Miles towed fills the quantity on Mileage lines and storage days fills Storage lines. Labor lines take hours.
That flatbed call and its rates are filler; overwrite them with your own tow. Drafts stay on this device and never leave it.
A towing invoice bills one tow or roadside job. Put your company name, tow license number and contact at the top, then the customer or the paying insurer, fleet or motor club, and the vehicle: year, make, model, VIN and plate. Add the pickup and drop off locations, the tow date, call and arrival times, miles towed and any police or club reference number. List each charge on its own line (hook up, mileage, storage days, labor, after hours), then show the subtotal, discount, sales tax, total, anything paid at the scene and the balance due.
How the invoice total is calculated
The towing invoice generator multiplies each charge by its miles, days or hours, removes any discount, adds sales tax only on the lines you mark as taxable, then takes off what was paid at the scene.
| In plain words | The math | |
|---|---|---|
| Line amount | A single charge on the call: hook up, mileage, storage, labor, an after hours surcharge or anything else | Qty × unit price (miles × per mile rate, days × daily rate, hours × hourly rate) |
| Subtotal | All charges added together before any discount or tax, split by charge type | Sum of all line amounts |
| Discount | Money taken off, for example a fleet or club rate | Split over every line by its share of the subtotal |
| Tax | State sales tax on storage only, on every line, or on nothing, depending on where you tow | Rate × (taxable lines, less their slice of the discount) |
| Balance due | Whatever the owner, insurer or club has not yet paid | Total, less any cash or card taken by the driver earlier |
Example tow: night flatbed tow of 18 miles with a short winch out and two days in storage, tax at 7% on storage only
How to use this towing invoice template
Go through the four tabs in order and watch the tow bill on the right fill in as you type, then save the PDF once it reads right.
- Enter the tow company and the customer: your company name, address, 24 hour number, tax ID and tow license number, then the customer. If an insurer, a fleet or a motor club is paying, put that account in its own box so it prints on the bill.
- Record the vehicle and the route: year, make and model, VIN, plate, tow type, pickup and drop off points, plus the call and arrival times.
- List the services provided: hook up, roadside work, labor and mileage go on separate lines. Miles towed fills the mileage quantity for you.
- Apply the extra fees and taxes: storage days, the after hours surcharge, then the tax rate and which lines it covers.
- Download the invoice as a PDF.
- Keep one layout for every call: a structured towing template means distance, time and situation change from tow to tow but the bill never misses a line, totals are worked out for you, and drivers, clients and insurers all read the same format. It also leaves a clean record for tax time and any audit.
Invoice template for towing services: what to include
Everything from where the vehicle was hooked to where it was dropped, so the owner, the insurer or the club can pay without calling back.
| Part | What goes on it |
|---|---|
| Tow company details | Company name, address, 24 hour number or email, tax ID and your tow license or permit number. |
| Customer details | The vehicle owner's name, billing address and contact, plus the insurance, fleet or motor club account when someone else is paying. |
| Invoice information | A unique invoice number, the issue date, the due date and the currency. |
| Vehicle details | Year, make, model, VIN and license plate with its state. |
| Tow details | Tow type (light, medium or heavy duty, flatbed or wheel lift), pickup and drop off locations, tow date, the time the call came in and the time the truck arrived, and total miles towed. |
| Reference numbers | The police report, motor club dispatch or insurance claim number tied to the call. |
| Itemized charges | Hook up, mileage, labor, after hours service, storage and roadside work, each on its own line with quantity and rate. |
| Money summary | Subtotal, any discount, sales tax, the total, money already collected and the balance due. |
| Terms | When payment is due, the methods you accept and any late fee policy. |
| Notes and signatures | Claim or adjuster details, release conditions, a thank you line, and space for the driver and customer to sign. |
Why are invoices important for towing contractors?
A tow often ends with three parties reading the same bill: the driver of the car, an insurance adjuster and your bookkeeper.
