I flew back from a trip and discovered that my car's battery had died for good. I had a friend come to jump it, but the battery wouldn't take any charge (the battery was 4-5 years old, mind you). I knew that my only choice was to call a tow truck the next morning. I carefully did some research on Yelp and decided to try this company. Roy is AMAZING. He is a really kind and helpful man, and definitely knows what he's doing. He arrived at my place in Sunnyvale at the anticipated time frame. He even recommended me a body shop to go to in order to get the battery replaced. I expected the tow to be at least $80, but I was charged only $55 (probably because it was a short distance to the body shop). I know having your car towed sucks, which might contribute to some negative reviews toward this company. However, I had a really positive experience with Roy, and I would definitely recommend him! He also has a great sense of humour, which made the ride to the body shop less awkward and more comfortable! read more

Thank u Roy for helping me fast and efficient I was so happy they took care of me. I would recommend their services to u.

Roy was quick and friendly. Great value for service. Ask for a free ticket at conclusion. Highly recommended.

Was simple. Towed my car from point A to point B. No issues whatsoever. Roy was a great guy as well!

I had an pretty good experience with Roy. He came 10 minutes after I called, was nice and did everything pretty fast. It was all nice until We we're paying and saying thank you for how fast he came until he said "Oh, I'll do anything for my fellow white people" and that's made us very uncomfortable. So if you're not a white female you might have a bad experience. He clearly doesn't like any other race, as you can see on the other yelp reviews. With that being said, in conclusion, if your car ever goes down in the Sunnyvale area, and you decided to contact Roy from Better Cheap Towing (?) make sure that you are Caucasian, or at least look white, so that you too can get a 5 star service like some of the other reviews from the said demographic mentioned above. Since that's what Roy prefers, I suppose. read more

What a great guy! Got the job done in a perfect timely matter and also had great customer service! Even busted a couple jokes and had me hysterically laughing! Cute dog too! it's called " A better cheaper tow" for a reason!! read more

Charged $85 to tow to a nearby place within 2 miles distance. I think the price is very reasonable.

Very quick response time, along with pick up and drop off time! Definitely worth going with ABC towing if you're in the Sunnyvale area, or any of the neighboring cities. read more

Called for a quote on a tow and got met with sarcasm and laughter right off that bat. Pretty rude. I bet this guy eats 12packs of PBRs for breakfast lunch and dinner. (Yes I said eat-cans and carton included) I would take my business somewhere else. read more

On September 20th one of my tires went out on the 87 going south. I called ABC tows to come grab my car, they quoted me $55 on the phone. When they arrived the guy that helped me was a big old Caucasian man. He took a look at my car and told me the quote they gave for my car wasn't correct due to the fact that my car was lowered. So the new quote is now $85 for a lowered car, this I didn't mind since I didn't tell him on the phone. Also seeing how the price is a little higher for a lowered car reassured me that this man knew what he was doing. This observation is very very wrong, and the worst mistake I've made this fine afternoon. This man continued to set up the ramp so he could drive it up onto the bed, once set up he got into my car and began to drive up. Watching him do this I saw him slip a few times and stall my car, uh oh I thought he knew what he was doing? Then, the bed gave way and the driving ramps he had set up to bring the car onto the bed knocked out of place. The bed rocked over to the passenger side, slammed my passenger side and rear diffuser onto the ground. The man left my car, pretended like nothing had happened and said he knows a better way to get my car onto the bed. At this point, I surveyed the damage that has been done to my car due to his ignorance, took pictures, and made notes. After he got my car onto the bed, I confronted him about the damage he had caused. First he completely denied the fact that he caused any damage to my car. Then I showed him the scratches to my rear diffuser and my cracked side skirts that matched the fresh marks on the ground only inches away from his tow bed and my car. He thought about it for a second the said, " it's not my fault your car is lowered." I then asked him why does he charge extra for lowered cars. He said "for the labor it takes." I told him okay, well are you going to take care of the damage or not? He said no. So I told him I'll contact my insurance and maybe even attorney to get this settled. I made a claim to my insurance company, they inspected the damage and tried to go after this company for the damages. 1) they're not insured, so if you choose to use them beware 2) they denied that they caused the damage 3) if they cause damage to your car, you may have to take this to court and I am doing now. The total damage to my car is about $4000. Think twice before using this company. read more

