Towing Cost in Des Moines: Tow and Roadside Prices
A tow in Des Moines with Des Moines Roadside Rescue starts at $124; call (515) 585-8351 for the final price on your job. A winch-out starts at $129, a flat tire change at $98, and a jump start, lockout or fuel delivery at $85.
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.
| Towing | From $124 |
|---|---|
| Jump start | From $85 |
| Car lockout | From $85 |
| Flat tire change | From $98 |
| Winch-out and recovery | From $129 |
| Replacement tires | Price on the call |
| Battery replacement | Price on the call |
| Fuel delivery | From $85 |
| Mobile mechanic | Price on the call |
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
- A tow in Des Moines starts at $124; distance, time, weather and the vehicle can raise it.
- Iowa has no statewide cap on towing or storage fees, so get the price first.
- We publish no per-mile rate; you get one price for your whole trip on the call.
- Replacement tires, batteries and mobile mechanic work are priced on the call, with no membership needed.
What raises the cost of a tow in Des Moines
Each price on our price list is where that job starts. We set the final number on the call, and these things move it:
- Distance: how far the car has to go, and how far out the job is.
- Time: a call in the middle of the night can cost more than the same job at noon.
- Weather: snow, ice and storms make the work slower and harder.
- Vehicle: its size and weight, how it is driven, and any damage.
- Availability: how busy that hour is.
Some jobs have extras of their own. A winch-out costs more when the car sits far off the road, deep in mud or snow, or needs a second pull. A flat tire change costs more with wheel locks and no lock key, or with a second flat. Fuel delivery adds the fuel at the pump price. Replacement tires are priced by size, brand and stock, and batteries by size and type.
Nothing is charged unless you accept the total. If the number does not suit you, say no.
Towing cost per mile in Des Moines
We publish no per-mile rate. A tow's from-price, $124, covers the hook-up and the first stretch, and a longer trip raises it. Give us both ends on the call: where the car is and where it should go. You get one price for that trip. A long run, such as Perry to downtown Des Moines or Knoxville to Ankeny, is priced the same way, from the two addresses.
Night, weekend and holiday towing prices
We answer at every hour, holidays included, and the from-prices on our list are the same day and night. The time of day or night is one factor in the final price. So a tow at 3 in the morning can cost more than the same tow at noon. We spell out any difference on the call.
Flatbed tow truck or wheel-lift: does it cost more?
A tow goes on a wheel-lift or a flatbed, whichever suits the vehicle, and both start from the same price. If your car needs a flatbed, say so. The vehicle is one factor in the final price, and the call settles it before we send a truck.
Towing an all-wheel-drive or 4x4 vehicle
Many all-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive owner's manuals call for towing with all four wheels off the ground. That usually means a flatbed. Mention whether it is AWD or 4x4 when you call. It is part of the vehicle question that sets the final price, which still starts from the same tow price.
Motorcycle towing in Des Moines
Our starting prices assume a car, SUV, pickup or van. For a motorcycle, ask on the call. We tell you whether we can send help for it, and what it costs, before you agree.
Tow cost after a car accident
Call 911 first if anyone is hurt, a car blocks a lane or fluid is leaking. A tow that police order at a crash scene is theirs to arrange, and its charges are not on our price list. Once the scene is cleared and the choice is yours, a tow to your shop starts from $124. After-crash work, such as winching a damaged car onto the bed, raises it.
Tow prices with no membership or plan
You need no membership, plan or club to call us. We price each call on its own from the price list on this page. You pay for the one job you approve.
Iowa towing laws: price caps, police tows and storage
Iowa law sets rules for impound notice and procedure but does not regulate the type or amount of towing or storage fees. So there is no statewide price cap. That makes a published from-price the plainest way to see where a job starts.
Police tows of abandoned vehicles follow Iowa Code 321.89. It covers how police take a vehicle into custody, the notice the owner receives and how the owner gets it back. Those charges come from the police agency and the towing company it uses. In Des Moines, that is the company the city contracts for impounds, under a contract running from March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2029.
Storage is outside our price list as well. If a car has to be held before it can go to a shop, we quote that cost on the call.
Get a tow price in Des Moines
Call (515) 585-8351 with where the car is, where it should go and what you drive. We give you the full price and the timing on that call. Say yes, and we send a tow truck or roadside technician. Say no, and you owe nothing.
Price questions
How much does a tow cost in Des Moines and nearby towns?
A tow in Des Moines starts at $124 with us. That covers the hook-up and the first stretch. Distance, the hour, the weather and the vehicle set the final price. Give us the pickup and drop-off points on the call, and we quote the exact figure before anything is charged.
Is Des Moines towing priced by the mile?
There is no per-mile rate on our Des Moines price list. The $124 from-price covers the hook-up and the first stretch, and a longer trip costs more. Give us both addresses on the call, and we quote one price for the whole trip. You can say no without owing anything.
Does a tow cost more at night or on weekends in Des Moines?
A tow can cost more at night in Des Moines, because the hour is one factor in the final price. Our from-prices are the same day and night, starting at $124 for a tow. A tow at 3 in the morning can still cost more than the same tow at noon. We tell you any difference on the call.
What does a tow cost after a car accident in Des Moines?
After a Des Moines crash, a tow that police order at the scene is theirs to arrange and is not on our price list. Call 911 first if anyone is hurt or a car blocks a lane. Once the choice is yours, a tow to your shop starts at $124. After-crash work, such as winching a damaged car onto the bed, raises it.
Is there a limit on what a tow company can charge in Iowa?
No, Iowa has no statewide cap on towing or storage fees, Des Moines included. State law regulates impound notice and procedure, not the type or amount of the charges. That is why we publish our from-prices, with a tow starting at $124. You hear the final price on the call before you agree.
If I say no to the tow price on the phone, do I owe anything?
No, you owe nothing if you turn down our Des Moines tow quote on the call, even after describing the whole job. Once you say yes and help is sent, a cancellation fee can apply. We name that fee with the price, before you agree. Call (515) 585-8351 again whenever you are ready.