How Much Does a Tow Cost in Seattle? 2026 Price Guide
What Decides the Price of a Tow in Seattle
Six things every tow company prices on
There is no single price for a tow in Seattle. When you call a tow company yourself, the price depends on how far the car goes, what kind of vehicle it is, which truck it needs and how hard it is to reach. What is fixed are the maximum rates the City of Seattle and the Washington State Patrol set for tows you did not order — police impounds, private-lot impounds and State Patrol freeway tows. Those published caps are the best public benchmark for what towing costs here, so this guide walks through both.
A Block Towing is a Seattle tow company at 2918 1st Ave S in SoDo. We quote one flat price on the phone before a truck leaves, and we do not add a night, weekend or holiday surcharge. For a quote on your exact situation, call (206) 602-7416.
- Distance. A tow across SoDo and a tow from Northgate to Renton are different jobs. Local tows are usually quoted as one flat price; long tows are quoted on distance
- Vehicle size. Cars, SUVs and light pickups are light-duty (Class A). Box trucks, larger vans and RVs need a heavier truck and cost more
- Flatbed or wheel-lift. All-wheel-drive, 4WD, electric and lowered vehicles should go on a flatbed. A short tow of a front-wheel-drive car can often use a wheel-lift
- Recovery work. A car in a ditch, on its side or stuck in snow needs winching before it can be towed. Locked wheels or a missing key may need dollies
- Access. A low-clearance parking garage, a tight alley or a freeway shoulder takes more time and sometimes a different truck
- Time of day. Some companies charge more at night, on weekends or on holidays. Always ask. (We do not.)
If the car only needs a jump start, a tire change, fuel or a lockout, a roadside fix is almost always cheaper than a tow.
Seattle and Washington Regulated Towing Rates
These are the official maximums for tows the car owner did not order. They are a useful sanity check for any quote you get.
- City of Seattle police impounds (Lincoln Towing), 2026: standard car (Class A) tow $297 in the north zone or $263 in the south zone, including dolly and up to half an hour of winching. Storage $22 (north) or $19 (south) per 12 hours, first 12 hours free. Administrative fee $35
- Seattle private property impounds (towed from a private lot), current City maximums: first hour of towing $302.05, then $53.89 per 15 minutes ($215.56 per hour). Storage $42.30 per 12 hours. After-hours release $100. An uncompleted tow is capped at $75.51 per 15 minutes. The City adjusts these each year for inflation
- Washington State Patrol rotation tows (freeway tows called by a trooper), Oct 15, 2025 – Oct 14, 2026: Class A and E trucks $297 per hour, Class B $359 per hour, Class C $622 per hour. Storage $75 per day. After-hours release staff $149 per hour
If your car was impounded, see our Seattle impound lot guide for where it is and what release costs.
Before you agree to a tow, ask these questions on the phone:
- Is that the complete price? Hook-up, mileage, winching, dollies and any after-hours fee should all be included in the number you are given
- Flatbed or wheel-lift? Make sure the truck suits your vehicle — the wrong one can damage an AWD drivetrain
- Where exactly will it go? Confirm the drop-off address. A second move later is a second charge
- How do you take payment? Card, cash, insurance or roadside-plan billing
- Will I get an itemised receipt? You need one to claim back from insurance or a roadside plan
Many auto policies and roadside plans reimburse towing. Coverage varies, so check your own policy and keep the receipt.
When a Tow Costs More
Accidents, recoveries, heavier vehicles and long distance
- Accident scene: loading a damaged car, sweeping glass and debris and waiting for police takes longer than a breakdown tow. See accident towing
- Recovery: vehicles off the road, in mud or snow, or down a steep Seattle grade need rigging and time before the tow starts
- Heavier vehicles: box trucks, large vans and RVs need a heavier truck class, which is why the regulated rates above step up from Class A to B and C
- Long distance: Seattle to Spokane or across a pass is priced as one flat trip. See long distance towing
- Impound pickups: moving a car that will not start out of an impound lot after you have paid the release
How A Block Towing prices a job:
- One flat price quoted on the phone, before dispatch
- No night, weekend or holiday surcharge
- Roadside fix first when it will solve the problem
- Cash and all major cards, and we work with insurers
- Itemised receipt every time
Tell us where the car is, what it is and where it needs to go, and we will give you the full price. Call (206) 602-7416, 24/7. See all our Seattle towing services.
FAQ
It depends on distance, vehicle size, the type of truck and any recovery work, so ask for a complete price on the phone. As a public benchmark, Seattle’s 2026 maximum for a police-ordered tow of a standard car is $297 (north zone) or $263 (south zone), and the City’s maximum for the first hour of a private-property tow is $302.05.
Some companies add after-hours charges, so always ask. A Block Towing does not charge extra for nights, weekends or holidays.
Many auto policies and roadside plans reimburse towing, but coverage varies. Check your policy and keep the itemised receipt.
All-wheel-drive, 4WD, electric, hybrid, lowered and luxury vehicles should go on a flatbed. A short tow of a front-wheel-drive car can often use a wheel-lift.
The City caps private-property impound fees. Current maximums are $302.05 for the first hour of towing, $53.89 per 15 minutes after that, $42.30 per 12 hours of storage and $100 for an after-hours release. The City adjusts these each year.
For a 2026 City police impound of a standard car: up to $297 or $263 for the tow, $22 or $19 per 12 hours of storage with the first 12 hours free, and a $35 administrative fee. See our Seattle impound lot guide for details.
Local Seattle tows are quoted as one flat price. Long distance trips are quoted on the route, also as a flat price agreed before we load.
Almost always. If the problem is a dead battery, a flat tire, an empty tank or keys locked inside, a roadside fix on the spot costs less than a tow.