- Proof of serviceThe invoice records when and where the tow happened and which vehicle went on the truck.
- Insurance complianceClaim numbers, the VIN and an itemized list give the adjuster what the file needs. Detailed bills also hold up better if a charge is disputed later.
- Faster paymentsClear lines get approved faster by owners and insurers alike.
- Records for tax timeNumbered, dated invoices with tax shown separately keep your books and any sales tax return straight.
- Professional reputationAn organized bill tells a stressed driver at the side of the road that they called a real business. Fleet managers notice the same thing when they choose who to keep on their call list.
What charges go on a towing invoice?
Six line types cover almost every call. Keep them apart so each one is easy to check, tax and approve.
| Charge | What it covers | How to bill it |
|---|---|---|
| Hook up | Attaching the vehicle and getting it loaded, often called the base rate | One flat line per vehicle, named for the tow type |
| Mileage | Distance the vehicle was towed | Miles towed × your per mile rate |
| Storage | Days the vehicle sits in your yard or storage facility | Days × daily rate, with the dates in and out in the description |
| Labor | Winch outs, recovery, lockouts, jump starts, tire changes and other roadside work | Hours × hourly rate, or a flat line per task |
| After hours | Night, weekend and holiday calls | Its own surcharge line so the base rate stays visible |
| Other | Dollies, cleanup, gate fees, fuel delivery and anything that does not fit above | One line per item with a clear description |
Can a towing company charge whatever it wants?
Not for every tow. Many states and cities cap what can be charged for nonconsent tows, such as cars removed from private property. Texas sets these statewide maximums.
| Vehicle (gross weight rating) | Private property tow | Drop charge |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 lb or less | $272 | $135 |
| Over 10,000 and under 25,000 lb | $380 | $190 |
| Over 25,000 lb | $489 per unit, $978 at most | $244 |
Daily storage at a Texas vehicle storage facility is $22.85 for a vehicle 25 feet long or less and $39.99 for a longer one, and only one day can be charged when the vehicle leaves within 12 hours. A city or county may set lower limits. These caps are written for private property tows, not for a tow the owner or a club asks for, so check the rules where you operate before you set rates in the generator.
Is sales tax charged on towing and storage?
Some states leave the tow itself untaxed but tax storage, while others tax the whole call. Here is how four states split it.
| State | Towing and storage tax |
|---|---|
| California | Towing a vehicle counts as a service charge, which is generally not taxable, and service charges have to be listed separately on the customer's invoice. |
| New York | Towing a disabled or inoperative vehicle, and recovery such as pulling a car back onto the roadway, is taxed as a repair or maintenance service whether or not it is stated separately. Hauling property purely as a common or contract carrier is not taxed. |
| Texas | Motor vehicle towing charges are not subject to sales tax. Parking and storage of a motor vehicle is taxable, and impound fees are named among the taxable charges. |
| Washington | Towing charges generally fall under retailing, so retail sales tax must be collected. A repair shop can give the tow company a reseller permit in some cases when a damaged vehicle is towed in for repair. |
The generator starts on storage only, the Texas pattern. Switch Tax applies to and Tax % to match your state department of revenue.
Who pays a towing invoice, and when?
The payer decides the terms. A driver at the roadside is a different bill from a motor club account settled later.
| Who pays | What the invoice needs | Usual terms |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle owner | Name, contact and the payment taken at the scene or at release | Due on receipt |
| Motor club | Club name, member and the dispatch reference number | As set in your club agreement |
| Insurer | Claim number, adjuster and the VIN | Net 15 or Net 30 |
| Fleet account | Unit number, driver and the fleet's PO number if it uses one | Net 30, often grouped on a monthly statement |
| Police or nonconsent tow | Police reference number and storage dates | Paid by the owner before the vehicle is released |
In Texas, a driver collecting a drop charge has to accept cash, credit cards and debit cards. Whatever you charge, put the payment methods you take on the invoice.
