Does Your Car Insurance Cover Towing?
Towing Insurance CoverageThey're inevitable, really, no matter how much we want to live like them. Accidents are something that shouldn't happen, but instead seem to take place more often than not. The road can be hazardous and the average person spends over 8 hours a week driving. So it could happen to you. Let's hope not. And since clear thinking doesn't often accompany the aftermath of an accident, planning ahead is a wise strategy.
So if the worst does come to pass, you know how to handle the situation after an accident. Depending on the damages, you may have to get your car towed. And for the purpose of this discussion, we're assuming that after the accident, your car needed towing. How will you get your car towed? And who is going to cover the towing expenses? Will it be you or your insurance company? These are some essential questions which will run through your head in a situation like this and the following paragraphs list what you need to know. Firstly, depending on the accident, you cannot immediately ascertain which party will take the blame for the accident. Of course, sometimes it's clear enough, but mostly people haggle and hence you won't know if it will be the other parties insurance company or yours which will be covering the cost of the expenses. Again, we'll assume that it will be your auto insurance company which will cover the expenses, and these will be whatever your particular company's policy covers. In all likelihood, as is the norm with most companies, they will pay reasonable costs within a reasonable towing distance. |
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That is, if you are within your own state, the insurance company would cover most of the tooling expenses. But if your car breaks down, say, a couple of states over or in any other state, then most of the money would be coming out of your own pocket. It is essential that you talk to your insurance company and their policies on tolling so that you're informed beforehand after the accident. It's best to call your company and ask them their preferred towing company. This will save haggles later on.
If you're in your local area, then use a local trusted towing service. If you don't mention the towing bit to your insurance company in this scenario, either you'll get towed by a random tow service who look out for such incidents on their police scanners or one that is working with the police. Of course, your company might not cover such expenses. Lastly, another point to take note is that some insurance companies also offer the services of optional telling as well as roadside assistance of labor, which covers flat tires, repair, towing and battery problems. Usually this only incurs a small amount of additional charge.
In any case it is wise to think this out ahead of time, because clear thinking does not always come about when you're involved in an automobile accident.
Most insurance coverage that includes comprehensive coverage does cover towing. However, there may be limitations on distance towed, administrative costs from the tow company that are covered and other additional fees the tow company may add to the "towing bill". Tow companies like to put add ons to the bill. A fee for hook up, How is it possible to tow a car without hooking it up. Don't get me started. Again it is wise to know these things ahead of time.
Talk to your insurance company. They may have a preferred tow service they use in your area. That would be beneficial to know. If you're out of you local area, ask your tow company ahead of time if there is a service they prefer nationally.
Forewarned is forearmed.
If you're in your local area, then use a local trusted towing service. If you don't mention the towing bit to your insurance company in this scenario, either you'll get towed by a random tow service who look out for such incidents on their police scanners or one that is working with the police. Of course, your company might not cover such expenses. Lastly, another point to take note is that some insurance companies also offer the services of optional telling as well as roadside assistance of labor, which covers flat tires, repair, towing and battery problems. Usually this only incurs a small amount of additional charge.
In any case it is wise to think this out ahead of time, because clear thinking does not always come about when you're involved in an automobile accident.
Most insurance coverage that includes comprehensive coverage does cover towing. However, there may be limitations on distance towed, administrative costs from the tow company that are covered and other additional fees the tow company may add to the "towing bill". Tow companies like to put add ons to the bill. A fee for hook up, How is it possible to tow a car without hooking it up. Don't get me started. Again it is wise to know these things ahead of time.
Talk to your insurance company. They may have a preferred tow service they use in your area. That would be beneficial to know. If you're out of you local area, ask your tow company ahead of time if there is a service they prefer nationally.
Forewarned is forearmed.