The safe way to tow a motorcycle is on a flatbed or a motorcycle trailer, tied down with soft straps at frame points, not on the handlebars or levers. Tell the operator the bike type, weight, damage and whether the keys and steering lock are set, and photograph the bike before it is loaded. Ask for a flatbed or a motorcycle trailer rather than a wheel lift.
Quick Tow EP is a referral service. It connects drivers with independent local tow operators. The driver hires and pays the operator directly, and the operator quotes the price. Quick Tow EP does no towing, roadside work or storage itself.
Step 1: Get yourself safe first
If you are reading this on the shoulder of I-10, US-54 or Loop 375, move behind the barrier if you can and stay off the traffic side of the bike. At night, keep a light on and stay visible. In summer heat, get water and shade before you start making calls. In a dust storm while driving, NWS says to pull off the pavement as far as possible and stop, with lights off; never stop on the traveled portion of the roadway.
If anyone is hurt or the bike is blocking traffic, calling 911 is the safe move.
Step 2: Photograph the bike before anything moves
Take photos before the operator arrives and before anyone touches the bike. Get the whole bike from both sides, the damage close up, the odometer, the VIN plate, and the position of the bike on the road. These photos protect you if a claim or a damage dispute comes up later.
Do the same after delivery. Photograph the bike on the ground at your destination before you sign anything or the operator leaves. This is advice, not a rule, but it is the cheapest insurance you will ever buy.
Step 3: Tell the operator what they are picking up
When you call, give the operator enough to send the right equipment. Have this ready:
- Bike type and model, for example a cruiser, sport bike, dual sport or trike
- Approximate weight, and whether it has luggage, panniers or a top box fitted
- What is damaged, and whether the bike rolls, steers or stays in gear
- Whether you have the keys, and whether the steering lock is engaged
- Where the bike is sitting, and whether it is upright, on a kickstand or down
- Your destination, and whether it is a home, shop or storage location
If the bike is a trike, a Can-Am style three-wheeler or a heavy touring bike, say so. Size changes what equipment the operator brings.
Step 4: Ask for a flatbed or motorcycle trailer
Why a flatbed is often the better choice
A flatbed keeps the bike upright and gives the operator a stable deck to work from. A motorcycle trailer can do the same job. Either one is easier on a bike than dragging it onto a conventional truck.
What about a regular tow truck
Ask for a flatbed or a motorcycle trailer, and if you prefer a flatbed, you can ask for a different operator. You can read more about equipment differences on our flatbed towing and wheel-lift towing pages.
Straps and tie-down points
You can ask the operator to use soft straps or strap sleeves so the hooks and ratchets do not touch paint or chrome. You can ask the operator to tie down at frame points and avoid the handlebars, levers, mirrors and plastic bodywork. Tell the operator about any modifications to the bike, including whether it has been lowered.
Step 5: Watch the load and check the bike after delivery
You do not have to supervise, but if you are there, watch the loading. You can watch that the bike goes up a ramp under control rather than being dragged or lifted by two people. Once it is on the deck, you can check that the bike cannot rock side to side.
At delivery, walk the bike before you pay. You can check the fork seals, the levers, the mirrors, the fairing and the paint where the straps sat. Compare it to your before photos. Report any new damage to the operator before they leave, and write down what you see.
After a crash: the rule about uncalled trucks
El Paso has its own towing code, and Section 12.54.070 of the City Code covers solicitation at crash scenes. It applies to motorcycles too. Under that section, a person commits an offense by arriving at a traffic accident or incident management scene to do a nonconsent or incident management tow without first being contacted by the police department, the vehicle owner, the driver or the vehicle’s insurance company. The section also bars soliciting towing, repair, storage or buying and selling related to a damaged vehicle on public property, entering an accident scene under a peace officer’s control without permission, and using a third party to solicit at the scene. The presence of a tow vehicle, employee, dolly, equipment, business card or flyer at a scene that was not dispatched by police or requested by the owner, driver or insurer is prima facie evidence of solicitation. You can read the amending ordinance on the EPPD vehicle towing page and the ordinance text itself in the city’s amending ordinance PDF.
What that means in plain English: after a crash, you can decline an unrequested truck. The ordinance prohibits soliciting and arriving at a scene without a request from police, the owner, the driver or the insurer. Call the police, call your insurer, or call for a tow yourself.
