Towing Services in Memphis

June 14, 2026

A stalled car on Interstate 240, a collision on Poplar Avenue, or a vehicle towed from a private lot near Beale Street all share one practical need: a towing operator who can reach the scene quickly and work within the rules. A local Memphis towing company brings knowledge of Shelby County’s road network and faster response than a call routed through a national hotline, and it can be held accountable to local and state towing regulations. Memphis is Tennessee’s second-largest city, with a population of roughly 619,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and as a major logistics and freight hub it generates steady demand for everything from light-duty car towing to heavy recovery of tractor-trailers.

Towing in Tennessee is governed by a combination of state law and local ordinance. The City of Memphis licenses and regulates wrecker and towing operators, and nonconsensual towing from private property is subject to rules covering signage at the lot, owner notification, where a vehicle may be stored, and the fees that may be charged. These local rules are intended to prevent predatory towing, and Tennessee has continued to strengthen its towing laws at the state level in recent years. Drivers should be aware that for a tow to be lawful from private property, proper signage and process generally must be in place, and the operator must be able to provide an itemized accounting of charges.

State-level oversight applies alongside city regulation. A company performing for-hire towing on Tennessee public highways must register for intrastate operating authority through the Tennessee Department of Revenue Motor Carrier Section before conducting intrastate motor carrier operations, a registration carrying a one-time filing fee plus a small annual per-unit fee. The Tennessee Department of Safety maintains a Towing Service Standards Manual that sets vehicle classes, service procedures, and operational requirements for operators working with state agencies. Where a towing charge is taxable, it falls under Shelby County’s combined state and local sales tax rate of 9.75%, and operators must register their business locally. Because specific fee caps and procedures are set by ordinance and can change, drivers should confirm current figures with the City of Memphis rather than assume a fixed amount.

Memphis towing companies typically organize their work by weight class. Light-duty service handles cars, SUVs, and small vans, usually on a flatbed or wheel-lift wrecker; medium-duty service covers box trucks, delivery vans, RVs, and small buses; and heavy-duty service covers tractor-trailers, buses, and equipment, often requiring rotators and high-tonnage wreckers for accident recovery and uprighting overturned loads. Most operators also provide roadside assistance, including jump-starts, lockouts, fuel delivery, and tire changes, plus winch-outs and long-distance transport. A consumer who believes a tow or charge was improper can dispute it with the City of Memphis and can file a complaint with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), which addresses deceptive and unfair trade practices. Keeping the receipt, photographs of any posted signage, and the storage details strengthens a dispute.

Top Towing Services Providers in Memphis

1. Blues City Towing LLC

Address: 1828 Thomas Road, Memphis, TN 38134
Phone: (901) 245-0008
Website: https://www.bluescitytowing.com
Services: light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty towing, accident recovery, motorcycle towing, flatbed towing, long-distance towing, winching, boat towing, RV towing and hauling, heavy equipment transport, commercial and exotic/luxury car towing, off-road recovery, roadside assistance
Description: Blues City Towing is a family-owned, locally operated Memphis towing company that traces its history back to 1963, giving it more than six decades in the local market. Based on Thomas Road in northeast Memphis, it runs a full weight-class operation, from light-duty car and motorcycle towing to medium-duty work and heavy-duty recovery, supported by flatbed and wheel-lift trucks, traveling-axle trailers, and a specialized bus-towing trailer. Its drivers are WreckMaster certified, a recognized towing-industry credential, and the company operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Beyond standard towing it offers boat and RV transport, exotic and luxury vehicle towing, off-road recovery, and heavy equipment hauling. Its service area spans the greater Memphis region, including Bartlett, Collierville, Millington, and nearby Olive Branch.

