What You Should Know When Your Car Needs Towing - AllCarIndex
Nothing can be more frustrating than that moment when your car just decides to break down in the middle of the journey. You could be on the tarmac or you could be in a remote area on rough terrain. None of the situations are pleasant whatsoever. If that's the case, your best option is to call the nearest professional tow service you can find. The other common situation where towing becomes necessary is when you are involved in an accident. But that's not all. In many jurisdictions, your car can also be towed away if you park wrongfully, at the wrong spot, or access a parking space that you are not supposed to. With this having been mentioned, here are some things you should know when your car needs towing.
1. Safety Matters
Quite often, most cars break down at places we least expected. It could happen at the parking lot, rendering you unable to start the car. However, in scenarios whereby your car dies while on the road, it is imperative for you and the vehicle to remain safe. You may put your car in neutral and then push it to a safe side of the road. If you aren't able to do that, consider placing indicators such as cones, flags, flares, or even foliage near your car. This way, you alert the oncoming traffic about the danger ahead. Additionally, if you feel that it's too dangerous to get out of the vehicle, then consider staying put but with the hazard blinkers on. Otherwise, you may also put a visible sign like "Towing".
2. Know the Governing Laws
Different states may be having different laws regarding towing cars. Some states are stricter than others on things such as lights, weight requirements, license plate class, breakaway brake, etc. This is all the more reason to find out more about the various laws of towing, parking enforcement, and so forth in your state or the state, you visit. Just so you are not on the wrong side of the law, you might have to contact the nearest towing company for advice, which brings us to the next important point.
3. Contact a Reputable Car Towing Service Provider
If your car needs towing, contacting an expert vehicle towing company comes in handy. Frankly, towing business is not something to be handled by inexperienced hands. One requires the appropriate driver's license for towing and the relevant accreditations for these operations. Also, you wouldn't want your car to cause other damages while being towed to the garage for repair and maintenance. For that matter, you need to choose the most reputable car towing service provider with highly-experienced drivers.
4. Prepare Your Car for Towing
Proper car preparation before towing is essential. For example, consider removing any valuable items from your car. As a matter of fact, many towing companies are not liable for any stolen or lost items from your vehicle. For instance, get documents such as your car insurance and registration out of the vehicle. You will probably require them somewhere in the process of towing or repairing your vehicle. Still, on the towing preparation, don't forget to take a few pictures of your car. For instance, you can take pictures of the front and rear bumpers showing any damage.
5. Costs Involved
Whether you need your car to be towed to a nearby garage or to your home, you will certainly incur some costs. On this note, you need to evaluate the different price options that are available and then go for the one that is specific to your need. Any genuine car towing company will never hesitate to give you a free estimate of towing your car and thereafter leave you to make your own decision. Additionally, ensure that your ideal car towing company responds to emergencies promptly, has the necessary licenses, and most importantly offers affordable rates.
6. The Towing Capacity
It is crucial to understand the towing capacity needed for our vehicle. Needless to mention, different towing vehicles are manufactured to handle different towing capacities. So, never assume a given track can handle a full-size vehicle. You might be shocked when everything turns out to be a 'Mission Impossible'. Knowing the weight capacity of your car is essential to avoid car damages during the towing process.
More often than not, vehicle towing is associated with some kind of trouble. If you didn't hit something, something hit you, your car broke down, or you parked at the wrong spot. Either way, the few points above can come in handy regarding how to act when your car needs towing or is about to be towed.