Towing Invoice Template
A towing invoice bills the hook-up or base fee, mileage from pickup to drop-off, and storage per day if the vehicle is held. Add recovery charges such as winching or dollies where they applied, and record the vehicle, VIN and where it was collected from. Build one free below, no signup.
Towing invoices get scrutinised more than almost any other trade document, because the person paying often did not choose the service. A vehicle owner collecting a car after an impound reads every line. Where rates are regulated, and police-ordered and non-consent tows usually are, that document may also be checked against a published schedule.
What goes on a towing invoice
| Line | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Hook-up / base rate | Attaching and securing the vehicle, charged once |
| Mileage | Loaded miles from pickup to drop-off, at a per-mile rate |
| Storage | Per day, with the dates counted, the most disputed line |
| Recovery / winching | Off-road recovery, dollies, extra equipment or crew |
| After-hours | Night, weekend or holiday premium, labelled |
| Vehicle & locations | Year, make, model, VIN, plate, pickup and drop-off points |
A worked example
A breakdown recovery with three days in the yard before collection:
- Vehicle: 2016 Ford Transit · VIN and plate on file
- Pickup: I-40 mile marker 212 → drop-off: yard, 9 Rowan St
- Hook-up / base rate: $95.00
- Mileage, 18 loaded mi @ $4.50/mi: $81.00
- Winching, 0.5 hr: $75.00
- Storage, 3 days (12–14 Aug) @ $45.00/day: $135.00
- Total $386.00 · payable on release
Storage lists the actual dates rather than just a day count. When someone collects a vehicle a week later, the dated lines are what stop the conversation becoming an argument.
What causes towing invoice disputes
- Storage days without dates. Show each day or the date range. “Storage $135” is the single most challenged line in towing.
- No VIN or plate. The invoice is the record of which vehicle was moved; insurers and owners both need the identifier.
- Recovery bundled into the base rate. Winching is extra work and should be visible as such, not hidden inside a larger hook-up fee.
- Pickup location missing. For insurance claims and police-ordered tows, where the vehicle came from matters as much as where it went.
Create a towing invoice free
Enter hook-up, mileage, storage and recovery lines, watch the total build, and download a clean PDF for release or for the insurer. No account, no watermark.
Taking payment at release? The cash receipt generator gives the owner immediate proof. Also running repairs? See the auto repair invoice template.
Related templates
- Auto repair invoice template
- Trucking invoice template
- Receipt template
- All templates · How to write an invoice
Frequently asked questions
How should storage be shown on a towing invoice?
List the dates the vehicle was held and the daily rate, not just a total. Storage is the most frequently challenged charge in towing precisely because a lump sum gives the owner nothing to check, and dated lines resolve it before it escalates.
Does a towing invoice need the VIN?
It should include the VIN and licence plate. The invoice is the record of which specific vehicle was moved and stored, and insurers processing a claim will usually ask for the identifier before paying.
Are towing rates regulated?
For police-ordered and other non-consent tows, many jurisdictions publish maximum rates for hook-up, mileage and storage. Consent tows arranged directly with the owner are generally not capped in the same way. Check the schedule that applies where you operate, since the invoice may be compared against it.