Towing happens on the worst day of someone’s week: a breakdown on the highway, an accident, a car that will not start in a car park. The driver needs a bill that is easy to understand and that their insurer or motor club will accept. For the towing company, the invoice is also a legal record of where the vehicle was collected, where it went, and who it was released to. This Towing and Roadside Assistance Invoice Template records all of that, under a header that looks like the chevron signs that warn drivers of a sharp bend.
Tow Operators, Recovery Services and Roadside Crews
It suits light-duty tow companies, roadside assistance contractors, accident recovery services, motor club service providers, impound lots, and repair shops that run their own tow trucks. The sample shows Ace Hook & Haul Towing billing the owner of a 2017 Honda Accord for an accident tow on the interstate: hook-up, eighteen loaded miles, half an hour of winching out of a ditch, wheel dollies, an after-hours surcharge, two days of storage, and absorbent clean-up at the scene.
Black, Orange and a Road Sign
The header is a solid black band. On its right sits a bright orange panel carrying four bold white chevrons pointing right, the unmistakable road sign that says turn here. On the left, an orange circle holds a black car seen from the front. TOWING INVOICE is set in white Russo One, with the company name in orange and the USDOT number and 24-hour dispatch line in gray. A matching strip of orange with small black chevrons runs across the very bottom of the page.
The vehicle owner block and the invoice number, date and dispatch number come first. A vehicle strip records year, make and model, color, plate, the last eight characters of the VIN, and whether the keys were with the vehicle. A two-column Tow details table covers the timeline and locations, and beside it a large photo slot holds a picture from the scene. The services table, a Release note, the totals, and a line for the name and signature of the person who collects the vehicle complete the page.
What to Do After Your Car Has Been Towed
Many towing companies send a short guide with the invoice, because customers are stressed and do not know the next steps. For example:
- Call your insurer with the police report number shown on the invoice.
- Check whether your motor club or policy covers towing; if so, send them this invoice.
- Collect personal belongings from the vehicle during business hours; bring photo ID.
- Ask the repair shop to confirm the vehicle arrived, using the drop-off address on the invoice.
- Arrange collection or transfer quickly: storage charges apply per day.
The Tow Details Table
This is the part of the invoice an insurer reads most carefully. It records when the call came in and when the truck arrived, the exact pickup location, the drop-off address, the loaded miles, the reason for the tow, and the police report number. Precise locations, such as I-35 NB, mile 212 shoulder, support mileage charges and help if the tow is ever disputed. Edit the labels for private-property or impound tows, where the requesting party matters more than a police report.
Adding a Scene Photo
The large placeholder beside the tow details is a picture frame. Click it, choose Replace Image, and upload a photo of the vehicle on the truck or at the scene. The frame keeps its size. A photo showing the vehicle’s condition at pickup is valuable evidence if the owner later claims the damage happened during the tow.
Charges That Insurers Accept
Insurers and motor clubs pay for itemized, reasonable charges. List the base hook-up, loaded miles at your per-mile rate, winching time, dollies or special equipment, after-hours surcharges, and storage per day, each on its own line. The sample totals $441.00, and a $75 motor club credit leaves $366.00 due. Many cities and states regulate rates for police-requested tows, so use the published rates where they apply.
Editing the Vehicle Strip, Details and Services
Every table on the page, from the vehicle strip to the tow details, services, and totals, is an editor table. Double-click to type, or use Edit Table Data with + Add Row and – Remove Last to change the length. The tables do not do arithmetic, so multiply miles and days by their rates yourself and update the subtotal and total due before handing the invoice over.
Storage and Release Rules
Storage charges accrue daily, and customers are often surprised by them. The Release note states that vehicles are released only to the registered owner or insurer with ID and that storage starts after the first twenty-four hours. The signature line records who collected the vehicle. Keep a copy of their ID with your records, as many jurisdictions require.
Recoloring the Chevrons
The chevron sign is grouped with its orange panel, so it moves and recolors together. Yellow and black chevrons suit a company with yellow trucks; red and white work for recovery services. The car in the badge is an editable vector and can be swapped for a truck or motorbike from the library if your fleet specializes in them.
Printing at the Yard
The page is laid out on US Letter. Print it at the yard for the owner to sign at release, and email a PDF to the insurer or motor club. The black header is heavy on toner, so a laser printer is the better choice for the yard office. Keep signed copies for the period your state requires.
Roadside Calls Without a Tow
Not every call ends with a vehicle on the truck. Jump starts, tire changes, fuel delivery and lockouts are billed as a service call plus the task, often at a flat rate set by the motor club. For these, delete the tow details and storage lines, keep the vehicle strip and times, and add the service performed. A short, clear invoice still helps the driver claim the cost back.
Towing Invoice FAQs
Can I bill a motor club directly?
Yes. Put the motor club in the Bill To block, add the member number, and remove the owner’s payment line.
How do I show a heavy-duty tow?
Change the base line to Hook-up (heavy duty) and add hourly lines for recovery equipment and crew.
What if the owner never collects the vehicle?
Follow your state’s abandoned vehicle process; keep every invoice and notice as part of the record.
