Drivers in Charlottesville dealing with a breakdown can choose from 10 towing listings in the area. A strong 9 of those companies run 24 hours a day, useful if your car gives out well after dark. You'll find Charlottesville's towing and impound rules explained later on this page. That's a decent pool to work from when you're deciding who to call.
Heavy-duty towing and truck repair in Charlottesville since 2002
Family-owned 24-hour towing in Charlottesville with exotic and classic car service
Truck repair shop also offering towing services, including quotes over the phone
Light-duty towing and full auto repair shop in Charlottesville
Local towing and recovery serving Charlottesville around the clock
Towing is regulated at the state and city level, and the protections are stronger than most drivers realize. Commonly: non-consent tow rates are capped or must be published, you can't be towed from private property unless signage meets local rules, you have the right to an itemized invoice, and many jurisdictions require operators to accept card payment and release personal property from the vehicle. If a charge looks wrong, ask for the itemized invoice first and escalate to the state or city agency that licenses towing.
If you break down on the interstate: get as far onto the shoulder as possible, hazards on, exit on the passenger side and stand well away behind the barrier. Never accept a tow from a truck that shows up unsolicited at a collision - you choose your operator and your destination, and 'accident chasers' are exactly what towing regulations exist to stop.
Ice storms are rarer here but far more disruptive when they hit - a quarter inch of glaze can shut down a metro that owns no plows. In summer, heat is the tow-truck season: blowouts and overheating spike on long highway stretches.
911
Any emergency, collision with injuries, or if your vehicle is a hazard to traffic
511
Live road conditions, closures and construction in most states
State police non-emergency
Breakdowns and hazards on the interstate - save your state's number before a road trip
• An investigating officer must forward a written report within 24 hours after completing an investigation of a crash involving injury death or apparent total pro…
• Interested parties may obtain a Charlottesville Police accident report with photo identification; copies cost $15.00 and mail requests are accepted from involve…
• On-street parking around the Downtown Mall is free but most nearby spaces have a two-hour limit; drivers must obey ADA loading-zone and other posted restriction…
Read the Charlottesville towing-law guide →Around Charlottesville, expect a hook-up fee of about $85–$162.49 (typical $120) plus $4.62–$5.25 per mile for a standard light-duty tow. Nights, storms, winching and heavy vehicles cost more. Always ask for the all-in price before the truck rolls.
Based on published prices from towing websites in this state (median shown; state, regional or national data as available).
Estimate your tow