How Much Do Tow Truck Drivers Make Per Car? (2026 Per-Call Numbers)
The Short Answer
An employed driver on commission typically keeps 20–30% of the ticket — roughly $15–$45 per light-duty call. An owner-operator collects the whole ticket: $45–$85 hook plus $3.50–$6.00 per loaded mile on motor club work, or $95–$275 on a private-pay local tow. After fuel, insurance, and truck costs, a realistic owner-operator margin is 55–70% of gross.
"How much per car?" is the right question — hourly averages hide the fact that towing pay is piecework. What you make per call depends on who dispatched it, how far you drove, and whether you own the truck.
Commission drivers earn roughly $15–$45 per light-duty call (20–30% of the ticket). Owner-operators collect the full ticket: about $60–$140 on a typical motor club call and $95–$275 on a cash tow.
Per-Call Pay by Job Type
| Call type | Gross ticket | Commission driver keeps | Owner-operator keeps (after costs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor club light-duty, 8 loaded miles | $75–$130 | $18–$38 | $45–$85 |
| Cash / private-pay local tow | $95–$275 | $25–$70 | $60–$180 |
| Lockout / jump / tire change | $35–$75 | $10–$22 | $25–$55 |
| Private property impound (PPI) | $150–$350 + storage | $30–$80 | $95–$240 + storage |
| Winch-out / recovery | $150–$450 | $35–$110 | $100–$310 |
| GOA (gone on arrival) | $20–$35 | $5–$10 | $15–$30 |
Why the Same Tow Pays Three Different Amounts
A 10-mile light-duty tow is one job with three price tags. Motor club: $45–$85 hook plus $3.50–$6.00 a mile, paid in 15–45 days. Cash customer: you set the rate, collected on the spot. PPI: the property pays nothing — the vehicle owner pays the tow plus $35–$75 per day of storage. Same truck, same 40 minutes, wildly different money.
- Motor club = volume and predictability, lowest per-call rate
- Cash / private-pay = highest per-call rate, requires marketing
- PPI = highest per-call revenue, requires contracts and strict compliance
- Police rotation = mixed rates, but accident and storage work carries the margin
What Comes Out of the Ticket
| Cost | Per light-duty call |
|---|---|
| Fuel (round trip, ~20 miles) | $8–$14 |
| Insurance (allocated) | $9–$18 ($7,500–$14,000/yr spread over calls) |
| Maintenance + tires reserve | $6–$12 |
| Dispatch software / phone | $2–$5 ($49–$199/mo) |
| Truck payment (allocated) | $10–$25 |
The Number That Actually Matters
Not per-call revenue — revenue per hour on the clock. Three $70 motor club calls in an hour beats one $180 cash tow that ate two hours of deadhead. Track drive time per call for 30 days and you'll rebuild your entire mix.
Getting From Driver Pay to Owner Pay
The jump from $25 a call to $85 a call is not a raise — it's owning the truck and the accounts. That means an LLC, a USDOT number if you cross state lines, the insurance stack (auto liability, on-hook, garage keepers), and onboarding with motor clubs or landing your own PPI and dealer accounts. Startup for a single used light-duty wrecker runs $18,000–$45,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much commission do tow truck drivers make?
Most shops pay 20–30% of the collected ticket, sometimes 35% for recovery work. On a typical $90 light-duty motor club call that's $18–$27 to the driver.
Do tow truck drivers get paid per tow or hourly?
Both models exist. Commission-only is common at small independents; larger fleets and municipal-contract shops often pay hourly ($17–$26/hr) plus a per-call bonus.
How much do AAA tow truck drivers make per call?
AAA contractors are paid by the club, not per driver — the contractor receives roughly $45–$85 hook plus mileage, and pays the driver a commission out of that.
What's the most profitable type of tow?
Private property impound with storage. The tow itself pays $150–$350 and every day the vehicle sits adds $35–$75 with no additional labor.
Can you make $100k towing?
An owner-operator running one truck consistently on a good mix of cash, PPI, and club work can gross $140k–$200k and net into six figures. A commission driver almost never does on one truck.
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Derek Halston
Independent tow operator with 12+ years running light- and medium-duty wreckers on motor club and private property impound work, and the lead instructor at Tow Truck Pro Academy.