A tow dolly costs about $65 a day to rent in 2026, with rates running $45 to $90 depending on the rental company and region, or $700 to $1,800 to buy new. The number that trips up most haulers isn't the dolly fee itself — it's the tie-down straps and safety chains that rarely come included at that headline rate, and a worn set found mid-trip turns a cheap rental into a stranded vehicle.
- Renting a tow dolly costs $45 to $90 a day in 2026; buying new runs $700 to $1,800.
- Rental rates rarely include fresh tow dolly straps or safety chains — inspect before you tow.
- Used tow dollies sell for $400 to $900 but often need replacement straps before the first haul.
- TruckNTow stocks VULCAN wheel dolly tire harnesses for owners and renters who need a fresh set.
Why this matters
Imagine you've got a front-wheel-drive sedan to move 400 miles next weekend and you're weighing two options: rent a dolly for the trip or buy one outright for repeat jobs. Get the math wrong and either choice costs double — a rental with a mileage overage fee, or a purchased dolly that sits unused after one haul. Before you decide, strap a car to a tow dolly safely is worth reading, because the securement method drives more of the real cost than the dolly itself does.
Occasional movers almost always come out ahead renting. Repeat haulers, repo operators, and small tow fleets usually break even on a purchase within a handful of jobs, because a $700 to $1,800 dolly stops accruing daily fees the moment it's paid off.
How much does a tow dolly cost to rent or buy?
| Option | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rental | $45 to $90/day | One-time local moves |
| One-way rental | Bundled into truck rental rate | Cross-country relocations |
| Buying new | $700 to $1,800 | Frequent haulers, small tow operations |
| Buying used | $400 to $900 | Budget buyers who inspect before towing |
Rental rates swing on three things: whether the reservation is local or one-way, whether a damage waiver gets added, and whether the truck company charges a mileage overage past the included allowance. Buying swings on frame gauge, coupler type, and whether the unit ships with usable straps or bare hardware.
Renting a tow dolly: $45 to $90 a day
Local, in-town rentals from truck and trailer rental companies price in that $45-to-$90 daily band, and that figure typically covers the dolly frame and hitch hardware only. One-way long-distance rentals for cross-country relocations get folded into the moving truck's flat mileage rate instead of billed as a separate day charge, so the number on your reservation already accounts for it.
The hidden cost sits in three places: the damage waiver, fuel surcharges tied to towing weight, and the strap condition on the unit you're handed. A rental yard turns dollies over dozens of times a season, and straps see UV exposure and abrasion on every one of those trips. Before loading a vehicle, check the webbing for fraying, cuts, or sun-bleaching — tow dolly straps for compact cars covers sizing if you're bringing your own set instead of trusting what's on the rental.
Buying a tow dolly: $700 to $1,800 new
New steel-frame dollies with a pintle or ball coupler run $700 to $1,800, with the top of that range reserved for heavier-duty units rated for full-size SUVs rather than compact cars. Buying new means you control strap condition from day one instead of inheriting whatever the last renter left behind, and replacing worn straps costs far less than replacing a dropped vehicle — worn tow dolly straps walks through the wear signs that mean it's time to swap.
A used dolly at $400 to $900 can make sense for a one-truck operation, but treat the straps as a consumable regardless of what's on the trailer when you buy it. Straps degrade on a timeline independent of the frame's condition.
Why tow dolly cost varies
- Weight rating — dollies rated for compact cars cost less than units built for full-size trucks and SUVs.
- Coupler type — pintle-hitch units and ball-hitch units price differently depending on what's compatible with the tow vehicle.
- Included accessories — some dollies ship with tire straps and safety chains bundled in; others sell the frame only.
- Surface finish — galvanized steel resists rust longer than painted steel and carries a price premium.
- Region and rental company — metro rental rates run higher than rural markets for the same dolly.
- New vs. used condition — a used frame with worn straps needs an immediate parts purchase that offsets the lower sticker price.
Related questions
How much does it cost to rent a tow dolly for a one-way move?
One-way tow dolly rentals don't carry a standalone day rate — the cost is bundled into the moving truck's flat mileage fee, so the total truck reservation is the number that matters, not a separate dolly line item. Ask the rental counter whether the dolly is included in the quoted price or billed as an add-on before you sign.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy a tow dolly?
Renting is cheaper for a single move under a week, since $45 to $90 a day stays well below the $700 to $1,800 cost of buying new. Buying pays off once you need a dolly more than a handful of times a year, because repeat rental fees stack up fast while a purchased unit only needs fresh straps every so often instead of a rental charge every trip.
Do tow dolly rentals include tie-down straps?
Most tow dolly rentals include a set of straps, but rental yards turn units over constantly and the webbing you're handed may be worn thin from hundreds of prior tows. Inspecting the straps before you leave the lot matters more than the daily rate, because a frayed strap failing on the highway costs far more than the rental itself.
FAQ
How much does a tow dolly cost to rent?
A tow dolly costs $45 to $90 a day to rent in 2026, with local in-town rates at the lower end and rates rising with damage waivers and mileage overages.
How much does a tow dolly cost to buy new?
A new tow dolly costs $700 to $1,800 in 2026, with heavier-duty units rated for SUVs and trucks priced toward the top of that range.
Is it cheaper to buy a used tow dolly?
A used tow dolly costs $400 to $900, but budget separately for replacement straps since worn webbing is common on secondhand units regardless of frame condition.
Do I need special tie-down straps for a tow dolly?
Yes, tow dolly setups need wheel tire harnesses rated for the vehicle's weight, not general-purpose ratchet straps, since the harness cradles the tire and takes the load during transport.
What's the difference between a tow dolly and a car trailer for cost?
A tow dolly costs less upfront at $700 to $1,800 new versus a full car trailer, but only tows the front wheels off the ground, so it fits front-wheel-drive vehicles best.
How often should tow dolly straps be replaced?
Replace tow dolly straps at the first sign of fraying, cuts, or sun-bleaching rather than waiting for a set schedule, since UV exposure and abrasion degrade webbing at different rates depending on use.
Can I use a tow dolly to move a front-wheel-drive car only?
Tow dollies are built primarily for front-wheel-drive cars, since the setup lifts the drive wheels off the pavement while the rear wheels roll freely behind.
One last thing
The part everyone budgets for is the dolly. The part that actually causes roadside failures is the strap, and it's the cheapest line item on the whole job. A fresh set of wheel dolly tire harnesses runs well under the cost of a single day's rental, yet it's the piece most haulers skip inspecting until it's too late. TruckNTow has stocked towing and recovery gear out of Detroit since 1959, and the recurring pattern in that time is straps failing long before frames do — check the webbing first, every single time, whether the dolly is rented or owned.