Wichita Towing Questions, Answered

Most tows have three parts: a hookup fee, a per mile charge, and extras like dollies or after hours work. For tows you call us for, you get the full price on the phone before we hook up. For police called tows, Miller's posted 2026 City rate is $140 plus $8.50 per mile.

A short local tow in Wichita usually runs about $75 to $150. The total goes up with distance, a flatbed for AWD or electric cars, winching, after hours calls, and storage. Ask for the hookup fee, mileage rate, and any extras before the truck leaves.

Per mile rates in Wichita usually run about $5 to $8.50 per loaded mile. Miller's posted 2026 City rate is $8.50 per mile. For private property tows, City rules cap mileage at about $5.30 per mile in 2026. A shorter route means a smaller bill.

Check your coverage first. AAA, many car insurance policies, and some credit cards pay for towing. Then tow to the closest shop you trust, and skip storage by using the shop's key drop. Always get the full price before anyone hooks up your car.

Yes. Every company on the City of Wichita emergency wrecker list files its rates, and the City posts them online. That list covers police called tows. For a tow you call in yourself, ask for the hookup fee, mileage, and extras on the phone.

Some calls carry an after hours or holiday charge. If yours does, we tell you on the phone before we send a truck, so there are no surprises on the bill. Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Yes. Under City rules, licensed emergency wrecker companies in Wichita must accept credit cards, debit cards, or cash at no extra fee. Miller's takes cash and cards. If a driver pushes you to pay cash only, ask why.

Inside Wichita city limits, we reach most calls in about 30 minutes. Weather, traffic, and call volume can change that. We give you an honest ETA when you call, and your driver texts or calls when close.

Often, yes. It depends on the truck and how many seats are open. Ask dispatch when you call. If there's no room, we tell you exactly where the car is going and where the keys will be left.

Yes. We tow to any address you choose: your home, your mechanic, a dealer, a body shop, or our yard at 4309 S Broadway. Many drivers tow home first to avoid storage fees while they pick a shop.

Yes. We use the shop's after hours key drop, so your car is first in line when they open. Tell dispatch the shop name, and we follow its drop off instructions.

Yes. Under Wichita Police Department Policy 404, you can ask the officer for the tow company you want. That company must arrive within 45 minutes and clear the debris. If you don't choose, dispatch calls the next company on the City's rotation list. Ask for Miller's by name.

If you don't name a company, or the one you name can't arrive within 45 minutes, WPD dispatch calls the next company on the City's emergency rotation list. Tell the officer early that you want Miller's, so the request goes in right away.

The vehicle owner pays the tow company when the car is picked up or dropped off. Your insurance may pay you back through collision or roadside coverage, or the other driver's insurer may cover it if they were at fault. Keep the itemized receipt.

Often, yes. Collision coverage usually pays to tow a wrecked car, and roadside coverage may pay for breakdown tows. Limits vary by policy. Call your insurer, keep our receipt, and ask where they want the car taken.

Kansas law requires a police report when a crash causes an injury, a death, or $1,000 or more in damage. Repair costs add up fast, so many Wichita body shops recommend filing a report even after a small crash.

For non injury crashes with no hit and run or DUI, you can file an insurance report online through the City of Wichita. For other crashes, contact a WPD patrol substation or the Records Bureau to request a copy.

Yes, if nobody is hurt and no hazardous materials are involved. The Kansas Highway Patrol says state law requires you to move a drivable car out of the lane. If it won't move, turn on your hazards and stay buckled in.

A recovery is any tow where the car isn't on a flat surface ready to load. The City of Wichita treats uprighting a rolled vehicle, winching more than 30 feet, or pulling a car out of water as specialized towing.

Towing moves a car that sits on flat, open ground. Recovery first gets a car out of a ditch, median, mud, water, or a rollover, then loads it. Recovery takes more equipment and time, so it costs more.

Wherever you choose: your body shop, your dealer, your home, or our yard at 4309 S Broadway while you talk to your insurance company. If an officer impounds the car, it goes to the yard of the company that towed it.

Yes. We upright the vehicle slowly to avoid more damage to the roof and glass, then load it on the flatbed. Miller's posted 2026 City rate for a light duty rollover is $145, plus the tow.

Kansas drivers must move over a lane, or slow down if they can't, when passing a stopped tow truck, police car, or emergency vehicle with flashing lights. As of 2025, the law also covers any stopped vehicle with its hazards on.

Check the City of Wichita FindMyCar impound search first. You can also call the WPD Records Bureau at 316-268-4303, Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you were towed from a private lot, the tow company's name and phone should be on the sign at the entrance.

