AvoTowing Invoice Template (Free Fillable PDF)
A towing invoice is paid by a motorist on the spot, by an insurer or motor club afterward, or by a police department or property owner under a contract, and each one checks different things: the motorist checks the mileage, the insurer checks the VIN and the claim number, the contract holder checks the rate sheet. This template has the vehicle, the locations and the reference numbers in the header, and the standard lines (hook-up, mileage, winching, storage) in the order rate sheets use.
Free, fillable, US Letter. No email, no sign-up. Fill in your company, license and rate basis once. For each tow change the vehicle, the locations and the lines.
What the PDF looks like. The hints in the line table show the lines a tow operator typically bills; type over them.
Why towing invoices get paid late
Mileage without the route
“Towing, 34 mi” is disputed when the driver remembers a shorter trip. Write the pickup and drop-off addresses and the loaded miles.
Storage days unclear
Storage runs by the calendar day from a stated time. Show the in and out dates and the daily rate; many states regulate both.
Insurance claim bounced
Motor clubs and insurers reject invoices without the VIN, the claim or PO number and the reason for the tow.
What to include on a towing invoice
- Company name, address, contact, towing license or permit numberRequired on invoices in most states and cities; also the number the insurer verifies.
- Customer or payer: motorist, insurer, motor club, police departmentWith the claim, PO or dispatch number.
- Vehicle: year, make, model, color, VIN, plateThe VIN is what claims and impound records match against.
- Pickup location, drop-off location, loaded miles, date and timeBoth addresses; after-hours time if a surcharge applies.
- Hook-up or base feeLight, medium or heavy duty; flatbed vs wheel-lift if your rates differ.
- Mileage, winching, dollies, roadside servicesPer-mile rate and count; winching by the hour or flat; jump, lockout, tire change, fuel delivery as roadside lines.
- Storage with dates and daily rate, after-hours and special equipmentGate fee if allowed; each surcharge named.
- Payment method, release terms and lien notice where requiredCash, card, insurer direct bill; vehicle released on payment.
Example towing invoice
Lines a typical job produces. Labor and materials are separate, and anything already paid is a negative line so the total is the balance due.
| Description | Qty × rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Flatbed hook-up, light duty, I-84 mile 52 → Ridgeline Auto, Boise | 1 | $125.00 |
| Loaded mileage | 18 mi × $6.00 | $108.00 |
| Winching from ditch, 2 lines | 0.5 h × $150.00 | $75.00 |
| After-hours surcharge (10:40 pm) | 1 | $50.00 |
| Storage, Mar 12–14, outdoor | 2 days × $45.00 | $90.00 |
| Total due | $448.00 | |
How to use the template
- Download the PDFIt is a fillable form: open it in any PDF reader, on a computer or a phone.
- Fill in your details onceBusiness name, contact, license number, terms. Save it as your master copy.
- Add the job and sendChange the client, the lines and the invoice number for each tow operator job. Export and send by email or text.
Fill it on your iPhone in a minute instead
Avo keeps your clients and your usual line items, so the next invoice is three taps. Your first three documents are free, full-quality PDF, no watermark. Premium from $59.99/year if you invoice often.
Scan the code with your iPhone camera to open Avo in the App Store, or email yourself the link.
Questions
What must a towing invoice include by law?
Most states require the tow company's name, address and license or permit number, the vehicle description with VIN and plate, the pickup and drop-off locations, the date and time, each charge itemized at the posted rate, and the storage rate and dates. Non-consensual tows have additional notice requirements.
How do I bill a motor club or insurance company for a tow?
Use their claim, PO or dispatch number in the header, include the VIN and the reason for the tow, itemize per their rate agreement, and send the invoice with photos if required. Most pay Net 30 and reject invoices missing the reference number.
How is storage calculated on a towing invoice?
By the calendar day from the time of arrival at the yard, at the posted daily rate, with the in and out dates on the line. Many states cap daily storage and require that rates be posted; the invoice should match the posted rate exactly.
Can I charge an after-hours fee?
Yes if it is on your posted rate sheet or the contract and the time of the call is on the invoice. Name it as its own line rather than raising the hook-up fee.
What payment methods should a tow invoice offer?
Card and cash at release, with card on file for account customers and direct billing for insurers. State the methods on the invoice; disputes over release are fewer when the terms are printed.