How Much Is a Rollback Tow Truck? 2026 Prices

How much does a rollback tow truck cost?

New 2025 and 2026 model-year rollbacks on Ram, Ford and Chevrolet chassis were listed at asking prices of $95,995 to $142,500 on Comvoy on October 15, 2026. In the Purple Wave auction results we reviewed, used 2019 to 2025 rollbacks sold for $29,150 to $93,500 in 2025 and 2026. Heavy units cost far more: TruckerToTrucker listed a new 28 ft Mack GR64F rollback at $285,000 on June 12, 2026.

The table pulls together what we found by truck type. An asking price is what a seller listed, not what a truck sold for. An auction figure is a final sale price. All listings were live when we checked them on October 15, 2026.

What does a new rollback cost right now?

New light and medium-duty rollbacks with a published price were live at asking prices of $89,888 to $147,850 when we checked on October 15, 2026, and the low end was a leftover 2022 model. Many dealers list "contact for price," so the published asks are a sample, not the whole market.

Ask every dealer whether the price includes the body, freight, federal excise tax (FET) on heavier chassis, and dealer prep. The Mack GR64F listing states its price includes FET. Most of the others do not say.

How much is a used rollback tow truck?

Dealers listed 2015 to 2022 rollbacks at $53,900 to $119,900 on TruckerToTrucker on October 15, 2026. In the Purple Wave results we reviewed, 2019 to 2025 rollbacks sold at auction for $29,150 to $93,500 in 2025 and 2026. Age alone did not set the price: a 2011 Peterbilt 348 sold for $59,400 and a 2012 Freightliner M2 106 for $50,050, more than several 2019 to 2022 trucks. The lowest results were 1998 and 1999 light-duty trucks.

Used rollback asking prices

What used rollbacks sold for at auction

The auction summaries do not show miles or bed condition, so two trucks of the same year can sell far apart. A few trucks were run through more than one auction, and we show the latest sale. A truck bought at auction also comes as-is, with no reconditioning. Before you bid, work through a used equipment checklist, and read new vs used equipment if you are weighing a new unit.

What do wheel-lift trucks and wreckers sell for?

Light-duty tow trucks sold at Purple Wave for $9,460 to $18,150 between September 2025 and February 2026, and 2000 to 2011 medium and heavy-duty tow trucks sold for $22,550 to $84,700 between August 2025 and July 2026. New wreckers rarely carry a public price: Comvoy listed 49 wrecker tow trucks on October 15, 2026, and the ones we checked all said "contact for price."

The two 2011 Peterbilt 348 results on this page are different trucks from the same Collinsville, OK seller: lot EG1753 was listed as a rollback and lot EG5787 as a tow truck. Purple Wave's sale records say "tow truck" without naming the body type, so confirm whether a unit is a wheel-lift, an integrated wrecker or a boom wrecker before you compare it to these results.

How much does a rotator tow truck cost?

The dealers we checked do not publish rotator prices, so you will need a dealer quote. On October 15, 2026, Zip's AW Direct listed 11 Century rotators, from 35 ton to 75 ton and model years 2019 to 2027, with no prices shown.

East Coast Truck and Trailer listed a Jerr-Dan 50/60 ton rotator on a 2025 Western Star 49X with a "Get a Price" form instead of a number when we checked on October 15, 2026. The specs show why rotators sit at the top of the market: a three-stage 50-ton boom rated to 120,000 lb retracted at a 60 degree angle, an underlift rated at 56,500 lb retracted, and a heavy multi-axle chassis (listing seen October 15, 2026). Rotators are rarely the first truck for a new towing business.

What makes one rollback cost more than another?

Chassis size, bed length and material, wheel-lift and winch ratings, miles and where you buy explain most of the spread. Here is how each shows up in the listings above.

Chassis and GVWR

The chassis sets the weight rating, and the weight rating sets who can drive the truck. Listings we checked on October 15, 2026 ran from 19,500 lb GVWR on a 2021 Ram 5500 to 29,000 lb on a 2025 Mack MD6 and 66,000 lb (as listed) on the 2026 Mack GR64F. Bigger chassis cost more and haul heavier loads.

Bed length and material

Beds on the new light and medium-duty rollbacks in the table above run 19 ft 6 in to 22 ft. Heavy carriers go longer: the Mack GR64F has a 28 ft bed. Aluminum beds usually cost more than steel. On Comvoy, a 2026 Ram 5500 with a 19 ft 6 in Kilar aluminum bed was listed at $113,170, and the same chassis and bed length in steel was listed at $102,962 by a different dealer. Trim and options also differ, so treat the gap as a rough signal. Aluminum saves weight, which can let a lighter chassis carry a longer deck: a 2026 Isuzu NRR with a 22 ft aluminum Jerr-Dan bed is rated at 19,500 lb GVWR (listed Sep 2, 2026, seen Oct 15, 2026).

Wheel-lift and winch

A wheel-lift lets a rollback tow a second vehicle. Ratings vary. A 2027 Freightliner M2 106 Plus with a Jerr-Dan 22 ft steel bed lists a 3,500 lb wheel-lift lift capacity and a 10,000 lb winch at 26,000 lb GVWR (seen Oct 15, 2026). The Mack GR64F carries a 20,000 lb planetary winch.

Miles

Miles move used prices more than model year. Two 2016 Kenworth T370 rollbacks listed in Pompano Beach, FL show the gap: the one with 229,519 miles was listed at $119,900 and the one with 598,422 miles at $59,900 (TruckerToTrucker, seen October 15, 2026). Condition and equipment may differ too, but miles are the first thing to compare.

