Should You Tip Roadside Assistance? Everything You Need to Know

Answering your questions about offering a gratuity to your tow truck driver

Co-authored by Hannah Madden

Last Updated: January 2, 2023

Is tipping expected?

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Reasons to Tip a Tow Truck Driver

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How Much To Tip

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How to Avoid Tipping

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Tips

Your car’s been dropped off at the mechanic, you’re no longer stranded on the side of the road, and now you can start to relax. But wait… when it comes time to pay your tow truck driver, are you supposed to tip? And if so, how much? Rest assured that in this article, we’ll answer all of your questions related to tipping your tow truck driver to avoid any faux pas as you settle up.

Things You Should Know

Tipping your tow truck driver is not expected, but it is a nice gesture you can choose to do.
You might tip your tow truck driver if they traveled a long distance or if your car was in a dangerous place.
Tip anywhere between $5 and $20 to say thanks.
You can also thank your tow truck driver by writing them a rave review online.

Section 1 of 4:

Is tipping expected?

No, tipping is not expected in the towing industry. Rest assured that if you skip the tip for your tow truck driver, they won’t think less of you. Most tow truck drivers do not receive tips, but they aren’t likely to refuse them, either.^{[1]
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- Keep in mind that depending on the tow company, their employee policy may bar them from accepting a tip at all. If a tow truck driver refuses your tip, it’s likely because it’s in their contract.

Section 2 of 4:

Reasons to Tip a Tow Truck Driver

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The service was excellent. Did your tow truck driver show up early? Were they kind, compassionate, and helpful? If so, then that’s a great reason to shoot them a little extra when it comes time to pay the bill.^{[2]
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- If they do something above and beyond, like give you a ride home, it’s polite to shoot them some cash.
- Or, maybe you have an expensive car, and you’ve asked your driver to be extra careful.
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Your car was stuck in a dangerous spot. If the tow truck driver had to do extra work to get your car out, it’s a nice gesture to give them a few extra bucks when they’re done. Maybe they had to pull your car out of a ditch, or stop near heavy traffic. If so, go ahead and give them a tip.^{[3]
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You called them late at night or during bad weather. Tow truck drivers tend to work odd hours, and they don’t shut down in the snow. If you called your tow truck driver during bad conditions or after hours, it’s polite to give them something extra.^{[4]
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The tow truck driver traveled a long distance. Maybe your car was stuck out in the middle of nowhere, or maybe the only driver available lived in the next town over. If you know that your tow truck driver traveled more than 30 minutes or so to get to you, they’d probably appreciate a tip.^{[5]
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- If your tow truck driver takes a long time, they may call and update you on their ETA. If they do, it’s nice to give them some cash, since they aren’t obligated to keep you updated.

Section 3 of 4:

How Much To Tip

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Tip between $5 and $15 for standard service. This is usually the minimum amount that you’d want to tip if you had an enjoyable, reasonably priced tow. Typically, you should aim for around 10% of the total charge, but you may not know that yet when it comes time to tip.^{[6]
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- A tow will typically cost between $75 and $150, depending on how far you’re going.
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Tip around $20 for outstanding service. If your tow truck driver really went above and beyond the line of duty, go ahead and give them a twenty. Not only will it show your appreciation, but it may just motivate them to keep up their good work.^{[7]
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Section 4 of 4:

How to Avoid Tipping

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Subscribe to roadside assistance. Services like AAA that charge annually almost never expect you to tip. If you don’t want to feel pressured into tipping (even though you’re not obligated to), sign up for a roadside assistance service instead.^{[8]
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Thank them with a great review online. Your cash isn’t the only way you can say thanks. Look up their company on Yelp or Facebook, then write a stellar 5-star review. Be sure to mention your tow truck driver by name so their boss or manager can praise them, too.