Violating the fee cap section, the debris section or the solicitation section is an offense punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 under Section 12.54.040, as amended by Ordinance 019867, which took effect June 1, 2026.
What a tow can cost in El Paso
For a nonconsent tow inside El Paso city limits, Section 12.54.020 of the City Code sets the maximum a tow company may charge at $100.00 for a light duty tow, meaning a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 10,000 lbs, regardless of the type of truck used. That cap includes cleanup of debris. Confirm your bike’s gross vehicle weight rating so you know which cap applies. An additional fee of no more than $25 may be charged for dollies or go-jacks under Section 12.54.020(B).
A tow you request yourself is a consent tow, and the operator quotes that price. Ask for the quote before the truck rolls, and get it in writing if you can. Our tow truck cost guide for El Paso explains the difference between consent and nonconsent tows, and Texas towing fee limits covers the statewide picture.
Outside city limits, the city caps do not apply. Socorro, Horizon City, Anthony, Clint, San Elizario, Vinton, Fabens, Canutillo and Tornillo are outside Chapter 12.54, and the TDLR statewide maximums apply there unless that city or county has set a lower rule, so check locally. Anthony, Texas is a separate place from Anthony, New Mexico.
The New Mexico towns of Sunland Park, Santa Teresa, Chaparral and Anthony, NM are in New Mexico, so Texas TDLR rules and Texas statutes do not govern a tow, storage or registration there. Contact the agency or company that handled the tow, and use the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (NMMVD) for New Mexico titles and registration.
Does insurance cover motorcycle towing
Texas Department of Insurance guidance on towing and labor coverage describes coverage that pays to tow your car if it can’t be driven, and pays for labor to change a flat tire or jump-start your battery. That coverage has a dollar limit, the most the company will pay, and if the cost is higher you pay the difference. A company can refuse to renew your towing and labor coverage if you have four towing and labor claims in 36 months. The TDI guidance describes cars, and motorcycle coverage depends on the policy.
Check your policy or call your agent before you assume a tow is covered. Ask whether motorcycle towing is included and what the dollar limit is. Our post on whether insurance pays for towing in Texas goes deeper.
Frequently asked questions
How do you tow a motorcycle safely?
Ask for a flatbed or a motorcycle trailer, and ask the operator to tie the bike down at frame points with soft straps rather than on the handlebars, levers, mirrors or plastic bodywork. Stay with the bike during loading if you can, and photograph it before and after.
Can a motorcycle be towed with a wheel lift?
The post recommends a flatbed or motorcycle trailer instead of a wheel lift; ask the operator which equipment they will send.
How much does it cost to tow a motorcycle in El Paso?
For a nonconsent tow inside El Paso city limits, Section 12.54.020 of the City Code caps a light duty tow at $100.00, and that cap includes debris cleanup. The light duty cap applies to vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 10,000 lbs, so confirm your bike’s rating. A tow you request yourself is quoted by the operator, so ask for the quote before the truck rolls.
Does insurance cover motorcycle towing?
Texas Department of Insurance guidance describes towing and labor coverage that pays to tow your car if it can’t be driven, up to a dollar limit, and you pay the difference above that limit. Whether your motorcycle is covered depends on your policy. Call your agent and ask about the limit before you assume it is covered.
What should I do after a motorcycle crash in El Paso?
If anyone is hurt or the bike is blocking traffic, calling 911 is the safe move. Photograph the scene and the bike before anything moves. You can decline an unrequested tow truck. Section 12.54.070 of the City Code prohibits soliciting and arriving at a crash scene without a request from police, the owner, the driver or the insurer. Then call your insurer and arrange your own tow.
Can I ride a motorcycle home after a tip-over?
That depends on the damage, and nobody should tell you it is fine without looking at the bike. You can check for leaking fluids, a bent or cracked lever, a damaged mirror, a bent handlebar, a cracked case cover and whether the bike starts and steers straight. If anything is uncertain, have it towed rather than ridden. Our accident recovery page covers bikes that are down and need a lift.
When to call for a tow
Call for a tow when the bike will not start, will not roll safely, has leaking fluids, has bent forks or levers, or is down on the ground and you cannot right it without help. If you are unsure whether it is rideable, err on the side of a flatbed. The site connects drivers with independent local tow operators. Call (915) 320-5573 and Quick Tow EP will connect you with an independent local tow operator.