How is vehicle storage billed?

Per calendar day (some yards prorate the first day), at a rate that local law often caps. Bill it as “Storage: 6 days × $45, 6/1–6/6” — dated and countable. If storage runs long, follow your state’s lien-notice timeline or you may not be able to collect at all.

Do insurance companies pay tow invoices directly?

Often yes, when the tow is part of a claim — invoice the carrier with the claim number, the insured’s details, and your itemized charges. Get the claim number at dispatch; chasing it after drop-off is where tow invoices go to die.

Free Towing Invoice Template

Invoice towing and roadside jobs: list mileage, hook-up, storage and service fees with the vehicle details, then download a PDF.

Your business

Logo

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Business name

Address

Phone

Tax ID

Website

Bill to

Client name

Address

Tax ID

Invoice details

Invoice #

Issue date

Due date

Currency

PO number

Items

DescriptionQtyRateAmount

Tax & totals

Tax label

Tax rate %

Tax inclusive

Discount

Discount value

Shipping

Amount paid

Notes & payment

Notes

Terms

Payment details

Style

Document type

Template

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What to include on a towing invoice

Your company and contact
Vehicle and pickup/drop-off locations
Hook-up fee and mileage
Storage or wait time
Tax, total and payment terms

How towing charges are structured

A tow invoice is built from a hook-up fee plus per-mile charges, scaled by vehicle class — light duty, medium, heavy. On top of that sit situational charges: winch-outs and recoveries (billed hourly), after-hours or gate fees, dollies or flatbed surcharges, and — the big one — storage per day once the vehicle sits in your yard. Storage is regulated in most states (daily caps, notice requirements, lien timelines), so precise dated records aren’t optional. Who pays also varies: cash calls, motor clubs (AAA and similar, at contracted rates), insurance companies, and police-rotation tows each have their own paperwork.

Typical towing rates (US, light duty)

Local ordinances cap some of these in many cities:

Hook-up / base fee: $75–$150
Per-mile: $3–$7 loaded mile
Winch-out / recovery: $75–$250 per hour, terrain-dependent
After-hours or gate fee: $25–$100
Storage: $30–$80 per day, often capped by local rules
Heavy duty: hook-up $250–$600+, hourly rates for recovery work

Records that keep tow invoices enforceable

Photograph the vehicle’s condition (all four corners) at pickup — damage claims are routine in this business
Log exact dates in/out of storage; bill storage as “N days × rate” with the dates shown
Record pickup and drop-off addresses and the loaded mileage on the invoice
For motor-club and insurance tows, reference the job/claim number they issued
Know your state’s lien process — storage liens require specific notices on specific timelines

FAQ

What should a towing invoice include?
How is vehicle storage billed?: Per calendar day (some yards prorate the first day), at a rate that local law often caps. Bill it as “Storage: 6 days × $45, 6/1–6/6” — dated and countable. If storage runs long, follow your state’s lien-notice timeline or you may not be able to collect at all.
Do insurance companies pay tow invoices directly?: Often yes, when the tow is part of a claim — invoice the carrier with the claim number, the insured’s details, and your itemized charges. Get the claim number at dispatch; chasing it after drop-off is where tow invoices go to die.

More invoice templates

New to invoicing? Read how to make an invoice.