Joe's Towing & Recovery in
Normal (IL)

I had a very bad experience with Joe’s Towing & Recovery. They showed up without any authorization, hooked up our semi-truck, and moved it about a mile. After that, they demanded payment on the spot, threatening that if we didn’t pay immediately, they would take the truck to their yard and charge even more. This felt like a predatory and unfair towing practice. No proper explanation, no permission, and no professionalism. I would not recommend this company to anyone, especially businesses with commercial vehicles. Be very careful dealing with them.

Absolutely terrible. Have had trouble with parking in my parking lot, I have 2 parking passes but can nearly never find a spot. I have called multiple times to Joes towing and they have done nothing. The woman I spoke to on the phone was very rude and told me I have never called, despite them taking my information multiple times, where is my info going too? Would not recommended.

TERRIBLE. My daughters were stranded on the Interstate with their dead car on their cross country trip. The driver barely talked to my girls and then upon getting to the repair shop to drop the car, he dropped it...and then LEFT...without assisting them any further. I could understand if he had another job to do, but the girls said he just parked across the street and sat in the car. RIDICULOUS.

155 dollers to tow it from there storage in the back to the front a 10 seconds job that i had to pay for on top of a 248 bill to get it tow to there lot the people up there will rather me push my car then tow it to the front so i can tow my car to where it needs to be 403.65 DOLLAR on towing there RUDE!!! AND SCAMMERS DONT COME HERE WINKS IS THE BETTER TOWING SERVICE THEY SAID THEY LET JOE COME IN TO THERE STORAGE LOT AND TOW PEOPLE CAR FOR FREE BUT WINKS CANT COME INTO JOE LOT AND TOW YOU MUST PAY 155 TO GET YOUR CAR OUT SCAM SCAM SCAM

Brian at Joe's Towing and Recovery is TOP NOTCH! Went above and beyond in helping get us back on the road. He took the time to get the best options for our vehicle during the weekend when things were closed. We were fortunate enough to use them. Communication was very good and professional.

DEAR MANAGEMENT, Absolutely Rude staff, I would fire the lady you have working and hire the good staff you have in East Peoria. I've used East Peoria a lot and never have been talked to that rudely. I recommend east Peoria joes towing to everyone but never would recommend normal's Joe towing. Lady answering the phone at 1:09am on 1-23-25 management needs to use the recordings you make for training her replacement.

Called to report a car in my daughters assigned parking spot after returning from Thanksgiving break. Driver called off and no one was able to help. The lady answering the phone could be more understanding. Terrible customer service.

Worst towing place I’ve ever been associated with. I’ve called on many different occasions to get a car out of my spot in my apartment complex. Part of my lease rent goes to them. After I explain my situation to the lady on the other line she always has an attitude with me and is always very disrespectful. She has called me different condescending names over the phone after I’ve been nothing but professional and cooperative towards her. They are in no ways helpful and only care about money. I’ve lived in my apartment complex for two years and have had to talk to management on multiple counts because the lady on the other end doesn’t want to help. Overall, don’t call Joe’s towing it will just be a WASTE OF YOUR TIME. If I could rate this place a zero I would.

Rude. They have attitudes in office. They always win the bid to tow vehicles from accidents. Somethings fishy about that. Overpriced. Don't call Joe's there's other places like Browns towing.

Called to get a tow, put on hold for 10 minutes. Lady finally answers and puts me back on hold. 5 minutes later she starts taking my info but stops every 30 seconds to pick up another phone call. Then she tells me how long it will be and the price. I decide to hold off for another day and call around other places. Ended up getting a tow from someone else for $50 dollars less, they were there in 20 minutes when joes said hours until they could get there. Sorry but unless I’m desperate I’ll use someone else from now on.

Our Dodge Caravan broke down in the middle of the street in Normal this afternoon, and the cop who stopped by to help us called someone from Joe's Trucking to tow the van to the mechanic. Kodie showed up in under twenty minutes, and he was excellent! Super kind and friendly. He helped me move the carseat from the van to the police car so that I could safely transport my two year old to the mechanic with us. Kodie also gave my fiance a ride, since the cop car wasn't big enough for everyone. Kodie is great at his job, and his personality really made the whole experience much more pleasant. Five stars, will recommend!!

After an extremely sudden and scary flat tire on the interstate, Joe’s towing came to our rescue! I so wish I could remember everyone’s names that helped us, but I have the memory of a goldfish. However, all three were so incredibly kind, helpful and efficient. Even the telephone operator was amazing; all keeping us in the loop as we waited for them to arrive letting us know their ETA and how the process would go. What was otherwise super stressful, was made significantly less stressful by these individuals and we cannot thank them enough. 10/10 recommend.

