What Factors Determine the Costs of Towing Services?

You want to know how much you will pay for towing services when you are stranded and cannot move your car. Nonetheless, there is no specific amount for all towing services. Instead, the factors discussed below will determine the price of your tow.

Location of Incidence

The safety of your location determines the complexity of car retrieval. For example, rural areas and residential streets are usually safer for towing and will cost you less. But, if your vehicle is stuck on a busy road or major highway, your towing company will need specialized machinery, which drives up costs.

Your location determines whether your towing company must send a truck. For example, if you are in a driveway near your towing company, you may not need a truck on site. So, you incur less than you would if your towing company sent a truck. The higher charges cover fuel and driver costs needed to access your vehicle.

Ease of accessibility is also a crucial location factor determining the time and effort your towing company must use. Difficult-to-access areas usually need specialized equipment, a larger workforce, and more hookup time, which increases costs. For example, due to the retrieval complexity, you incur higher expenses if you get stuck in a muddy place.

Time and Weather

Many companies have a separate holiday rate that is slightly higher than the regular charges. The reason is that you have fewer companies to choose from when workers are on holiday. Weekends, too, are higher demand times and attract more charges.

Evenings and nights usually have a higher demand for towing services than the daytime. Besides, driving a tow truck at night is more complex than during the day. So, most towing operators are busy and charge you more if you need services during the dark or peak hours.

Weather conditions affect the risk and complexity of the towing process. For example, sunny days do not pose any retrieval challenges, so towing does not require as much effort as it does on rainy days. On the other hand, harsh weather conditions such as rain and blizzards pose visibility issues and increase towing complexity. So, you pay more for the extra effort needed.

Vehicle's Size and Type

Your towing company does not need complex machinery to tow a small car. So, smaller cars are usually cheaper to tow than expensive cars, except for luxury cars. Besides, smaller cars are less weighty and easier to hook to the towing vehicle.

On the flip side, larger vehicles like trucks and buses are more difficult to get onto the tow truck. The larger size also adds to the weight your towing company must handle. Finally, the larger the size, the more the risk of damage and expensive repairs. All these factors add to the towing services' complexity and cost.

Light to medium car towing is usually less costly than heavy-duty vehicles because heavy-duty vehicles need more specialized tools. However, exotic cars, too, need more attention, skilled drivers, and special types of tow trucks. As such, exotic cars are more difficult to tow and attract higher charges.

Distance and Vehicle Conditions

The distance between your location and where you want your vehicle towed contributes to the total cost. The towing company will use more time, fuel, and effort for longer distances, increasing prices.

Your car issues — for example, whether you have a collision or flat tires — affect your towing rates. For example, your towing company needs special equipment to handle your car if you have been in an accident. The machines, time, and effort required to operate a vehicle in a delicate condition add to the total cost.

The factors above affect the cost of towing services, but the price policy varies from one company to another. In addition, you need a reliable and convenient company like AA Wrecker Service to handle your towing needs. Therefore, if you want affordable towing services, book your consultation today and let the experts sort out your needs.