Tow Truck and Towing Service in Des Moines, 24/7
Des Moines Roadside Rescue sends a tow truck anywhere in Des Moines and the seven-county area, from $124, day or night: call (515) 585-8351. Tell us where the car is and where it should go, and we quote the full price on that call.
Answered day and night, 24/7. Hear the price and the timing, say yes, and help is dispatched.
Tell us the road, the nearest exit or mile marker, or the cross street where you stopped.
Each price is a starting price. Availability, late hours, the distance, the weather and the vehicle can raise it. You get the final number on the call, before anything is set in motion.
Prices updated November 2026.
Key takeaways
- Towing in Des Moines starts at $124, which covers the hook-up and the first stretch.
- You choose where the car goes: your mechanic, a dealer, a tire shop or your driveway.
- Des Moines bans parking on snow routes while snow falls, and a stalled car there can be towed.
- Police impound tows in Des Moines follow the city's contract, not our price list.
What is included
Tows for cars, SUVs, pickups and vans, to the shop, dealer or address you choose. Flatbed or wheel-lift, picked to suit the vehicle. The from-price covers hook-up and the opening miles. Extra distance, winching, a crash scene or storage costs more, and you get the full price up front on the call.
Tow truck to the shop, dealer or driveway you choose
You pick the destination: your own mechanic, a dealer, a tire shop or your driveway. Give us the shop's name or the address on the call. Tell us if the car is all-wheel drive, lowered or will not roll. That decides between a wheel-lift and a flatbed.
Distance is part of the price. A tow across Urbandale and a tow from Knoxville to a Des Moines dealer get different quotes. The towing cost page explains what else moves the price.
How to call a tow truck in Des Moines
Call (515) 585-8351 from a safe spot. Tell us the road, your direction and the nearest exit or cross street. Then say where the car should go. We give you the full price and the timing on that call. Say yes, and we send a tow truck. Say no, and you owe nothing.
If you already left the car, call once you reach a warm, safe place. Tell us exactly where it sits, which way it faces and where it should go.
Leaving a broken-down car on an Iowa highway
A car left where it broke down carries a risk of its own. Iowa Code 321.89 counts a car on a highway as abandoned once police find it a hazard to traffic. Any car left illegally on public property for more than 24 hours counts as abandoned too. Police must take abandoned cars into custody. That tow and its storage follow police procedure, not our price list.
Storms bring removals as well. During the March 15, 2026 blizzard closures, Iowa DOT warned that law enforcement might need to remove stranded vehicles before closed highways could reopen. Did you have to leave a car on a closed road? Call us once you are safe and ask for a price to move it.
Snow-route towing in Des Moines
Des Moines bans parking on its designated snow routes while snow is falling. Once the snow stops, a residential snow ordinance can take effect and move the parking rules into the neighborhoods. A car left on the street can draw a $35 fine and may be towed. The city's Public Works line, (515) 283-4950, is answered 24 hours a day.
Is a car that will not start parked on a snow route? Call us before the plows come through. We can tow it to a driveway or a lot from $124.
Police impound tows in Des Moines
Des Moines contracts the towing and storage of police-impounded vehicles to one company. That contract runs from March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2029. Impound tows and the impound lot's charges follow the city's contract, not the prices on this site.
For an abandoned vehicle, Iowa Code 321.89 has police send notice by certified mail within 20 days of taking it into custody. From there, the owner gets 10 days to reclaim the car. That means paying the towing, preservation and storage charges plus the cost of the notice. A valid driver's license and proof of insurance are needed as well.
Waiting for the tow truck safely
- Pull as far from the traffic lanes as the car will go, and turn on the hazard lights.
- On I-235 or the shared I-35/I-80 freeway, stay in the car with the belt on unless it is burning.
- If the car is stuck in a lane or anyone is hurt, call 911 first.
- Keep the registration and the destination address handy for the tow.
Towing questions
What does it cost to call a tow truck in Des Moines?
A tow truck call in Des Moines starts at $124 with us. The from-price pays for the hook-up and the first stretch. Distance, the hour, the weather and the vehicle can raise it. Give us the pickup spot and the destination, and we quote one full price before the truck heads out.
Do you charge per mile for towing in Des Moines?
No, we publish no per-mile rate for towing in Des Moines. A tow starts from $124, and a longer trip costs more. Give us both addresses on the call, and you get one price for that trip. You say yes or no before anything is charged.
Who do I call for a tow on I-35 or I-80 near Des Moines?
Call us at (515) 585-8351 for a tow on I-35 or I-80 anywhere around Des Moines. Tell us your direction and the nearest exit or mile marker. Where I-35 and I-80 share the freeway, the exit number settles which road you are on. Dial 911 first if anyone is hurt or the car blocks a lane.
I left my car on the shoulder of I-35. What happens now?
Iowa police can treat a car left on the I-35 shoulder near Des Moines as abandoned once it is a hazard to traffic. Abandoned cars go into police custody, and that tow follows their process. To move it first, call us at (515) 585-8351 once you are safe. Give the direction and the nearest mile marker, and we quote a tow to your shop.
My car was towed by Des Moines police. Can you get it out of impound?
No, a Des Moines police impound is released only through the company the city contracts for impounds. For an abandoned vehicle, Iowa Code 321.89 gives the owner 10 days after the certified notice to reclaim it. Once the car is released, we can tow it to your shop from $124. Ask for that price on the call.