2. Mace’s Heavy Duty Towing

Address: 3501 Knight Arnold Road, Memphis, TN 38118
Phone: (901) 366-5873
Website: https://macetow.com
Services: light-duty towing (up to 8,000 lbs), medium-duty towing (8,000 to 20,000 lbs), heavy-duty towing, heavy recovery, equipment hauling, roadside assistance (tire changes, jump-starts, fuel delivery, lockouts)
Description: Mace’s Heavy Duty Towing is a Memphis towing and recovery company founded in 1998 and based on Knight Arnold Road in southeast Memphis. The company specializes in complex heavy-duty work, including uprighting fully loaded tractor-trailers and clearing highways after accidents, while also handling light- and medium-duty towing and equipment hauling. It operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and serves a tri-state area covering Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas from its Memphis base. The company is licensed and insured under USDOT 967251 and is BBB accredited. Its roadside-assistance menu covers tire changes, jump-starts, fuel delivery, and lockouts, making it a single point of contact for both routine breakdowns and large-scale recovery operations.

3. Tow Mate TN

Address: 2256 Central Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104
Phone: (901) 300-9495
Website: https://towmatetn.com
Services: light- and medium-duty towing, wrecker service, flatbed hauling, accident recovery, parking-garage towing, roadside assistance (flat tires, fuel delivery, jump-starts, lockouts, winching), repossession, automotive locksmith, junk-car removal
Description: Tow Mate TN is a Memphis towing company located on Central Avenue in midtown, positioning it for quick response across the Memphis metropolitan area. The company operates 24 hours a day and runs flatbed, wheel-lift, and hook-and-chain trucks for light- and medium-duty towing of cars, motorcycles, box trucks, RVs, campers, delivery vans, food trucks, and similar vehicles. In addition to standard towing and accident recovery, it offers parking-garage and abandoned-vehicle removal, repossession services for vehicles, trucks, equipment, boats, and RVs, automotive locksmith work such as key cutting and programming, and junk-car removal. The company advertises typical arrival times of under 30 minutes within the metro and provides an online tow-request option alongside phone dispatch.

Frequently Asked Questions About Towing Services in Memphis

Q: Who regulates towing companies in Memphis?

Towing in Memphis is governed by a combination of city ordinance and state law. The City of Memphis licenses and regulates wrecker and towing operators and sets rules for nonconsensual towing from private property, including signage, notification, storage, and fees. For-hire towing on Tennessee highways additionally requires intrastate operating authority through the Tennessee Department of Revenue Motor Carrier Section.

Q: My car was towed from a private lot in Memphis. How do I get it back?

Locate the vehicle using the signage posted at the lot or by contacting the City of Memphis, and ask the operator for an itemized accounting of all charges before paying for release. For a private-property tow to be lawful, proper signage and procedure generally must be in place. If you believe the tow or charge was improper, you can dispute it with the City of Memphis and file a complaint with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104).

Q: What is the difference between light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty towing?

Light-duty towing covers cars, SUVs, and small vans, usually on a flatbed or with a wheel-lift wrecker. Medium-duty towing handles box trucks, delivery vans, RVs, and small buses. Heavy-duty towing covers tractor-trailers, buses, and equipment and often requires rotators and high-tonnage wreckers, particularly for accident recovery. Describing the vehicle when you call helps the company dispatch the correct truck.

Q: Is sales tax charged on towing services in Memphis?

Where a towing charge is taxable, it falls under Shelby County’s combined state and local sales tax rate of 9.75%. Because tax treatment can depend on how a service is billed, requesting an itemized receipt that separates the tow, any storage, and tax helps clarify what was charged.

Q: Does a Memphis towing company need to be licensed?

Yes. Operators must be licensed through the City of Memphis to perform towing in the city, and for-hire towing on Tennessee highways requires intrastate operating authority through the Tennessee Department of Revenue Motor Carrier Section. Reputable companies are also insured and may hold industry credentials such as WreckMaster certification. You can confirm a business registration through the county clerk or the Tennessee Secretary of State.

Q: How quickly can a Memphis tow truck reach me?

Response time depends on the operator’s location, traffic, and demand, but several Memphis companies advertise typical arrival times of under 30 minutes within the metro area. When you call, describe your exact location, including the interstate and direction of travel if you are on a highway, and the type of vehicle, so the company can route the nearest appropriate truck.