How much does a tow cost in the Twin Cities?
What drives the price, what the City of Minneapolis 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We do not publish a rate card, and that is deliberate.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 Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis's own impound fees, cited to the city code, 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 downtown-to-outer-suburb run, like Minneapolis out to Lakeville. |
| 50 - 100 miles | Quoted as a route total | Quoted as a route total | Quoted per job | St. Cloud, Rochester 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 Minneapolis charges
These are not our prices and they are not estimates. The city publishes them, and they only apply when the City of Minneapolis is the one that towed you. A suburban impound sets its own fee entirely.
| Item | Amount | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Impound tow fee | $222 | City Code Ch. 349.270, effective 2026 |
| Storage per day | $18 | Assessed by midnight each day |
| Heavy-duty tow | $204.50 + $94.50 / half-hour | Base plus winch time |
| Notification letter | $6 | Mailed to the registered owner |
| Lot hours | 8am-10pm Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm Sun | Open 24 hours on Day 1-2 of a declared snow emergency |
A St. Paul snow-emergency tow uses a different set
The City of St. Paul publishes its own figures for a snow-emergency tow, and they are not the Minneapolis numbers. We show both rather than picking one. A St. Paul snow-emergency tow goes to the lot at 1129 Cathlin St, not the regular impound lot.
| Item | Amount | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Snow-emergency tow | $246 | Tow $143.89 + admin $80 + tax $22.11, retrieved same day |
| Storage per day | $15 | Each additional day from midnight |
| Parking ticket | $56 | Paid to the Minnesota courts, not the lot |
What about a long-distance tow out of the Twin Cities?
The Twin Cities sit where I-35 and I-94 cross, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Twin Cities to St. Cloud | about 65 miles | Route quoted |
| Twin Cities to Rochester | about 85 miles | Route quoted |
| Twin Cities to Eau Claire, WI | about 95 miles | Route quoted |
| Twin Cities to Duluth | about 155 miles | Route quoted |
| Twin Cities to Fargo, ND | about 240 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. If the City of Minneapolis is the one towing you, its heavy-duty impound fee is higher than the standard tow and adds winch time.
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 Twin Cities drivers ask about tow pricing?
How much does it cost to tow a car 10 miles in the Twin Cities?
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 Minneapolis charge if it tows my car?
The city publishes it. Under City Code Chapter 349.270 the standard impound tow is $222, with storage at $18 per day assessed by midnight. A heavy-duty tow is $204.50 plus $94.50 per half-hour of winch time. Chapter 478 governs the impound procedure itself.
Why do I see Minneapolis and St. Paul figures?
Because each city runs its own impound lot and sets its own fees. Minneapolis charges the $222 standard tow above. A St. Paul snow-emergency tow, retrieved the same day, totals $246 (towing $143.89, administration $80, and sales tax $22.11), with storage at $15 per day and a separate $56 parking ticket paid to the Minnesota courts. Check which city towed you before you argue about a number.
Does a suburb charge the same as Minneapolis or St. Paul?
No. Every suburb runs its own impound and sets its own fee under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 168B. There is no single published suburban figure, which is why the amounts vary. Call the department that ordered the tow, or the suburb that runs the lot.
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 day and night, and you get the number before an operator is dispatched.