Go to the tow company that has your car, not the police station. Bring a photo ID and your current registration, and pay the towing and storage charges. Every day the car sits adds storage, so pick it up as soon as you can.

Bring a valid photo ID, such as a driver's license, state ID, military ID, or passport, plus your current vehicle registration. The WPD Records Bureau lists these two documents for releasing impounded vehicles.

Wichita doesn't run one central impound lot. A towed car goes to the storage yard of the company that towed it. The City's FindMyCar search, or the sign at a private lot, tells you which company has it.

City rules for emergency wrecker companies give owners access to personal property in a towed car for 48 hours after the tow. After that, WPD says items generally stay in the car until fees are paid, except photo ID, prescription drugs, and legal documents. Call ahead to set a time.

Officers can often release the car to a sober, licensed passenger, or leave it if it's legally parked. If it was impounded, go to the tow company after you're released from the Sedgwick County jail on Elm Street. Bring your ID and registration. A police hold needs a WPD release first.

Usually, yes, with the right paperwork. Call the tow company first. Most ask for the owner's written permission, a copy of the owner's ID, the current registration, and the pickup person's own ID. A car under a police hold needs a release first.

City rules for emergency wrecker companies require vehicle releases Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Some yards offer after hours release for an added fee, so call ahead.

For emergency wrecker tows, City rules say storage can't be charged for Sundays or closed holidays if you claim the car within three business days after the closure. Ask the yard for an itemized bill and check the days.

For police impounds, you can request a due process hearing within five business days. Contact the Judge's Chambers at City Hall, 455 N. Main, or call Municipal Court at 316-268-4629. You post the fees in cash and can get the car back before the hearing.

Kansas law lets the tow company hold the car under a lien. If the owner is known, they get notice within 15 days. If the car still isn't claimed, the company requests owner records from the Division of Vehicles and can sell it at auction after more notices.

Nothing for the property owner. In Wichita, the vehicle's owner pays when they pick it up, and City Code caps those fees. The caps started in 2023 at $120 per tow, $4.70 per mile, and $36 per day of storage, and rise 4% each June.

Call a tow company, not the police. WPD policy says officers won't tow or arrange tows from private property, except in criminal cases. Make sure your tow away signs meet City rules, then we remove the car at no cost to you.

In Wichita, posted signs let a property owner have unauthorized vehicles towed. Under Kansas law, the tow company must notify a known owner within 15 days. If the vehicle is never claimed, state law sets a notice and sale process.

Wichita requires a sign at every driveway or curb cut, within 5 feet of the public right of way. It must say unauthorized parking is prohibited, in letters at least 1.5 inches tall, and that vehicles will be towed at the owner's expense, in letters at least 1 inch tall.

Not if it's parked on the street. Streets are public, so private tow rules don't apply there. Call the Wichita Police non emergency line. If the car is in your private driveway or yard without permission, call us.

Call the Wichita Police non emergency line. A car blocking your driveway from a public street is a parking violation, and officers handle it. Tow companies can only remove vehicles from private property at the owner's request.

If WPD decides a car is abandoned on the street, such as no tag, missing wheels, or not moved for 48 hours, officers tag it with a green impound sticker. After another 48 hour wait, they can have it towed.

Under Wichita City Code 11.99.030, the person who requested the tow must notify the WPD Records Bureau within one hour. The report includes the make, model, year, VIN, plate, destination, who ordered the tow, and the address. Our driver collects every detail for you.

Yes, from privately owned lots and roads with signs that meet City rules. The manager or board agrees with the tow company on who can approve tows. Public streets in your neighborhood are handled by WPD, not private towing.

Yes, from a posted private lot when the property owner or manager asks. This is called a non consent tow. The lot must have proper signs, the tow must be reported to WPD within one hour, and fees must stay under the City caps.

Yes. Wichita's private towing rules require tow companies to give the vehicle owner an itemized bill showing the charge for each service. Check it against the City fee caps before you pay.

Published jump start prices in Wichita run from about $40 to $130, depending on the company and time of day. Miller's posted 2026 City rate for a light duty jump start is $125. You get the exact price on the phone before we send a truck.

Call Miller's at (316) 351-4754, any hour of any day. We come from our yard on South Broadway with a commercial jump pack and usually reach Wichita addresses in about 30 minutes. If the jump fails, we can tow on the same call.

A friend with cables, AAA, your car insurance roadside plan, or a credit card benefit. At Eisenhower Airport, parking staff help with dead batteries in the garage and surface lot. Check your coverage before paying for a service call.