See all

(This occurred July 2014) Our camper trailer's wheel had popped off while we were on 680S. It was 1030pm and the road side assistance could not get a hold of a towing company to come get us without paying out of pocket at this time of night, but they got a hold of ABC. To get the camper onto his ramp, he used a floor jack on the side of the missing tire to balance it out and left it there as he drove to our residence. Ultimately, he did not secure it properly and my party (driving behind his truck) witnessed the floor jack falling off of the ramp and into the middle of the road on Capitol Expressway. When we arrived at our residence, he realized the jack was missing and said to us, "That was an expensive jack" in a tone as to imply that he wanted us to cover for that. Offended and annoyed that he seemed to blame us for the unsecured jack, I asked, "Was it not secured properly?" and he replied, "Well it flew off." It was $115 dollars for 14.9 miles. He asked me, "How are you paying for this?" and I replied, "Credit card". He retorted with "Debit". I wasn't sure what he was getting at, so I said again, "I am paying with credit card" to which he said "Debit." I asked him "You don't take credit card?" and he replied "Don't you have a checkings account?" Honestly, if you did not take credit card, why did you ask me "How are you paying for this?". Yes, he's rough around the edges and some may appreciate his character, but I'm sorry, he was quite rude when there was no reason to be. read more

Had to get my car towed today. Called a couple of places, and one of the highest rated places referred me to Roy since they weren't available. Roy was one of the most affordable by far. Everyone was quoting me a 140+ for the tow, and Roy quoted me 78 bucks. He was on time and got the job done. I get the feeling that Roy's an old timer, owner-operator, that likes things his way. I left him a check because our discussion was so brief I didn't get what payment options he accepted (Visa, or MC by the way). He seemed a bit troubled by it, but I told him I had no issues giving him a CC#. Which is what in the end he requested. I'd suggest Roy to anyone that's used to that kind of personality--Rough round the edges, but heart of gold and gets the job done. For those bourgeoisie people that expect "nordstrom" bottom whiping with perfume style service- this isn't your guy. I'd use him again for sure. read more

I was told by this company that it would take 45 minutes or less to get to my place to tow my car. I was also told that if this wasn't going to happen that I would receive a phone call. I didn't receive a phone call after 45 minutes, so I called the driver. I asked him when he was going to be here. He proceeded to tell me a story about how he got held up and that it was maybe going to take him an hour maybe two to get to me. There was no point--- because the service department would already have been closed by then. I told the driver that I wanted to cancel the tow because it was a longer wait than originally anticipated. The driver just hung up on me after that. I would never suggest this company to any of my family or friends! read more

Look no further, ABC tow is the best around. When it comes to price his name says it all. The first time I called Mr. Roy nearly 15 years ago I was immediately impressed. He provided good old fashion friendly honest service. I've never contacted another tow company since then. In fact he goes beyond any tow company. This latest instance I contacted Mr. Roy for a tow explaining that my car wouldn't turn on and my key was stuck in the ignition. He guided me over the phone to take a hammer and tap my battery cable he suspected was loose. I couldn't believe it! He fixed my problem without taking it to a mechanic or even needing a tow. Thank you Roy!! read more

I drive a standard. I had had trouble shifting for a while. I knew my clutch couldn't last. And then...I was driving through the Santa Cruz mountains on CA-17 when I experienced a total clutch failure: I couldn't shift at all. I had no choice but to pull over and call for a tow. So I checked Yelp and found ABCT. I called, even though I only half-expected them -- or anyone else -- to come pick up my car on the CA-17 -- a tiny, winding road with fast moving traffic and limited shoulder space. To my surprise, ABCT said they'd be happy to pick me up -- and they got to me within 30 minutes. Loading my car onto the flatbed tow vehicle went smoothly. These guys are great, inexpensive, and know what they're doing. I highly recommend them! read more

