09/11/2025
17 more abandoned vehicles. 17 times we responded to an emergency towing request and have not been paid.
đź’ĄHow Unpaid Towing Invoices Drive Up Rates
Running a towing company means balancing two very different sides of the business: providing emergency service 24/7 and keeping the office running during normal business hours. But there’s another challenge most customers never see — unpaid towing invoices.
đź’ĄThe Hidden Cost of Unpaid Billsđź’Ą
When a towing company provides service, we’ve already put money into fuel, equipment, insurance, payroll, and maintenance. Every unpaid invoice leaves a gap that has to be filled. Unlike large corporations, small and mid-sized towing companies can’t simply absorb those losses.
When insurance companies, businesses, or individuals delay or refuse payment, the cost of operating doesn’t stop. Unfortunately, that means unpaid invoices today turn into higher towing rates tomorrow.
We often hear responses like, you’re getting to salvage the vehicles and making money there.
These vehicles are junk, worth $300.00 the majority of the time.
Now consider paperwork, photographs, certified letters, 30,60,90 days or even more of taking up valuable space in our storage facilities.
Often the clean up and fluid containment materials we use exceed what we receive in scrap value.
Unpaid invoices are becoming a very serious concern within our industry. Unfortunately there are no consequences as most people do not receive a citation for abandonment.
Can we take them to small claims court, yes we can.
Additional time, court fees, attorney fees and negativity from the customers friends and family as now we have made them a victim.
If we receive a judgement in our favor, it’s nearly impossible to collect on most of those judgments.
We are not complaining, we’re just attempting to shed some light on the everyday challenges that towing companies encounter.