I’m so irritated because I’ve been contacting Joes Towing and have literally been getting the run around! First time I called was 4/16 at 8pm. Was told she needed to verify, gave her car and license plate info of the vehicle in my spot. Said she would send someone soon as it’s gets verified. Called again at 8:25pm and was told she had verified but the drivers had important tows ahead of me. 10:34pm I called for an update, was told from a male, now it’s 12 tows ahead of me. I go to sleep, wake up and the van is still in my spot. I called at 6:18am and now being told, by a male that he couldn’t do anything because it’s not verified by anyone that it’s my parking spot! A complete joke of a company! I bet if I was out right paying they would send someone but because it’s an apartment complex AGREEMENT, they act completely incompetent!

For the sake of you money don't every call these people. Charges us $1651 for 1 hour. Had a truck and tailer stuck in a small ditch on Saturday afternoon. Asked how much will it before before dispatching the towing truck and the lady on the phone said she is not sure her driver first needs to come and see what that the situation is. Once the driver arrived there after 10 min the truck/trailer were pulled out whiteout any damaged. To charge someone $1651 to do something for 1 hour is very unethical and unprofessional. They never let us know how much it will be and treated they will input our equipment if we don't pay.

I have been living at the same apartment for three years now and have had many cars towed from a lot that I’ve bought spots in each of those years and have yet to ever run into this problem..I call to get a car towed and this very rude, unsettling, unhelpful worker named Allison tells me that my name isn’t registered on my own parking spot that I’ve been parking in since May?! How does that make any sense? After I first called to make the request don’t you think you should’ve called me back to inform and let me know about the issue instead of having me wait in my car for over an hour waiting for a tow truck!! I’m more than livid. All I wanted was some assistance with this situation and I received nothing but attitude from your worker Allison. Horrible.

When my semi broke down, Joe’s Towing & Recovery showed up quickly! The lady who took my call was very kind and accommodating. Noah was very professional and understanding about my situation, and had me hooked up and dropped off at the Kenworth dealer with efficiency and expediency. Thank you Joe’s Towing & Recovery!

Called them earlier tonight to come help get my Nissan Sentra off a concrete center median about 18” wide. Couldn’t see due to heavy rain - rolled down the median enough to lift both drivers side wheels off the road, leaving the car high centered and unable to move. Went home, called Joe’s - explained the issue and the gal on the phone said because it’s only a winch out she could not quite a price - that the price was left up to the discretion of the truck driver. Ok. We agreed. Met the driver at the car (still raining hard) he said we have to wait for the BloNo police to show up to ensure traffic safety. So we sat in the car and waited about 15 min. Police show up, driver hooks a winch cable to the back of the car and we proceed to pull the car backwards. Moved about 2 feet and realized that it was doing damage to the car pulling it out backwards. So the driver brings up 6x6 wood blocks about 2 feet long. Puts them in front of both raised wheels - we slowly roll forward and in a couple minutes the car is off the median and drivable. We agreed to meet at the nearest gas station under the awning to stay out of the rain. He comes over with the bill and it’s $175.00. To stand in the rain for 20 minutes moving a cable back and forth and putting wood under tires. $175.00 for 20 min of work. Mind blowing. So we told him that was outrageous and told him the gal we talked to on the phone said the pricing was up to him. He said it’s always been set at $175.00. He called into his manager and she initially wouldn’t budge and said it’s $175.00. She proceeded to get an attitude and mouthy and so does the driver. The driver began to whine and complain that he had to stand in the rain and was wet. It’s his job. Eventually we got to $125.00 and it was done. Greedy and untrustworthy. We needed help and they literally tried to commit highway robbery. It’s disgusting. No compassion, don’t call if you truly need help.

Horrible business who literally tow cars and then charge you hundreds of dollars later on. I've had them tow my truck twice in the last few months and that was after I had an accident and they charged me hundreds of dollars to tow my totalled car because apparently they can't just tow it to the junk yard and or my house they have to tow it to their lot and then charge a bunch of money for holding fees and other stacked charges. Beware of this company because working with them is like owning a pet that bites and scratches you everytime you go to pet it.

Fast recovery! Was there in 15 minutes! Not sure what was a good price. But towed us out of the ditch was $225.00 it was a good 50' off the road and he got me out in 30 minutes! Thanks!