Wow, Roy was GREAT! What a genuinely nice guy. He was going to fix our flat tire for us right there on the spot, but we didn't have a spare. We told him how much we were going to pay for 4 new tires, and he immediately got on the phone and got us a better deal. He went above and beyond.. What a kickass guy! I'd definitely recommend A Better Cheaper Tow ANY DAY. read more

I was refereed by a friend after an upsetting quote from AAA. AAA wanted over $200 to move my vehicle 22 miles. So I called Roy and he picked up my car without me there and drove it the 22 miles for $103, which is a lot better than others. He was nice and so was his tiny attack dog. Will recommend him to others. read more

It was wonderful contacting Roy. I had to get my car towed from Milpitas to Sunnyvale this morning. He was able to give me a quote right away, and his was the best quote and very fair. Even though he was working with another client, he was able to reach my car within an hour. He made it completely effortless, no followups required. And I have to add, he has a great sense of humor! read more

Roy was timely, friendly, and affordable. Tow companies often get a bad rap, but ABC tow defied expectations and changed my mind. Hopefully this doesn't happen again, but, if it does, they will be the first team I call. read more

FANTASTIC service! Roy is an absolute hero! Stuck in San Jose with totalled trannie, he got there in 20 minutes with a trailer flatbed for my front wheel drive VW and got it to my home in East County in a little over an hour! Great person with wonderful attitude, great price...just can't say enough - thank you SO very much Roy and ABC TOW :) Jane & Sean K read more

I needed my Dad's car towed from Sunnyvale to San Jose. I originally called A Cheaper Tow but they referred me to Roy at (408) 509-9299. I called Roy and he was friendly and funny over the phone. He quoted me an amazing price compared to some other places. So I went ahead and scheduled with him. He is a 75 year old man who still trying to make a living. I love that I'm supporting his small local business. He really is an expert at handling the car correctly. I definitely would use him again and recommend him to anyone who needs a tow. read more

My car broke down in Sunnyvale. I called this company's phone number and asked if they take State Farm. The guy said 'if you're not a beautiful blond with big tits, you're in for a huge bill to tow your car.' I was kinda taken back, I didn't know if I should laugh or take him serious. Then he told me ' I'll tell you what, I'll tow your car for $50 cash and report $75 to your insurance'. Another sleezly comment I though. Then to top it off, he told me that his AC in the tow truck stopped working and he was getting annoyed and frustrated that I wasn't in agreement with his proposal to tow my car. I instantly said 'No, Thanks' and hung up the phone. Unprofessional, sleez-ball, and rude. I'm amazed this guy has a few good reviews, oh wait, the good reviews are from women. It figures. I recommend calling Dicks Automotive Transport, amazing service. read more

ABC towing AKA A Friends Tow is a awesome example of the advantage of using a small business for services. The fee was fair and I only had to wait 30 minutes to get my car towed across town in Palo Alto. But it gets better. This guy could actually be a comedian and he has a little shitzu/yorkie assistant who waits in the truck. The dog was so friendly and charming I thought he was trained to make the sale in advance the next time I need a tow. 408 529 9299 read more

Like the other reviewer said this guy is very easy going and responsive to coming quickly to your car, fixing your problem and giving you pointers along the way. I had been using battery paint thinking it was protecting my battery and didn't know that it was a no no. The price was better than others I called when I needed a jump start. He also diagnosed my battery as dead:( so I drove directly to install a new one. Also needed him to help me document that I used him for my car for insurance reimbursement purposes and he was more than willing. Definitely will use him again when I'm in caught in this neck of the woods. Cute little Dog to boot... read more

This is not your conventional "tow truck". Roy drives a Dodge dually with a car trailer. He has towed my Firebird several times and the car itself is pretty low. His prices are really great I highly recommend him! read more

