Costs
What a Tow Costs on the North Side of Tallahassee, From Lake Jackson to Killearn
On the north side of Tallahassee, the miles set most of your tow price. A car that quits near Lake Jackson, up Thomasville Road or out past Killearn often sits far from the shops near downtown. So the run to your shop is longer. Your vehicle, what went wrong and how the car sits on a narrow canopy road set the rest. Pick a shop close to where you stopped, and the price comes down.
Why does a north side tow run more miles?
Tallahassee spreads north past I-10. Three exits feed the north side: exit 196 at Capital Circle NW, exit 199 at US 27 and exit 203 at US 319. Past the interstate, the roads fan out past lakes and under long stretches of oaks.
The county describes its old oak roads as "spokes in a wheel" leading out of town. Few roads cut across. So a truck coming from the south side drives up one spoke to you, and your car rides back down the same way.
Here's how that plays out. Your car dies on North Monroe Street near Lake Jackson. Your mechanic is off Apalachee Parkway, past the Capitol. US 27 runs south as Monroe Street all the way to the Capitol, so the tow follows it the whole way, then turns east. A shop on North Monroe would be a short hop instead.
Which north side spot are you in?
Each part of the north side has its own main road. Name it, and the driver knows the way in.
| Where you are | Main road | Nearest I-10 exit |
|---|---|---|
| West shore of Lake Jackson, toward Havana | US 27, North Monroe Street | Exit 199 |
| Northwest, near Capital Circle NW | Capital Circle NW | Exit 196 |
| Bradfordville and Killearn | US 319, Thomasville Road | Exit 203 |
| Between those, on the old oak roads | Meridian Road, Centerville Road, Old Bainbridge Road | Depends on how far north you are |
Lake Jackson is a shallow lake that stretches across the north side of Leon County. It has two big sinks, Porter Sink and Lime Sink. Roads curve around the water, not over it. So "near Lake Jackson" could mean the west shore off US 27 or the east side off Meridian Road. Those are different trips. Say which side, and give the nearest cross street.
Do the canopy roads change the job?
They can. Leon County protects its canopy roads by law. Live oaks meet over the road, and the county itself calls them "mysterious tunnels of darkness on moonless nights." Many of them run through the north side:
- Meridian Road runs almost dead straight. The county says it has banks as high as eight feet in places. A car that slides into a bank there may need a pull out before it can load.
- Centerville Road starts where Magnolia Drive ends and heads north under the oaks. It's a busy commute road.
- Old Bainbridge Road runs almost parallel to US 27 and goes on toward Havana.
- Old Centerville Road still has an unpaved red clay section.
- Sunny Hill Road has high red clay walls on its sides.
- Pisgah Church Road and Miccosukee Road are on the county list too.
On these roads, the trees and banks crowd close. A flatbed needs room to line up. If your car is in a ditch, against a clay bank or off the edge of a dirt stretch, it may need a winch-out first. Say so on the call. That way the extra work is in your price from the start, not a surprise at the scene.
If your car still rolls, ease it to the nearest wide spot or driveway apron. Turn your hazards on. Florida's Move Over Act covers a stopped car with its hazards on. On a dark canopy road at night, stay in the car with your belt on, unless it's not safe to.
What about Orchard Pond Parkway?
Orchard Pond Parkway is a toll road across the far north side. It links Old Bainbridge Road to Meridian Road near Bannerman Road. It was the first privately built toll road in Florida. If you break down on it, give the road name and which end you're closer to. Old Bainbridge and Meridian are far apart, so the end matters.
What went wrong with the car?
The smallest job is often no tow at all. Tell the dispatcher what the car is doing, not just that it stopped.
- Clicks or won't crank: a jump start may get you moving. You drive it to the shop yourself.
- Flat tire with a good spare: your driver can put the spare on right there.
- Slid off the road but runs fine: a winch-out back to firm ground may be all it takes.
- Overheating, leaking, or a loud new noise: stop driving it. A car tow is the safer call.
Your vehicle counts too. A small sedan and a light pickup load differently. Give the make and model when you call. If the car is low, all-wheel drive, or has a wheel that won't turn, say that too.
Does it matter if you're inside city limits?
Not for a tow you ask for. Your price is set by the job, and you agree to it first. City limits matter when someone else calls the tow.
A lot of the north side, like Bradfordville and Killearn Lakes, sits outside Tallahassee city limits. Leon County's towing ordinance covers the whole county, and the county sets maximum rates for tows you didn't ask for. Inside city limits, the city ordinance wins where the two conflict. The city also caps what a lot owner's tow company can charge.
- Towed from a lot inside the city? Start with the Tallahassee Police towing page. If you reach the car before it's hooked up, you can have it back free. Storage can't be charged for the first 24 hours. The TPD Towing Administrator is at (850) 891-4766.
- Towed after a crash on a county road? The tow company must give you an itemized invoice within one business day. The Leon County Sheriff's Office Wrecker Administrator is at 850-606-3295.
Sentinel doesn't do impounds or private property tows, and we can't get a towed car released. These rules are here so you know who to call. For the rest of town, see our Tallahassee tow price guide.
How do you keep a north side tow price down?
You control more than you think. Before you call, decide these:
- Pick the closest good shop. A shop on your side of I-10 can save a run across town.
- Know your exact spot. Road name, direction, nearest cross street or landmark. On a canopy road, a mailbox number or a church sign helps.
- Describe how the car sits. Level shoulder, ditch, clay bank, soft yard. Each one is a different job.
- Check the drive in. In heavy rain, low spots like Killearn Lakes can flood. Look at FL511 for closed roads, and never drive into water you can't see through.
How does Sentinel set your price?
Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network, not a tow company. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. You tell us the spot, the car, the problem and where it should go. We text your price before we dispatch, and that price is locked. If the job changes, we text a new price first and you decide. While you wait under the oaks, we stay with you by text. Read the Stay-With-You Promise, or see the Tallahassee towing page for storms, heat and the rest of the city.
If anyone is hurt, or your car is stuck in a live lane on I-10 or Capital Circle, call 911 first. Sentinel is not an emergency service.
Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.
North Side Tallahassee Tow Price Questions
Why is a tow from the north side more than one downtown?
Mostly distance. The north side sits past I-10, and the main roads run north and south. A tow from Lake Jackson or Killearn to a shop near downtown covers a lot of road. A shop near where you stopped keeps the miles down.
My car slid off Meridian Road. Is that a tow or a winch-out?
It depends on the car. If it runs fine, a winch-out back to the road may be enough. If it's damaged or won't drive, it needs a tow after. Tell the dispatcher both things so your price covers the full job.
Is Killearn Lakes inside Tallahassee city limits?
No, it's outside the city. For a tow you ask for, that doesn't change much. For a tow someone else called, Leon County's towing rules apply.
What should I tell the dispatcher on a canopy road at night?
Give the road name, your direction and the last cross street you passed. Add any mailbox number or sign you can see. Say whether the car is on the pavement, on the edge or in a ditch.
Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: Leon County Canopy Roads, Leon County Towing Rates, Leon County Towing Ordinance, TPD Towing Administration, Fla. Stat. 316.126, FL511.