A new battery won't fix a bad starter, a failing alternator, or loose or corroded cables. If the car starts with a jump and dies minutes later, suspect the alternator. We can tow it to your mechanic on the same call.

Probably not. One loud click with bright lights and working AC usually points to the starter. Rapid clicking, slow cranking, or dim lights point to the battery. Tell dispatch what you hear so we bring the right help.

Not when it's done right. We connect in the correct order with a protected commercial jump pack, which keeps your car's computer and sensors safe. Never jump a battery that is cracked, swollen, leaking, or frozen.

Drive about 30 minutes at highway speed, since idling puts back very little charge. An alternator isn't built to fully recharge a dead battery, so have the battery and charging system tested. Most Wichita auto parts stores test them for free.

Wichita heat and cold both wear batteries down. Eisenhower Airport averages about 12 days a year at 100 degrees or hotter, and AAA says heat is the top cause of battery failure. In winter, a battery loses about 60 percent of its strength at 0°F.

Yes. We carry a portable jump pack, so we don't need to park nose to nose with your car. That matters at Eisenhower Airport, where the garage's 8 foot 2 inch height limit keeps tow trucks out.

The airport's parking team helps with dead batteries in the garage and surface lot. Some free benefits don't apply in the automated Park and Ride or Short Term lots. If help isn't coming fast, call Miller's at (316) 351-4754.

Usually, yes. Most hybrids and electric cars have a small 12 volt battery that runs the computer and locks. When it dies, the car won't power on. Many have jump points under the hood, and our driver follows your owner's manual.

Call 911 first, then call us. NHTSA says a car's inside temperature can rise 20 degrees in 10 minutes. Kansas law protects people who break a window to save a child or animal in danger, as long as police are called and they stay on scene.

Published car lockout prices in Wichita run from about $65 to $195, depending on the company, time of day, and vehicle. Miller's gives you a firm total on the phone before we send a driver, with no starting price that grows later.

Call Miller's at (316) 351-4754, any hour. We send a driver with lockout tools from South Broadway and usually reach Wichita addresses in about 30 minutes. If a child or pet is inside on a warm day, call 911 first.

If your keys are locked inside the car or trunk, call a tow company. Opening doors is everyday work for tow drivers. If your key is lost, broken, or a fob needs programming, you need a locksmith or your dealer.

Usually not. News investigations have found call centers that quote $15 or $19 on the phone, then charge hundreds once the job is done. Kansas has no state locksmith license, so ask for a company name, street address, and full price before anyone drives out.

Not for a routine lockout. If a child, pet, or vulnerable adult is trapped inside, call 911 right away, since Wichita Fire crews carry tools for life safety calls. For everything else, call a tow company.

Yes, under the Kansas Good Samaritan law, if the person or animal is in imminent danger. You must call police before or right after, and stay until officers arrive. Break the side window farthest from the child or pet, never the windshield.

Not when it's done right. Our driver uses an air wedge to open a small gap at the top of the door and a long reach tool to press the unlock button. We don't use slim jims on newer cars, since doors hold wiring and airbag parts.

Usually, yes. Once we open a front door, most cars let us reach the trunk through a dash release or a fold down rear seat. Tell dispatch if your rear seat locks or the trunk release needs power, so we plan for it.

Most fobs hide a metal key inside. Slide the release on the fob and use the key in the driver's door lock. If the car's battery is dead too, the key still turns the lock, and we can jump the car once you're inside.

Yes. After we open the door, we ask to see your photo ID and the registration or insurance card. Checking ownership protects you and keeps us from opening a car for the wrong person.

Stay buckled in, turn on your hazards, and call for help. On Kansas highways, dial *47 to reach the Kansas Highway Patrol. Getting out near traffic is the biggest danger. Call Miller's at (316) 351-4754 for the winch out.

A winch out is when a tow truck parked on solid ground uses a cable or line to slowly pull a stuck vehicle back onto pavement or firm ground. In many cases, you drive away afterward without needing a tow.

No. A winch out frees your car, and a tow loads it and moves it somewhere else. If your car is damaged and can't be driven after we pull it out, we can tow it on the same call.

It depends on how deep the car sits and how long the pull takes. Miller's posted 2026 City rate is $45 per 15 minutes for light duty winching. Pulls longer than 30 feet count as specialized towing. You get the price on the phone.

AAA Plus and Premier members can use roadside calls for extrication and winching, depending on their club. One Kansas driver on Reddit noted AAA winched only when the truck could sit on pavement. Check your club's rules before you call.

