): $50

These flat-fee surcharges are added on top of the base roadside or towing rate — a model that makes it easy to budget before the truck rolls.

Find towing providers in South Carolina →

Texas

Texas non-consent tow regulations set clear maximums. For a Houston non-consent tow in 2026, the base fee is $232 for the first 20 miles, with an additional $4.64 per mile beyond that. After-hours impound release fees are separately regulated, with providers in our Texas dataset publishing fees ranging from $20 to $149.

Find towing providers in Texas →

Video: Understanding Towing Fees Before You Call

<!– VIDEO EMBED –> <!– Paste your YouTube embed code here –> <!– Recommended: A walkthrough of how towing fees are structured, what to ask before the truck rolls –> <!– Example: <iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/YOUR_VIDEO_ID” title=”Understanding Towing Fees” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe> –>

The Difference Between an After-Hours Towing Fee and an After-Hours Release Fee

These are two separate charges that are often confused:

After-hours towing fee — charged when the tow truck responds to your call outside business hours. You’re paying extra for the driver to come out at night or on a weekend.

After-hours release fee (gate fee) — charged when you go to retrieve your vehicle from a tow yard or storage facility outside business hours. Even if the tow itself happened during the day, picking your car up at 8pm on a Saturday may still trigger a release fee.

Both can apply to the same incident, and both are on top of daily storage fees if your vehicle has been sitting in an impound lot. This is why a single impound event can escalate quickly — see our complete guide to car impound and storage fees.

Why After-Hours Towing Fees Vary So Much

Several factors drive the wide range in after-hours towing surcharges:

State regulation. Some states cap non-consent after-hours fees (Washington, Texas). Others have no cap at all for consent tows — meaning the company sets whatever rate the market supports.

Company structure. A 24/7 dedicated towing operation with dispatchers on shift has lower marginal cost to answer a 3am call than a small operator who has to wake up and drive to their yard. Larger operations sometimes charge less for after-hours because it’s simply part of their model.

Urban vs. rural. Rural providers face longer drive times and lower call volume — both factors that push after-hours fees up. A rural Wyoming provider in our dataset averaged $473 across after-hours calls, the highest in our dataset, driven by long-haul recovery costs.

Impound vs. roadside. After-hours fees on impound releases (gate fees) tend to be higher than simple roadside tow surcharges because the operator has to physically open a secured facility.

How to Avoid or Minimize After-Hours Towing Fees

Ask the question before the truck rolls. Every legitimate towing company will tell you their after-hours surcharge before dispatching. If they won’t give you a number, that’s a red flag. Always ask: “Is there an additional after-hours or night fee on top of the base rate?”

Know your insurance coverage. Many roadside assistance policies — whether through AAA, your auto insurer, or a credit card — cover towing costs up to a limit. Some also cover after-hours surcharges. Check your policy before you call a private towing company directly.

Call during business hours if it’s not an emergency. If your car broke down but isn’t blocking traffic and is in a safe location, waiting until 8am to call can save you the surcharge entirely.

Use a directory with 24/7 providers pre-identified. iFindTowTruck lists providers with 24/7 availability so you can find operators for whom late-night calls are standard business — not an overtime situation.

What Is a Gate Fee in Towing?

A gate fee is a specific type of after-hours release fee charged when you come to pick up your vehicle from a storage facility or tow yard outside of office hours. It compensates the facility operator for having to open up and process a release when they’re technically closed.

Gate fees in our dataset range from $40 to $100, with most operators publishing them clearly on their website. Chuck’s Towing & Recovery in Illinois publishes a flat $60 gate fee — a common benchmark for mid-size operators.

Gate fees are separate from:

  • Daily storage fees (charged per day your vehicle sits on the lot)
  • The original tow charge
  • Administrative or lien fees

For a full breakdown of what it costs to get your car out of impound, see Car Impound & Storage Fees: What It Really Costs.

After-Hours Towing Fee vs. Emergency Towing — Is There a Difference?

Yes. Emergency towing typically refers to the type of situation — accident recovery, a vehicle blocking a highway, a vehicle in a dangerous location — rather than the time of day. Emergency towing may carry its own surcharge regardless of the hour.

After-hours fees are strictly time-based. A routine breakdown at 2am still triggers an after-hours fee. A major accident recovery at 2pm might trigger an emergency surcharge but not an after-hours fee.

Some companies apply both in cases where a complex recovery happens in the middle of the night.

Are After-Hours Towing Fees Regulated?

Regulation varies significantly by state and tow type:

Non-consent tows (where police or a property owner called the towing company — not you) are more heavily regulated in most states. After-hours fees on non-consent tows are often capped.

Consent tows (where you called the company) are largely unregulated for pricing in most states. Companies can charge whatever the market supports for after-hours service on a consent call.

Key states with clear after-hours fee regulations:

  • Washington — WAC 204-91A-140 caps after-hours release fees
  • Texas — TDLR regulates non-consent tow rates; Houston publishes annual non-consent rate schedules
  • California — varies by county; many counties publish fee schedules
  • New York — state regulates non-consent towing; NYC has its own rate schedule

Find a 24/7 Towing Provider Near You

The best way to avoid surprise after-hours fees is to identify a reliable 24/7 provider before you need one. iFindTowTruck lists providers with verified contact information, service hours, and coverage areas across the United States.

Browse by state:

Related Articles

Pricing data sourced from towing service providers listed on iFindTowTruck. Individual rates are subject to change. Always confirm after-hours fees directly with the provider before authorizing service.

ifindtowtruck
Author: ifindtowtruck