If you just got into an accident and your vehicle is no longer safe to drive, then the best thing you can do for yourself and your car is to get it towed to the nearest repair shop. However, before the tow truck driver arrives, you should know what your rights are regarding towing and what you need to look out for.
Although most tow truck drivers are honest professionals, many are on a lookout for taking advantage of people who are pretty shaken up after the incident. Nevertheless, the good news is that you can always take some simple steps to avoid getting into trouble while having your vehicle towed.
Before you let anyone tow your car, follow these steps;
Determine If Your Vehicle Needs Towing
When you get into an accident, your first instinct may be to call a towing company and get yourself and your car to the repair shop as soon as possible. But, the reality is that you might be able to get your vehicle back on the road by getting roadside assistance only.
You can get roadside assistance for discounted prices or for free if you’re a member of any automobile association like CAA, or if your manufacturing warranty is still intact. However, it is essential to note that some roadside assistance companies don’t provide towing services after a collision. So, make sure you specify your situation and needs. At Action Towing, we provide quick and affordable roadside assistance as well as local and long-distance towing services.
Call Your Car Insurers
Calling your car insurers is a good idea even if it’s outside of business hours. Your insurance company can tell you precisely what you need to do next and what procedure you should follow to ensure your car’s safety. They can also advise you on reasonable towing rates, and may even recommend a trustworthy towing service in your location. In the best-case scenario, they’ll have one of their affiliated and preferred towing companies come pick up your damaged vehicle.
However, if you’re unable to get in touch with your insurance company right away, you can still have your car towed safely, by following the other steps in this list.
Prepare Your Vehicle For Towing
Once you have gotten in touch with a reliable towing company, and while you wait for the tow truck driver to arrive and retrieve your car, record the damage you see on the car and take detailed photos of it and the collision scene. You can use these photos to make sure the garage has repaired your vehicle well. The pictures will also come in handy when completing the insurance paperwork.
Also, take out any valuables and personal items from the car before finally handing over your vehicle to the tow truck driver.
Verify The Towing Representative Who Arrives
Verifying the towing rep who arrives is extremely necessary as many local tow truck drivers are already waiting on the side of the road and race to the occasion to try to get new business. Sometimes they will also try to persuade you to get your vehicle towed when it is still drivable. To avoid this from happening always make sure to get the relevant information from the towing company. If a tow truck seems to show up too quickly, and you didn’t call it, and you’re not sure if he is from a reputable company, then proceed with caution.
Read and Sign The Paperwork Carefully
The tow truck driver needs to provide you with an itemized invoice and not a blank contract. This way you’ll be sure of what they’re going to charge you to tow your vehicle to the location of your choice. Make sure that you only agree to pay to tow your vehicle and not to have your car repaired by a specific facility. Never sign a contract that doesn’t specify what you’re paying for and where your vehicle is being towed. Save the paperwork for later use.
About Action Towing
Action Towing is a well-known vehicle towing company based in Edmonton, Alberta. Visit our website to explore our expert towing services or contact us for quick roadside assistance.