Where you buy

Dealer asks include reconditioning, sales effort and room to negotiate. Auction prices are final but come with no warranty and no chance to fix problems before purchase. Compare the same year, miles and bed before you decide which one is the better deal.

Do you need a CDL to drive a rollback?

Under federal rules, a single truck rated at 26,001 lb GVWR or more needs a Class B CDL, so a rollback rated below that generally does not (FMCSA). Class A applies to a combination rated at 26,001 lb or more when the towed unit is rated over 10,000 lb, and Class C covers smaller vehicles that carry 16 or more people or placarded hazmat.

The listings show where common rollbacks fall. The 2021 Ram 5500 (19,500 lb) and the 2024 Isuzu FTR (26,000 lb, just 1 lb under) fall below the Class B line. The 2025 Mack MD6 (29,000 lb) is over it. A non-CDL truck widens the pool of drivers you can hire. A wrecker or rollback towing a heavy vehicle can become a combination, so check your state's rules for tow operators before you buy.

Should your first tow truck be a rollback, a wheel-lift or a wrecker?

For most new light-duty operators, a rollback is the most flexible first truck, and a wheel-lift is the cheapest way in. A medium or heavy wrecker makes sense only when you already have work for bigger vehicles.

• Rollback (flatbed carrier): carries the whole vehicle on the deck. It handles all-wheel-drive cars, low cars, wrecks, forklifts and small equipment. It costs more than a wheel-lift and is slower to hook up in tight spots.
• Wheel-lift or self-loader: lifts one axle and tows the vehicle on its other wheels. It is cheaper to buy, quick on repossessions and private property tows, and fits tight lots. Used light-duty tow trucks in the Purple Wave sales above (body type not stated) brought $9,460 to $18,150.
• Medium or heavy wrecker: a boom and underlift for box trucks, buses and semis. Heavier units usually need a CDL driver and more insurance, and the work often comes from police rotation lists and fleet accounts.
• Rotator: heavy recovery and highway incident work. It is the most expensive option and rarely a first truck.

Our tow trucks buying guide covers specs to check for each type.

What is the monthly payment on a rollback?

At an estimated 9% APR over 60 months with 10% down, a $120,000 rollback works out to about $2,240 a month in our math. That is an illustration, not a quote.

The table assumes 10% down with the rest financed at a fixed estimated APR of 9% or 13% over 48, 60 or 72 months, using standard amortization, with payments rounded to the nearest $10 and taxes, fees and insurance excluded.

These are illustrations, not quotes. Ironmark is not a lender and does not set rates. Actual rates depend on the lender, the business, credit, time in business and the equipment. For scale, $70,000 is close to several late-model auction results above, $120,000 sits in the range of new light and medium-duty asks, and $200,000 falls between the Mack MD6 and Mack GR64F asks.

What do lenders look at on a tow truck deal?

Lenders look at the truck and the towing business together. Expect questions about the chassis and body, where your calls come from, who will drive, and how the truck is insured.

• Chassis age, miles and hours. Most rollbacks run their hydraulics off a PTO and wreckers idle at scenes, so engine and PTO hours matter along with the odometer.
• Bed and wheel-lift condition. Deck wear, hydraulic leaks, wheel-lift pins and bushings, and winch cable. Have the body brand, model and serial number, since the body and chassis are often listed separately on the paperwork.
• Where the work comes from. Motor club contracts, police or municipal rotation, private property impound agreements, and dealer or body shop accounts. Written agreements and bank deposits that match them carry more weight than a verbal description.
• Operator experience. Time in business and the driving history of the owner and drivers.
• Insurance. Commercial auto, on-hook coverage for the vehicle you carry, and garagekeepers coverage if you store vehicles. Lenders typically want to be listed as loss payee.

For more on how these loans are structured, read how tow truck financing works.

What should you have ready for a rollback quote?

Have the truck details and your business details in one place before you ask for a quote. Lenders usually ask for these items, so it helps to gather them first.

• Year, make, model, VIN, odometer and engine hours
• Body brand, model and serial number, bed length, steel or aluminum, wheel-lift rating and winch rating
• GVWR from the door sticker
• The dealer quote, listing link or auction lot number, and whether the price includes FET and the body
• Photos of the deck, wheel-lift, hydraulic lines, tires and odometer
• Time in business, motor club or rotation agreements, and recent business bank statements
• Driver license class and experience for each driver
• Your insurance agent's contact details

When you have a truck picked, start with tow truck financing.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to buy a rollback at auction?

It can be, but not by a fixed amount. Late-model rollbacks still brought strong prices at Purple Wave, such as $93,500 for a 2025 International MV607 on May 14, 2026, while a 1999 Ford F550 sold for $14,850 and a 1998 Chevrolet C6500 for $2,860 on July 15, 2026. Auction trucks are sold as-is, so budget for inspection and repairs.

Can you finance a rollback bought from a private seller or at auction?

Often, yes, though lenders ask for more paperwork, such as a clear title, a lien search and photos or an inspection. Ironmark is not a lender; the lender makes the credit decision. See private party equipment financing for the steps.

Is a rollback the same as a car carrier?

Not always. Sellers use "carrier" for a single-car rollback, but "car carrier" can also mean a multi-car hauler: Purple Wave sold a 2023 Peterbilt 389 car carrier truck with a car carrier trailer for $143,000 on May 14, 2026 (Purple Wave). Check the listing photos and description.