Called him when my car wouldn't start - expecting to need a tow for 10miles. Instead, he diagnosed my problem on the spot, then fixed it (battery cable connection). Wow. He made less $$$ from that, but he created a loyal happy customer. read more

Mr. Roy and Rascal (teeny lil pup) came on time, diagnosed the problem quickly and made helpful recommendations. He even peppered the service with jokes. It was $55 to jump my car in my garage. read more

The name says it all. I had a tow company charge me $140 for less than 2 miles. This company charges about $120 for about 20 miles. If you just want to get your car moved from point A to point B without fluff or frills, call this place. Be sure to ask questions about pricing and any special needs for your car. The driver is a little gruff, but you get what you pay for. He said he would be there in two hours and he meant it. He showed up on time, moved my car on the truck and drove off. He got my car to its destination in a timely manner. No hassle, no fuss. I would recommend for the sake of time and price. I am no-nonsense person, so this place worked for me. read more

Roy was a hell of a guy.. Great Customer service with a comedic side to lighten the mood.. He was prompt literally there in help in 10 mins.. I had keys locked in the vehicle and he gave a great price that couldn't be beat..awesome guy and awesome service.. I would Recommend him to anyone!!! read more

Had to be towed from Big Basin State Park.Roy was the one who responded during a busy Fourth of July weekend.His truck was able to accommodate myself as well as my passengers.He was pleasant and reasonably priced. read more

My car died last night and I had to get it towed. The first tow company I called wanted $95! I was like to tow it 1 mile?!?! jeeze. So I called a Better Cheaper Tow and it was much more affordable. They told me it would be a 30 minute wait, I waited 40 minutes. The driver arrived and was very friendly. The repair shop was kind of close to my house but I asked for a ride home because my leg was injured, they said they don't normally do that but the driver gave me a ride home. Thanks! I'd definitely recommend A Better Cheaper Tow! read more

My car was non-functional, so I needed a tow on a Saturday morning. The guys showed up when he said he would. He dropped the car off a the repair shop. His charge was the same as the estimate ($55 for less than 5 miles). It was good service. read more

Wow! Roy is very helpful, honest, and reliable! We highly recommend Roy for any towing or roadside needs. We are more than thankful that we called him. Roy was able to help us, over the phone, so we could get our car running and back on the road. We were on vacation traveling to San Francisco, and at one of our roadside stops our car got stuck in park. Roy was kind enough to call us back multiple times to make sure our car was up and running. Roy, Thank You so much for all of your help!!! read more

Well Roy was so professional, helpful, quick, and entertaining that I had to write my first ever Yelp review. My truck wouldn't start at work and I misdiagnosed it as a starter problem. Due to plans for the day I ended up back at home via a friend. I called ABC and Roy answered right away. I told him I needed a pickup and ride back to my truck and then a tow back home. Roy was here within ten minutes! He introduced me to his awesome little canine buddy 'Rascal' (who was extremely cute and friendly) and off we went. One attempt to start the truck and Roy corrected my diagnosis and said it was the battery and also an acid-eaten clamp. He gave me some good tips on cleaning the terminals/clamps, showed me how to do it, told me where to go to get what brand of battery and a clamp. He even told me about the battery core charge at the store so I knew to get my tools first so I could swap the battery in the parking lot and save myself a trip back to the parts store to return the old battery. He jump started it with a portable battery and I was good to drive off and finish the fix myself. Roy is a pro, good guy, and also quite a character! He took what could have been a stressful, time consuming and costly situation and made it fun, educational and also saved me time and money in the process. I don't hope to need another tow anytime soon, but if I do, Roy at ABC is the guy I'll call. Thanks Roy! read more