This is my personal experience. Today was the third time I’ve been in need of a tow so I called this company and I must say every single time it’s been extremely pleasant. They come in a timely manner, they’re professional and theyre fast. Today I had the pleasure of having Addison to tow my car and he was so nice. Didn’t make things awkward or giving me nervous feelings riding to the auto shop with him. I told him I had gas in a gas can that I was worried about spilling over on the ride to the shop and he took the time in this extremely cold weather to put the gas inside of my car. He made good conversation and drove very well. I don’t say that often lol. All 3 of mg experiences have been great but Addison is the one that made me say yea let me go leave a review. He seems like a whole around nice person honestly, thank you again. I’ll most definitely be coming back when and if needed again.

Normally I have great service from this company, except for 2 nights ago. Came home late at night from a long trip to find that someone was in my parking spot. I called to have them towed and the worker on the phone was a little rude. Around 30 minutes later I saw the tow truck passed by my apartment. 10 minutes pass so I go outside but the car is still in my spot. I called the company back and asked why they came and didn't tow the car. The same rude worker on the phone told me that there was no cars matching this description anywhere in my area. obviously this is not the case because I'm staring at my spot and the car is still there. he says he'll come back but is doubtful he missed it. When he comes back I come outside and I directly point him to the car. He spends 5 minutes shining a flashlight and walking around the car, checking to see if the cars information matches what I told him over the phone. It did, but he did not apologize. I went back inside and he finally tows it, almost 2 hours from my initial call. I understand it was dark outside and it is a little confusing in the parking lots around my apartment, but he had my number and could have called me for clarification at any time. Normally have good service from this company so it is probably just this one worker.

Used Joe's to tow my car from being stuck in water on Friday night. They neglected to ask for a name, contact info, where we wanted it towed, etc. They literally just asked if we wanted it towed, told us to put the keys on the front seat unlocked, and took the car. When we went to pick it up Saturday, they weren't in the office despite claiming to be open until noon. The gates were wide open and I could see my car, but no one was there to let me have it. I called, was rudely placed on hold 3 times, and finally when I got to talk to someone, they had no record of my car. At all. They had no record of ever towing my car, who it belongs to, etc. At this point I'm furious because they won't release the car to me because they can't give me a price as they don't have record of what ever happened. My car was left vulnerable, gates unlocked, keys visible on front seat (as directed), and unlocked. They seemed confused that the gates were open, but weren't apologetic. Their defense was "it's been busy." That defense is fine if you mess up a coffee order. This is my car. This is transportation to my job. You can't just say "we're busy" as an excuse to lose my car. Once the driver finally got there 45 minutes later, it was $170 despite our contending it. Our car wouldn't start, so the driver helped us push it out to the parking lot so they could actually lock the gates this time to protect other people's cars, but told us our car had to be gone by 5pm. Despite them being swamped, we were given 3 hours to get our car towed out of their lot despite their terrible service, complete unprofessional handling of my property, and the fact we had paid them $170 for a 2 mile tow without choice of where to take it. I have also dealt with them in undergrad and they have always been rude, seem like they're in a rush, and overall unprofessional.

Got locked out of my car, the service itself was great - got here quickly and got the job done. However, I was greeted with attitude and nothing but rude remarks from the moment I called them in a panic. I’d recommend using another service.

$370=3 mile tow. Big ripoff!!! Automatically show up at wrecks, tow to their place. $30 charge to see your car. $45/day to have your car sit there BUT NOBODY TELLS YOU THAT when you just had a wreck & are shook up, maybe hurt! Ripping off locals for 20+ yrs. That's how they stay in business. And, the lady doesn't give a sh-- about you. 0 stars

The "old guy" was amazing. The women gave me attitude about me wanting a driver to come back out after my daughter was still stranded, and her stating the guy didn't seem to know what he was doing. The lady said to me, in an attitude voice "this will be the last time." I said " that's fine, I only expect for it to be done right. The old guy came and was amazing, my daughter car started right up. I will consider them for future jobs, but would ask for the Old Guy!!

Today my husbands car stopped in the middle of the road. We called Joes they were friendly and said they would be out right away to help us. We found out once the driver got there he had actually ran out of gas, even though the gas gauge said 1/4 of a tank was in there. Kodi was the driver who came to our rescue. He was friendly from the moment he got out of the truck till he left us. He went out of his way to follow us to the closes gas station just to make sure it really was only gas we needed. What more can u say above and beyond service. Thanks so much for being the hero of the day

I would highly recommend this company. They went above and beyond expectations. They not only towed my truck back to St. Louis for what seemed like reasonable rate on a Saturday afternoon, they made sure my driver and helper got back during a pandemic. If your have issues and need a towing service please use this service.