How much does a tow cost in Chicago?
What drives the price, what the City of Chicago 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We do not publish a rate card, and that is deliberate.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 Chicago 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 Chicago's own pound fees, cited to the ordinance, 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 city-to-collar-county run, or Joliet to O'Hare. |
| 50 - 100 miles | Quoted as a route total | Quoted as a route total | Quoted per job | Rockford, Milwaukee and the far edge of the metro 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 Chicago charges
These are not our prices and they are not estimates. The city publishes them, and they only apply when the City of Chicago is the one that towed you. A suburban village impound sets its own fee entirely.
| Item | Amount | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Tow, vehicle under 8,000 lbs | $250 | Municipal Code 9-92-080 |
| Tow, vehicle 8,000 lbs and over | $350 | Same ordinance, weight split |
| Storage per day, under 8,000 lbs | $50 | Accrues daily from the tow |
| Storage per day, 8,000 lbs and over | $100 | Accrues daily from the tow |
| Accepted payment | Cash or major card | No checks and no money orders |
| Time before disposal | No less than 21 days | From the date the city mails notice; one 15-day extension under 9-92-100(a) |
Winter parking-ban tows use a different set
The city's Winter Snow Parking Restrictions page publishes its own figures for parking-ban tows. Both sets come from the City of Chicago. We show both rather than picking one.
| Item | Amount | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum towing fee | $150 | Winter parking-ban tow |
| Ticket | $60 | Issued with the tow |
| Storage per day | $25 | Vehicles go to Pound 2 or Pound 6 |
What about a long-distance tow out of Chicago?
Chicago 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago to Milwaukee | about 90 miles | Route quoted |
| Chicago to Rockford | about 90 miles | Route quoted |
| Chicago to Indianapolis | about 185 miles | Route quoted |
| Chicago to Detroit | about 285 miles | Route quoted |
| Chicago to St. Louis | about 300 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 Chicago drivers ask about tow pricing?
How much does it cost to tow a car 10 miles in Chicago?
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 Chicago charge if it tows my car?
The city publishes it. Under Municipal Code 9-92-080 the tow is $250 for a vehicle under 8,000 pounds and $350 at 8,000 pounds or more, with storage at $50 or $100 per day on the same weight split. Payment is cash or major card only; the city does not accept checks or money orders.
Why do I see two different city fee sets?
Because the city publishes two. The Common Towing Questions page carries the 9-92-080 schedule above. The Winter Snow Parking Restrictions page states that parking-ban violators face a minimum $150 towing fee, a $60 ticket and $25 per day storage. Both come from the City of Chicago. Check which situation you are in before you argue about a number.
Does a suburb charge the same as the city?
No. Every suburb runs its own impound and sets its own administrative fee, and Illinois law only requires that fee to be reasonable and related to the municipality's actual administrative and processing costs. There is no dollar cap in the statute, which is why the figures vary so much. Call the department 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 24/7, and you get the number before an operator is dispatched.