Towing estimate vs invoice vs receipt
The quote on the phone, the bill after the drop, and the proof of payment are three separate papers.
| Paper | Timing | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Estimate | When the call comes in, before the truck rolls | Gives a cost preview based on distance and tow type. |
| Invoice | Right after the tow, or when the vehicle leaves storage | The official bill for the service, with a due date. |
| Receipt | Once the money is in | Confirms payment was received. |
Industry specific tips for towing invoicing
Towing bills get read by people under stress and by adjusters with a checklist. Write for both.
- Always include vehicle detailsMake, model, plate and the full 17 character VIN. Copy the VIN from the dash plate or door jamb, since that is what an adjuster checks the claim against.
- Break down mileage and laborShow distance and labor time on separate lines.
- State after hours ratesPut night, weekend or holiday surcharges on their own line instead of folding them into the hook up.
- Give insurance claim referencesClaim number, adjuster name and the police or club reference.
- Date the storageWrite the day the vehicle came in and the day it left. When a bill for storage is questioned, the dates on the invoice answer it.
- Get a signature at the dropA signed invoice shows the vehicle was handed over.
Run a tow company? The call you miss at 2am goes to the next truck on the list.
A stranded driver rarely leaves a voicemail, they just dial the next number. ServiceAgent picks up your towing line around the clock, gets the location, the vehicle and what happened, and puts the job in front of your dispatcher, so the tow you invoice tomorrow is one you actually caught tonight.
Book a free demoFrequently asked questions
Short answers on towing bills, tax and this generator.
Book a free demoWhat should a towing invoice include?
Company and customer details, an invoice number and dates, the vehicle's year, make, model, VIN and plate, the pickup and drop off locations, tow date and miles towed, itemized charges, taxes, totals and payment terms.
How do you create a towing invoice?
Enter your company and the customer, add the vehicle and the route, list hook up, mileage, labor, after hours and storage as separate lines, set tax and any discount, then save the invoice as a PDF.
When should a towing invoice be sent?
As soon as the vehicle is dropped off, ideally the same day. For a stored vehicle, send the final bill when it leaves the yard so every storage day is counted.
What's the difference between a towing estimate and an invoice?
An estimate is a preview of the cost before the truck is sent. The invoice is the official bill once the tow is done.
How is a towing invoice different from a receipt?
The invoice is a request for payment. A receipt shows the payment has been received.
How do I format a towing invoice correctly?
Put company details and the invoice number up top, followed by the customer, the vehicle and the tow route. Charges come next, one line each, with totals and the balance due at the bottom right and terms, notes and signature lines underneath. Saving it as a PDF keeps the layout fixed.
Should I use a towing invoice template or generator?
A printed template suits filling in by hand at the scene. A towing invoice generator does the multiplication for miles and storage days, keeps every bill in the same layout and gives you a PDF straight away.
How does a towing invoice generator work?
You type the job details, miles and fees, the totals and balance due update as you go, and the finished invoice downloads as a PDF file.
How long does a towing invoice take to make with a generator?
Usually just a few minutes on a routine call, even with several charges, because your company details stay saved in the browser for the next one.
Is sales tax charged on towing?
It depends on the state. California and Texas do not tax the towing charge, though Texas taxes vehicle storage. New York taxes towing of disabled vehicles and Washington taxes towing as a retail sale.
Where is my towing invoice stored?
Only on this computer or phone, inside the browser, ready for the next call. Nothing is uploaded, and the logo is read on your device. Reset clears it all.
Leads growth and product marketing for ServiceAgent at SaaS Labs, where he has worked in product marketing since 2020. Writes ServiceAgent's coverage of AI call answering, CRM and home services operations.
Published by ServiceAgent, the AI front office for home service teams. Nothing here is tax or legal advice; the page exists to help tow operators bill. Tow fee limits and sales tax rules change by state, county and city, so confirm yours with the local regulator, your state revenue department or an accountant.