How we quote before we roll
Dispatch asks three things: your vehicle type, your location, and what's wrong. From that, you get a flat quote on the phone. If the job changes once our driver is on scene, like a car that's actually stuck against a curb instead of just stalled, the driver calls in the new number and you approve it before any extra work starts. Florida Statute 715.07 requires towing companies to post their current rates with local law enforcement, and we treat that same transparency as the baseline, not the ceiling.
Towing
Local Tow (in-city)
$85-$135Base hook-up and mileage inside Lakeland or Winter Haven city limits.
Extended Mileage
$3.50-$4.50/miPer mile past the base radius, for longer hauls toward Bartow or the county line.
Winch-Out
$75-$250Added to a tow when a vehicle is stuck in a ditch, median, or soft shoulder.
Accident Recovery
$125-$450Collision tows, rollovers, and off-road recovery, priced once the driver sees the vehicle's position.
Roadside Assistance
Jump-Start
$45-$65Flat rate, includes a battery test after the jump.
Lockout
$50-$75Non-destructive entry for most makes and models.
Flat Tire Change
$50-$80Mounting your spare or donut, assuming one is on board.
Fuel Delivery
$55-$85Service call fee, plus fuel at pump price.
What moves the number
- Distance. Longer hauls toward Bartow or the Plant City edge add mileage past the base radius.
- Vehicle type. AWD and 4x4 require flatbed only, which runs slightly higher than a standard wheel-lift tow.
- Scene complexity. A car in a live travel lane on the Polk Parkway needs traffic control coordination before we can safely work, which adds time.
- Time of day. After-hours and holiday calls carry a modest, disclosed differential. It's quoted up front, never added after the fact.
- Recovery difficulty. A winch-out from a shallow shoulder costs less than a full off-road recovery requiring rigging or a second truck.
What happens if you cancel after we're already rolling
Sometimes another driver gets to you first, or your car starts back up on its own. That happens. If our truck is already dispatched and on the way when you cancel, a modest trip fee applies to cover the driver's time and fuel, quoted to you at the time you call to cancel. If you cancel before the truck leaves the yard, there's no charge at all.
Why we don't quote a single flat number for everything
A one-size price sounds simple, but it either overcharges the easy calls to cover the hard ones, or it undercharges the hard calls and creates the exact surprise-invoice problem this whole page exists to avoid. A jump-start in a Lakeland parking lot and a winch-out from a drainage ditch off US 92 are not the same job, and pricing them the same would mean someone's overpaying. We'd rather give you the real range for your specific situation and quote the exact number before anyone drives out.
Will the price change once the truck arrives?
Only if the actual job is different from what was described on the phone, and even then the driver calls in the new number and you approve it before any extra work happens. No surprise line items on the invoice.
Do you charge extra for nights or weekends?
There's a modest after-hours and holiday differential, and it's included in your quote up front. It's never added to the bill afterward.
Can I pay with insurance instead of cash?
For accident recovery calls, yes, if your carrier participates in direct-bill. Ask dispatch when you call and we'll confirm before the tow.