Quick Answer: Police-ordered motorcycle towing typically costs $150-400 for the tow plus $20-50 daily storage. You can often request a specific tow company if your bike is rideable and not blocking traffic. Police may require immediate removal if your motorcycle is a road hazard.
What To Do
Ask the officer if you can arrange your own tow if your motorcycle isn’t blocking traffic or leaking fluids. Many departments allow this. If your bike is actively leaking fuel or oil, the officer has no choice but to call it in immediately for safety reasons, so don’t argue that point.
Get the tow company name and lot address from the officer before they leave. Write it down or take a photo of their business card. Police-dispatched tows go to contracted impound lots, which are sometimes miles outside the city and harder to reach without a car.
Ask about storage fees and pickup hours immediately. Some lots charge from the moment your bike arrives, others start the next calendar day. Lots in urban areas tend to have shorter windows, sometimes closing at 5pm on weekdays and not opening weekends at all.
Take photos of your motorcycle before it’s loaded if possible. Document any existing damage beyond the accident. Get photos of the handlebars, fairings, exhaust, and frame from multiple angles. This protects you if the tow company damages the bike during loading or transport.
Call your insurance company as soon as safe. They may cover towing costs and can sometimes redirect to their preferred facility. Even if you have basic liability only, call anyway so the claim process starts immediately.
Retrieve your bike within 24-48 hours if possible. Storage fees add up fast and some states allow tow yards to file liens after 30 days, which means they can legally sell your bike to recover unpaid fees. At $35 per day, a two-week delay costs $490 in storage alone before you factor in the tow itself.
Bring cash or call ahead about payment methods. Many tow lots don’t accept cards, especially after hours. Some require exact cash only. ATM fees on top of everything else are an annoying but real cost to budget for.
Photo: Pexels
What It Might Cost
- Towing fee: $150-400 depending on distance and bike size
- Storage: $20-50 per day, starting immediately or next business day
- After-hours pickup: Additional $50-100 fee
- Administrative fees: $25-75 for paperwork and lot processing
Large touring bikes and trikes cost more than sport bikes or cruisers due to weight and special equipment needed. A full-size touring bike like a Harley Electra Glide or Honda Gold Wing may require a flatbed with wheel chocks and tie-down straps rated for heavier loads, and some tow companies charge a specialty equipment surcharge of $50-100 on top of the base rate. Sport bikes with low fairings and aftermarket bodywork also run into problems on standard wheel-lift equipment, which is another reason to ask about flatbed availability before agreeing to anything.
If your bike gets towed across county or city lines, which sometimes happens when the nearest contracted lot is outside the municipality, distance fees can push the total toward the upper end of that range or beyond it.
Photo: Pexels
Common Questions
Q: Can I refuse a police-ordered tow and wait for my own tow company instead? A: It depends on the situation. If your bike is blocking traffic or leaking fluids, the officer can order it removed immediately and you have no real recourse at the scene. If it’s safely off the road and not a hazard, many departments will give you a reasonable window, typically 30 to 60 minutes, to arrange your own tow before calling their contracted company.
Q: Will my motorcycle insurance cover the towing and storage fees from a police-ordered tow? A: Comprehensive or collision coverage often includes towing reimbursement, but storage fees are less consistently covered and usually subject to a cap. Call your insurer right away and ask specifically about storage reimbursement limits, since waiting several days before calling can make it harder to recover those costs.
Q: What happens if I can’t afford to get my motorcycle out of impound right away? A: The fees keep accumulating daily and most lots will not waive or negotiate them. After 30 days in many states, the tow yard can initiate a lien sale process. Contact the lot, explain your situation in writing, and ask if they will hold the bike without adding further fees while you arrange payment. Some will, most won’t, but it costs nothing to ask.
Stay Safe
- Never argue with police about towing decisions at an accident scene
- Don’t ride a damaged motorcycle even if it starts
- Keep tow receipts for insurance claims
- Inspect your bike thoroughly before accepting it back from storage
- Ask about any additional damage that occurred during towing
Need roadside help? Visit Tow With The Flow for real answers when your car breaks down.