Many tows include a few free miles in the hookup fee. Bill only the distance past that radius, and MAX keeps a short local tow from ever going negative.
A $75 hookup with 10 free miles: an 8-mile tow stays $75, a 22-mile tow bills 12 miles at $4 for $123.
The example
Three tows, each with a hookup fee, distance, free miles, and per-mile rate.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tow | Hookup | Miles | Free mi | $ / mi | Total |
| 2 | Local | $75 | 8 | 10 | $4.00 | $75.00 |
| 3 | Cross-town | $75 | 22 | 10 | $4.00 | $123.00 |
| 4 | Long haul | $95 | 60 | 10 | $4.50 | $320.00 |
The formula
MAX bills only the miles past the included radius:
How it works
The hookup covers the first few miles:
B2is the hookup fee, which includes the free-mileage radius.MAX(0,C2-D2)is the distance beyond the free miles — never negative on a short tow.- Multiply the billable miles by
E2and add the hookup.
Set the free radius to match your service area; zero free miles turns this into a straight per-mile tow.
Try it: interactive demo
Enter the hookup fee, distance, free miles, and per-mile rate.
Variations
No free miles
Bill every mile when the hookup does not include any.
After-hours surcharge
Add a flat fee for night and weekend calls.
Pitfalls & errors
Without MAX(0,…), a tow shorter than the free radius computes negative mileage and discounts the hookup fee.
Measure loaded miles from pickup to drop; whether you bill the deadhead miles back to base is a separate policy line.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from per-mile towing?
Do I bill the miles back to base?
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