Towing FAQ for Kent, WA
Short, direct answers to the questions Kent drivers ask most about towing, recovery and roadside help.
What do Kent drivers ask about towing cost and payment?
How much does towing cost in Kent, WA?
Towing in Kent typically costs $125 to $185 for a local tow: a hook-up of $95 to $150 plus $4 to $7 per loaded mile. Flatbed, accident and heavy-duty tows cost more. Jump starts, lockouts, tire changes and fuel delivery usually run $65 to $110. You are given a range for your situation before a truck is sent.
How do you pay for a tow?
Most tows are paid by card or cash when the vehicle is dropped off. You get an itemized receipt showing the hook-up, the mileage and any extras, which is what an insurer or motor club needs if you are claiming it back. Ask about payment types when you call.
How far can you tow a car from Kent?
As far as you need. Most tows stay inside Kent or run to Auburn, Renton or Covington, but a vehicle can be taken to Seattle, Tacoma or farther. Long tows are priced by the loaded mile, so you will hear the total range before you agree to it.
What do drivers ask about breakdowns, waiting and riding along?
What should you do when your car breaks down on SR-167 or I-5?
Get as far right as you can, switch on your hazard lights, and stay buckled in the vehicle if you cannot stand well clear of traffic. Call 911 if you are stopped in a lane. Then call for a tow with your direction of travel and the nearest exit or milepost.
How fast can a tow truck near me get here in Kent?
It depends on where the nearest free truck is and what traffic is doing, so no honest tow line gives a fixed number. Mid-day in the valley is usually quicker than rush hour on SR-167 or the first icy morning. Dispatch tells you the current estimate when you call, and you decide.
Can you ride in the tow truck?
Usually one or two passengers can ride in the cab to the drop-off, as long as there is a seat belt for each person. Tell dispatch how many people are with you, and whether there are children who need car seats or pets, so the right truck is sent or a ride can be arranged.
What does Washington's Move Over law require?
When you approach a tow truck, police car or other emergency or work vehicle stopped with its lights flashing, you must move over a lane if it is safe, or slow down if it is not. It applies on freeways such as SR-167 and I-5 and on city streets.
What do drivers ask about how a vehicle is towed?
Does an all-wheel-drive car have to go on a flatbed?
Yes, in nearly all cases. Towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle with two wheels on the road can damage the center differential or transfer case. The safe choices are a flatbed, or a wheel-lift truck with dollies under the other axle. Say it is all-wheel drive when you call.
What if the repair shop is closed when the tow truck gets there?
The vehicle can be left in the shop's lot and the key put in its night drop box, if it has one. Call or email the shop so they know why it is there. If the shop has no drop box, the car can go to your home and be towed again later.
Can a car be towed without the keys?
Yes. Without a key the steering stays locked and the transmission stays in park, so the driver uses a flatbed with skates, or a wheel-lift with dollies, to move the vehicle without rolling its wheels. It takes longer and can cost more. You will be asked to show the vehicle is yours.
Is it safe to tow an electric vehicle or hybrid?
Yes, on a flatbed. Most makers say their electric and hybrid models must be carried with all four wheels off the ground, because turning the drive wheels spins the motors. The driver uses the tow or transport mode described in the owner's manual to release the parking brake before loading.
Do you have to be with the vehicle when it is towed?
It is best to be there, to hand over the key and confirm the drop-off. If you cannot wait, a tow can often be arranged with the key left in an agreed spot and payment taken by phone. For a vehicle on private property, expect to be asked for proof you own it.
Service details: 24 hour towing in Kent, heavy-duty towing, roadside assistance, jump start and tire change and car lockout service. Typical prices are on the Kent towing home page.
Stuck, crashed or broken down in Kent?
(253) 243-3079Say where you are, what you drive and what happened. You get a price range and an honest estimate of when a truck can reach you before anything rolls. Can't talk? Text your location.