It's risky. Straps tied to a tow ball or tie down hook can snap and fly with enough force to hurt someone. Plastic bumpers tear off, and spinning tires dig you deeper. Near traffic, call a professional.

Not when the hookup is right. We attach to your car's recovery point or the frame, never the bumper, suspension, or tie down hooks, and pull slowly while someone steers. We check for damage before you drive.

Yes. For a light slide, try shoveling around the tires and adding kitty litter or sand for traction. If the car is tilted, deep in snow, or keeps sliding, call us and we'll winch it out.

It can be. When Wichita declares a snow emergency, WPD can impound vehicles parked on snow emergency routes so plows can get through. Move your car to a side street or driveway before the storm.

Pull as far onto the shoulder as you can, turn on your hazards, and stay buckled in. Don't walk along the interstate with a gas can. Dial *47 for the Kansas Highway Patrol, or call Miller's at (316) 351-4754 for fuel delivery.

Roadside and tow companies like Miller's bring emergency fuel to stranded cars 24/7, and roadside plans like AAA send a provider. App based fuel services schedule fill ups at homes and businesses, and bulk suppliers fill farm and business tanks.

Miller's posted 2026 City rate for light duty fuel delivery is $120, plus the fuel at the current price per gallon. You hear the full cost on the phone before we head out. AAA and some insurance plans cover fuel delivery.

Sometimes. AAA Plus and Premier members get fuel with the service call, depending on their club. Some car insurance policies and credit cards include a small amount of fuel or a tow to the nearest station. Check your benefits first.

It can. AAA says most modern cars have an electric fuel pump inside the tank that's cooled by the gas around it. Running dry can overheat it, and replacement can cost $500 or more. Fill up at a quarter tank.

Running a diesel dry lets air into the fuel system, and many won't restart until the air is bled out. Some newer trucks prime themselves when you turn the key to on. Others need a hand pump or bleed screw. Tell dispatch it's a diesel.

No. An EV that runs out of charge needs a tow to a charger. We load EVs on a flatbed with all four wheels off the ground and take them to a charger, a dealer, or your home.

Don't start it. Diesel in a gas car, or E85 in a car that isn't flex fuel, can damage the engine once it runs. Call us to tow the car to a shop that can drain the tank.

Yes, on a flatbed or with dollies so all four wheels are off the ground. Many automakers warn that towing an AWD vehicle with wheels on the ground can damage the transmission or AWD system. Tell dispatch your drive type when you call.

On a flatbed, with all four tires off the ground. Tesla tells tow operators to use Tow Mode before winching the car onto the bed. Tow Mode needs power, so tell us if your car shows a low battery warning.

Yes. Tell dispatch about missing keys, a locked steering wheel, or a car stuck in park. We use dollies, skates, or the flatbed winch so the wheels don't drag.

Yes. Motorcycles ride on our flatbed and are secured with soft straps, so nothing touches the paint or chrome. Tell dispatch the make and model so we bring the right gear.

Yes. We move project cars, parts cars, and vehicles that have sat for years, even with flat tires. We winch them onto the flatbed slowly and strap them down.

Long distance tows are priced by the mile, plus the hookup. Ask dispatch for a quote with your pickup and drop off addresses. AAA Plus members get towing up to 100 miles, which covers many trips across Kansas.

Yes. We load riding mowers, zero turns, and small tractors onto our flatbed, strap all four corners, and drop them at your repair shop, dealer, or home. You get the price on the phone before we come out.

Most riding mowers, zero turns, and subcompact and compact tractors fit our flatbed. A Kubota BX2360 weighs about 1,322 pounds, and a John Deere 3520 about 2,900 pounds. Call with the make, model, and attachments, and we'll confirm.

It depends on your policy. Roadside assistance coverage usually pays for breakdown tows up to a set distance or dollar limit, and collision coverage usually pays after a crash. Call your insurer or check its app before the truck is sent.

AAA Classic members get towing up to 5 miles, Plus members up to 100 miles, and Premier members one tow up to 200 miles a year plus 100 mile tows after that. Miles past your limit are charged at a per mile rate.

Look for a real street address, trucks marked with the company name, posted rates, and recent reviews, and get the full price before hookup. Miller's runs from 4309 S Broadway, has more than 300 Google reviews, and is on the City's emergency wrecker list.

The City of Wichita licenses emergency wrecker companies. Licensed companies must carry liability and garage keeper's insurance, keep a fenced storage yard inside city limits, file their rates, and use employee drivers. Ask any tow company for proof of its City license.