Tow Truck Buying Guide

What should you look for when buying a tow truck?

Look for a truck built for the calls you run, with documented ratings for both the chassis and the body. Check the hydraulics, winches, cables and wheel-lift, compare condition with the service records, and confirm what equipment comes with the truck. Take ratings from the unit's own documentation, not from a category name.

• The vehicle classes you tow or carry most often
• Documented ratings for the chassis and the body
• Condition of hydraulics, winches, cables and wheel-lift
• Service records and who can repair the body near you
• Equipment included with the truck

Rollback or wrecker: which tow truck should you buy?

Buy for the vehicles you move most. Rollback carriers carry vehicles on a deck and suit light-duty towing, dealer transport and accident scenes, while wreckers tow with a boom and wheel-lift and can reach tighter spots. Heavy recovery units handle large vehicles and complex scenes, where ratings and operator experience matter most.

Rollback carriers

Carry vehicles on a deck. Compare deck length and condition, winch and the vehicles you usually carry.

Wreckers

Tow with a boom and wheel-lift. Compare the class of vehicles you tow and the body's documented ratings.

Heavy recovery

Handles large vehicles and complex recoveries. Ratings, rigging and operator experience all matter.

Adding a new service, such as heavier calls or motor club work, may call for different equipment than replacing a truck you already run.

How much does a tow truck cost?

A tow truck's price depends on its age, configuration, condition and seller. Chassis miles, the body make and rating, whether it is a remount and the equipment included all change the number. Get a written quote for the specific unit, and budget separately for insurance, lighting, lettering and any repairs an inspection turns up.

How do you inspect a used tow truck?

Inspect the chassis and the body separately. On the chassis, check miles, maintenance records, tires, brakes and frame. On the body, check the deck or boom, wheel-lift, winches, cables and hydraulic leaks, along with the manufacturer's rating documentation. Then confirm the title, any liens and any state tow truck inspection records.

Questions to ask the seller

1. What calls was this truck used for?
2. Can you show the body rating documentation and service records?
3. What equipment comes with the truck?
4. Can my mechanic inspect it before I commit?

What to have ready for a quote

• The listing link or written quote
• Who is selling it: a dealer, a private seller or an auction
• Year, make, model and hours or miles, if known
• The price and exactly what it includes
• When you need the equipment working

Share the listing or quote and your timing. Options for new and used tow trucks depend on your business, the truck and the financing provider's review. See tow truck financing for what lenders commonly look at.

Frequently asked questions

Is buying a tow truck a good investment?

It can be when there is steady work for it, such as motor club, police rotation, dealer or commercial accounts. Returns depend on your call volume and on costs such as insurance, fuel, storage and maintenance. Price the full cost of running the truck and line up the work before you buy.

How does a rollback tow truck work?

A rollback has a hydraulic bed that tilts and slides back to the ground to form a ramp. The vehicle is winched onto the bed, which then returns to level for transport. Because the vehicle rides on the deck, rollbacks are often used for vehicles that should not be towed on their own wheels.

Can I buy a tow truck for personal use?

Generally, yes. Anyone can buy a tow truck, but operating one for hire usually brings extra requirements such as commercial registration, insurance and, in some places, tow permits or inspections. Check the rules in your state and city before you buy.

Can you finance a used tow truck?

Used rollbacks and wreckers are commonly financed through third-party lenders, who look at the chassis year and miles, the body and hydraulics and the service history along with your business. Requirements vary by lender. See tow truck financing for what lenders look at.

Can you lease a tow truck?

Some lenders offer tow truck leases, including structures that end with an option to buy, alongside loans. Which fits depends on how long you will run the truck and what you want at the end of the term. See equipment leasing vs financing to compare the two.

Ask each question for the specific unit, and get the important answers in writing.

Tow trucks and recovery financing

Read: Tow Truck Financing