How Much Does Towing Cost in Calgary?

Getting your car towed in Calgary isn't cheap. Whether you've broken down on Deerfoot, need a non-runner moved across town, or are trying to get rid of a vehicle sitting in your driveway, the cost of towing can add up fast — and it varies more than most people expect.

Here's a straightforward breakdown of what towing actually costs in Calgary, what drives that price up, and one situation where you won't pay anything at all.

Typical Towing Rates in Calgary

For a basic local tow within city limits, most Calgary towing companies charge somewhere between $150 and $350. That range covers the hookup fee plus a short haul — usually within 15–20 kilometres.

What's included in that number:

• Dispatch and driver time to your location
• Loading the vehicle onto the flatbed or attaching to a wheel-lift
• Transport to a single destination
• Basic labour on a standard, accessible vehicle

That's the floor for most calls. A lot of situations push the cost higher.

What Makes a Tow More Expensive

Distance

Most companies charge a per-kilometre rate beyond a base distance — commonly $3–$6 per km in the Calgary area. A tow from the city to Airdrie, Cochrane, or Okotoks can add $50–$100 to the base rate before you've factored in anything else.

Time of Day

Evening, overnight, and weekend calls typically come with a surcharge. After-hours rates in Calgary commonly add $50–$100 to the standard price. If you break down on a Sunday evening, expect to pay at the higher end of the range.

Vehicle Size

Standard passenger cars are the cheapest to tow. Pickup trucks, large SUVs, and vans cost more — both because of the weight and because they often require a flatbed rather than a wheel-lift. Heavier commercial vehicles cost significantly more again.

Access and Condition

If your vehicle is in a tight underground parkade, stuck in a ditch, buried in snow, or has seized brakes that prevent it from rolling, you're looking at a more complex recovery rather than a simple tow. Recovery jobs are priced differently — often starting at $300–$500 depending on what's involved.

Additional Drop-Offs

Most base tow rates cover one destination. If you need the vehicle dropped at a shop but the shop is closed and you want it moved to your home first, that's a second call or an extra charge.

What a Tow to a Scrap Yard Actually Costs You

This is where the numbers get interesting for anyone trying to get rid of an old or non-running vehicle.

If your car doesn't run and you're taking it to a scrap yard, you need to arrange transport yourself. A standard tow to a Calgary scrap yard typically costs $150–$250, depending on where you're located in the city. That amount comes directly out of your payout.

So if a scrap yard quotes you $400 for the vehicle, your real take-home is closer to $150–$250 once towing is factored in. That's a significant gap — and it's one that many people don't account for when comparing their options.

For more context on what a junk car is actually worth before that cost is deducted, see our guide on how much your junk car is worth in Calgary.

The Free Towing Option

When you sell your vehicle to Cash for Cars Calgary, the tow is completely free — and you still get paid.

That means instead of subtracting $150–$250 from a scrap yard quote, you're receiving a cash offer with towing already included at no cost. Our driver comes to your location, loads the vehicle, and hands you cash on the spot. No tow fees, no admin fees, nothing deducted at the door.

The math is straightforward. On many vehicles, the combination of a competitive cash offer plus zero towing cost puts more money in your pocket than a scrap yard quote minus the tow.

This applies anywhere in Calgary — NW, NE, SW, SE, and Downtown — and across surrounding communities including Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere, Okotoks, High River, and Strathmore. Distance within our service area doesn't change the deal.

When a Standard Tow Still Makes Sense

Not every situation calls for selling a vehicle. If your car broke down and you need it taken to a mechanic, a standard towing company is what you need. If you're moving a working vehicle between two properties, same thing.

The free towing offer from a cash for cars buyer only applies when you're selling the vehicle. But if getting rid of it is the goal — whether it runs or not — it's worth getting a cash offer before booking a separate tow.

Quick Cost Comparison

Situation	What You Pay for Towing
Breakdown tow to mechanic (local)	$150–$350
After-hours or weekend tow	$250–$450
Tow from Calgary to surrounding town	$200–$450
Tow to scrap yard (deducted from payout)	$150–$250
Tow when selling to Cash for Cars Calgary	$0

Getting a Quote Before You Decide

If you have a non-running or unwanted vehicle, the fastest way to compare your options is to get a free cash offer first. It takes five minutes over the phone or through the quote form, and you'll have a real number to weigh against whatever the scrap yard or towing company has told you.

Visit our cash for cars Calgary page or our junk car removal Calgary page to see exactly how the process works. Same-day pickup is available in most cases — free tow included, cash in hand at pickup.