My car broke down and I had it towed on three occasions, once to the nearest mechanic, once to the parking lot at my work, and the third time to a friend's mechanic in San Jose to get a second opinion. I mention all of this so you know I'm no stranger to dealing with towing companies. I decided not to fix the car, and donate it to charity instead, so I needed one more tow. Not having dealt with anyone in San Jose I tried ABC tow and got Roy. He seemed ok and I scheduled a pick-up time. I live in San Francisco and had to rent a car to meet him in San Jose. I called him once I arrived, he said he was still held up and I should leave the car unlocked, he would pick it up later - which was fine, since the car doesn't run anyway - I give him the pick-up and drop-off addresses (drop-off being the parking lot at my work) and go on my way. After returning the rental, I get back to my place in SF and see that I have a missed call from Roy and two text messages that read (typos preserved for posterity): "I have an incorrrect address tuto this car 2 therefore I cannot tow it until you call me with the correct information thank you." and: "You are not returning my calls. I have no choice but too told this car to my shop storage fees are $55 per day call me tomorrow with a correct address to tow the car to thank you" Puzzled, I text him with the address - which I had *already* given him. He does not respond. When I call him the next morning, to ask about the car he has no idea what I'm talking about and says he'll call me back - he then gets back to me around lunch and informs me that he'll be charging me $50 since he didn't have the correct address, insisting that I gave him the wrong address. After arguing with him on the phone I got fed up and agree to pay. Wondering if there was any precedence for this kind of behavior, I googled "A Better Cheaper Tow" and found a review on Yellow pages from a Kenny C, who had a surprisingly similar experience. When Kenny C refused to pay the extra charges, charges that Roy invented due to his own failure to keep his original appointment, Roy held the car hostage. I've worked at this office for over three years, and in that time have had all sorts of things delivered there - I know my work address. It turned out that when he was taking down the address he left out the first digit... and inexplicably decided that the right thing to do was bill me for his own carelessness and lack of attention to detail. After he arrives with your car, he'll tell you how much he hates to raise prices on people... but he'll go ahead and gouge you, and he'll do it with a smile. read more

Roy, you and Rascal saved me from further distress that day, Thank you so much for doing "Angel" work. You were prompt in spite of traffic hour, and most generous to trouble shoot my dilemma. You knew several tricks to trouble shoot the issue, and all it cost me was the cheapest tow fee anywhere in the bay area. I was already, stressed about where i would need to drop off my car for repair, that I had no money for after the tow. Thank God that you went the extra mile, and I didn't have to pay for diagnosis and labor and parts. It is true that there are walking "Angels" amongst us. Thank you so very much, and God Bless you. I Hope that good people, will tip you big, for those that can't, instead of paying someone else double and more for a tow. Kathy, no longer stranded at Moe's Gas Station. read more

This guy was incredibly rude. Everything he said was either a rude command or very insulting. While helping to pull my car onto the flatbed, he treated me like dirt even after I told him that I had never done this before. Then, when the car was hooked up, I took my keys out of the ignition and he got mad that I did that and said "And what exactly do you need those for? Those need to stay in the car!!" At this point, I got mad and told him that he needed to quit being rude and that I had never done this before. When I got in his truck to go to the repair shop, Roy had with him his small dog. I am very allergic to dogs and caring your pet with you while you work is very unprofessional. Then, while paying, he insulted my last name by saying "What kind of last name is that?!" and then called it Palestinian (my last name is Italian). Not once through the whole ordeal did he thank me or shake my hand or anything. DO NOT USE THIS SERVICE! read more

Highly recommend their service. My car broke down today, find them via yelp and within 30 mins my car is in the shop. Very efficient service. read more

Roy and his sidekick, Rascal are a fabulous team! I have used his tow service several times now. Each time he has been prompt and extremely helpful. Plus my car is a classic so I prefer it being carried and not dragged! His fees are better than any other tow service around and he always has sound advice. I will continue to use A Better Cheaper Tow and I highly recommend Roy. read more

Their gear is not that professional (comparing with the other towing company that I just used a while ago but i called them becos they are nearby), the fair is not really cheap especailly considering the equipment and service, and the person said he doesn't like labor and refused to spend 3 minutes to jump my car to make the tire straight (the front tire got twisted becos he didn't use any cushion when he pushed the car in and out) after unloading my car from his truck ...very rough operation. Not recommend. read more