There isn’t one verified citywide motorcycle tow rate for Memphis. Distance, motorcycle size, time of day, truck type, and hookup difficulty can change the total. Ask for the full price, with mileage included, in writing before dispatch.
Why no single rate fits every motorcycle tow
We couldn’t confirm a current standard Memphis motorcycle towing amount from approved local records. That means a dollar figure presented as the normal local rate wouldn’t be dependable.
Quick Tow Memphis is a referral service. We collect the details and connect callers with local operators. The operator performs the tow, contracts with the customer directly, and sets the final price.
Several parts of the job can move that price. Distance is one. Motorcycle size and truck type matter too. The time of day and difficulty of the hookup may also affect the quote. A useful estimate must reflect the actual pickup, not a generic rate table.
Requested towing and non-consent towing also follow different paths. Tennessee doesn’t set one statewide dollar cap for a non-consent tow. Current law limits those charges to the maximum approved by the applicable Tennessee Highway Patrol district for the same service. We couldn’t confirm the current Memphis district schedule, so we won’t substitute an unsupported figure. The current rules appear in Tennessee’s enacted MOTION Act.
A police impound is different again. The Memphis Police Department Vehicle Storage Lot publishes a $135 city impound fee and $30 daily storage charge. Those are city fees, not our rates, and additional charges may apply.
For broader pricing context, read our Memphis tow-cost guide.
How pickup access and distance affect the quote
Give both street addresses when you can. If the motorcycle is on a highway, provide the route, direction, nearby exit, and visible landmark. A destination name without an address can leave too much uncertainty in the distance.
Memphis routes create meaningful differences. A Midtown curb pickup isn’t the same setting as an apartment garage in Cordova. An East Memphis shopping center can present different access from a narrow parking area elsewhere in the metro. Describe the exact spot, entrance, surface, and anything blocking the motorcycle.
Bridge crossings matter when confirming the route. The Hernando de Soto Bridge carries I-40. The Memphis & Arkansas Bridge carries I-55. Tell the operator if the trip crosses either bridge, especially when the destination sits outside Tennessee.
For pickups on I-40, I-55, I-240, or SR-385, TDOT SmartWay can help you confirm the location and current incident information. Don’t delay sharing your direction of travel while searching for a perfect address.
A pickup originating in Southaven falls under Mississippi law. One beginning in West Memphis falls under Arkansas law. Tennessee towing rules shouldn’t be treated as the rules for either state. The operator still needs the complete route to prepare an accurate quote.
Access details connect directly to hookup difficulty and truck type. Say whether the motorcycle is at the curb, inside a garage, behind a gate, off pavement, or blocked by another vehicle. Those details let the operator price the job you actually have.
What the motorcycle’s condition changes
The motorcycle’s condition helps define hookup difficulty. A dispatcher needs observations, not a mechanical diagnosis. Explain what happened and what you can see.
Useful details include:
- Whether the motorcycle remains upright or is lying down
- Whether it rolls when moved normally
- Whether the handlebars turn
- Whether either wheel appears blocked
- Whether visible damage affects the wheels or steering
- Whether the key is available
- Whether loose parts are present
- Whether the motorcycle sits against a curb or another object
Don’t guess about hidden damage. “The front wheel doesn’t turn” is more useful than naming a broken component you haven’t inspected. Clear descriptions reduce the chance that the quote assumes an easier hookup.
Share the make and model when you know them. Vehicle size is an approved price factor, so those details belong in the first conversation. If luggage, accessories, or another attached item changes the motorcycle’s footprint, mention what you can see without estimating measurements.
The operator decides what truck type fits the job. Ask what setup the quote assumes. That keeps the rate discussion focused without treating one method as correct for every motorcycle.
Our motorcycle handling guide explains what information helps during a Memphis tow. It complements this rate guide but serves a different purpose. Here, the main goal is getting a quote based on the motorcycle’s real condition.
What to tell dispatch before requesting a price
Prepare the essential details before calling. Start with your exact pickup point and destination. Then give the motorcycle’s make, model, condition, and position.
A short, orderly description works well:
- State the pickup address or highway location.
- Give the complete destination address.
- Identify the motorcycle.
- Describe whether it rolls, steers, and remains upright.
- Explain the pickup access.
- Mention anything obstructing the motorcycle.
- Confirm whether the key is available.
- Say when you need the tow arranged.
Time of day can affect the number, so don’t leave the timing vague. Ask whether the quoted total reflects the requested time.
Tell dispatch if police, a property manager, or another party arranged the tow. A requested transport isn’t priced or handled the same way as every non-consent situation. Written authorization also matters for towing and storage under Tennessee law.
Ask for the full total with mileage included. Then ask what facts could change it. Useful questions include whether the total assumes a particular truck type and whether the described access is included.
Quick Tow’s line takes calls around the clock. Your call routes to the operator covering your zone, and that operator contracts with you directly. There’s no membership or annual fee for using the referral line.
If you’re ready to describe the job, our motorcycle towing service page explains how to start the request.
How to confirm the total before the operator leaves
Get the total in writing before dispatch. The written amount should match the pickup, destination, motorcycle, timing, and access details you provided. Ask directly whether mileage is included.
Also ask what would change the number. The answer might involve a different distance, motorcycle size, truck type, time, or hookup difficulty. Those are the variables worth confirming before you agree.
Review these points:
- The pickup and destination addresses are correct.
- The motorcycle description matches your bike.
- The operator knows its visible condition.
- The access details are included.
- The requested time is reflected.
- The total includes mileage.
- Any conditions that could change the total are stated.
If the operator arrives and finds a materially different situation, pause before the motorcycle leaves. Describe the difference and request an updated written total. Don’t assume an earlier estimate covers facts that weren’t disclosed.
Keep the written authorization and other paperwork. Quick Tow’s process also provides an itemized invoice and produces authorization paperwork on request. These records help separate the operator’s tow charges from unrelated city, storage, or property fees.
For an impounded motorcycle, confirm the location and charges with the storage facility. Memphis doesn’t provide an online lookup tool for MPD, Shelby County Sheriff, or HCD tows. Their vehicles process through the MPD Vehicle Storage Lot, so its official page remains the authority.
When to call us
When a motorcycle won’t roll normally, is in a difficult pickup spot, or needs transport, the job belongs with a working towing operator. Quick Tow Memphis takes the details and connects you with the operator covering your zone. Call us at (901) 557-8700.