Quick Answer: Hurricane season towing in Miami costs 2-3x normal rates. Local tows run $150-400, long distance $500+. Book early if evacuating. Cash payments often required. AAA and insurance may have delays during major storms.
What To Do
- Call immediately - Tow trucks fill up fast when storms approach
- Ask for total cost upfront - Get mileage, fees, and storm surcharges in writing
- Have cash ready - Card readers fail during power outages
- Book 24-48 hours ahead if evacuating - Don’t wait for mandatory orders
- Try multiple companies - Independent operators may have availability when chains don’t
- Document everything - Take photos for insurance claims
- Confirm pickup location - Roads flood quickly in Miami during storms
When a named storm is within 72 hours of landfall, most tow companies in Miami-Dade start booking solid. By the time a mandatory evacuation order drops for Zone A or Zone B, you may be looking at 4-8 hour waits or outright refusals for new calls. If you know a storm is tracking toward South Florida, treat the 48-hour mark like a hard deadline for locking in a truck.
Independent operators on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace sometimes step in when the major chains are overwhelmed, but vet them before you hand over cash. Ask for a license number, confirm the truck type matches your vehicle, and agree on the full price including any storm fee before they hook up.
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What It Might Cost
Normal Season (May-November):
- Local tow (under 10 miles): $75-150
- Medium distance (10-25 miles): $150-250
- Long distance (25+ miles): $250-400
Active Storm Period:
- Local tow: $150-400
- Medium distance: $250-500
- Long distance: $500-800+
- Emergency surcharge: $50-200 additional
Hurricane evacuation towing to inland cities like Orlando or Gainesville can hit $800-1,500.
A few things push the price to the top of those ranges fast. A lifted truck or AWD vehicle often requires a flatbed, which costs more than a wheel-lift. If your car is flooded and needs to be winched out of standing water rather than simply hooked up, expect a winching fee of $75-150 on top of the base tow rate. Night calls during a storm, generally anything after 10 p.m., commonly add another $50-100.
AAA members: Still pay storm surcharges. Wait times stretch to 6-12 hours during major events. Your membership covers the base tow up to the mileage limit in your plan, typically 5 or 7 miles, but the storm surcharge and any excess mileage come out of pocket. Call your insurer ahead of the storm to confirm what your roadside assistance rider actually covers in a declared emergency, because policy language on this varies.
Florida’s price gouging law (Statute 501.160) kicks in once a state of emergency is declared. Surcharges that are grossly excessive relative to pre-storm pricing can be reported to the Florida Attorney General. That said, a 2x rate increase is generally considered legal if the company can show increased operating costs. Keep receipts.
Photo: Pexels
Common Questions
Q: Can I get towed during the storm itself, while it’s actively raining and windy? A: Most tow companies stop operating when sustained winds hit 45-50 mph, which is roughly tropical storm force. If your car breaks down after that point, you are waiting until conditions improve. This is the main reason to move or secure your vehicle before the storm arrives, not after.
Q: Will my car insurance cover towing during a hurricane evacuation? A: Comprehensive coverage pays for storm damage to the vehicle itself, but towing costs are only covered if you have a roadside assistance add-on. Even then, most policies reimburse a flat amount, often $50-75, which won’t cover a long-distance evacuation tow. Check your declarations page before the season starts, not when you need the truck.
Q: What if the tow company charges more than the price they quoted me? A: Refuse to pay the difference until you get a written explanation of each added charge. If it feels like a bait-and-switch, document the original quote (text message, voicemail, or written receipt), pay only what was agreed, and file a complaint with Miami-Dade Consumer Services and the Florida AG’s price gouging hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM.
Stay Safe
- Never drive through flooded roads to meet the tow truck
- Stay with your vehicle in a safe location until help arrives
- Keep phone charged and have backup power source
- Bring water and snacks - you might wait hours
- Know alternate pickup spots if your location floods
- Have important documents and medications with you
- Tell someone your towing destination and expected arrival
Pro tip: Miami-Dade has free sandbags at fire stations before storms. Protect your car from flooding to avoid needing a tow altogether.
Need roadside help? Visit Tow With The Flow for real answers when your car breaks down.