Towing Invoice Template

You just completed a 2 AM recovery call on a dark highway shoulder. Rain is pelting your windshield, the vehicle owner is stressed about their disabled car, and you need to collect payment before the vehicle leaves your flatbed. Fumbling with carbon copy receipts or trying to remember prices is not an option.

The towing industry operates under unique pressures that generic invoicing simply cannot handle. Every tow requires precise documentation—pickup locations, drop-off destinations, mileage calculations, service types, and authorization references. Miss any detail, and you risk denied insurance claims, disputed impound fees, or legal complications with police-ordered tows.

For towing companies, professional invoicing is not just about getting paid. It is about creating legal documentation that protects your business. Insurance companies require itemized breakdowns. Motor clubs demand specific claim formats. Police departments expect accurate impound records.

What to Include on Your Towing Invoice

A complete towing invoice serves multiple purposes: payment collection, insurance documentation, impound records, and legal protection. Unlike standard service invoices, towing documentation must capture location data, vehicle details, and authorization information.

Required Invoice Sections

Critical Towing Invoice Elements

Vehicle Information

Complete vehicle identification prevents disputes and enables accurate insurance processing. Document the make, model, year, VIN (full 17 characters), license plate number with state, and exterior color. For damaged vehicles, note the general condition.

Pickup and Drop-off Locations

Record the full street address for pickup, or GPS coordinates for highway shoulders and remote areas. Note mile markers, cross streets, or parking lot names. The drop-off destination should be equally specific.

Mileage/Distance (Loaded Miles)

Most towing rates include a base hookup fee plus per-mile charge for loaded miles. Document both total trip distance and loaded miles separately if your rates distinguish between them.

Authorization/Dispatch Reference

Every tow should reference its authorization source. For motor club calls, include the claim number. For police-ordered tows, document agency name, officer badge number, and case number. For private property impounds, note property manager authorization.

Towing Industry Overview

The U.S. towing and roadside assistance industry generates approximately $8 billion in annual revenue, with over 50,000 towing companies operating nationwide.

Common Towing Business Models

Roadside Assistance and Motor Club Services represent significant revenue for many companies. These calls require specific invoicing formats and claim numbers for reimbursement.

Police Rotation and Municipal Contracts involve regulated rates and documentation requirements. Detailed invoicing is essential for municipal billing and impound fee collection.

Private Property Impound for apartment complexes, retail centers, and commercial properties requires strict compliance with state signage laws and notification requirements.

Insurance and Recovery Work requires detailed invoicing including photos of vehicle damage and complete scene documentation.

Heavy Duty and Commercial Towing for semi-truck recovery, bus towing, and heavy equipment represents premium services with higher rates.

Why Professional Invoicing Matters

Insurance companies require itemized documentation before processing claims. Missing information delays or denies reimbursement. When vehicles are towed to impound, your invoice becomes part of the legal record required before placing liens on unclaimed vehicles.

Create Towing Invoices in Under 60 Seconds

Pronto Invoice was built for field service professionals who work from their truck, not an office desk.

Features Towing Operators Need

Offline Capability

Highway shoulders and rural roads have unreliable cell service. Pronto Invoice works completely offline—create invoices anywhere, and they sync automatically when you reconnect.

Quick Vehicle Info Entry

Built-in fields for VIN, year/make/model, license plate, and color. Capture vehicle details quickly with one-handed operation.

Mileage and Fee Calculations

Enter your hookup rate and per-mile charge once. The app calculates totals automatically based on loaded miles.

GPS Location Capture

Automatically record GPS coordinates for pickup and drop-off locations. Eliminate mileage disputes with precise location documentation.

Accept Payment Roadside

Accept credit cards, debit cards, and digital payments directly from the invoice. Collect payment before the vehicle hits the ground.