Different car insurance companies don’t cover everything the same way, but a lot of them do cover towing. Does yours?.
You should feel lucky if you drive a car in the US today and haven’t had to call a tow truck yet. It is thought that 55,000 cars are towed every day in the US. This number will only keep going up since the average US car is over 12 years old!
People call tow services for many reasons, but the most common ones are accidents, breakdowns, mechanical problems, and, more and more, computer and electrical problems. It’s a common experience for many drivers at some point in their car ownership.
One thing that not many people know is if their car insurance covers towing if their car breaks down.
If your car breaks down or is involved in an accident, you may need towing services to get it to a repair shop or off the road This can easily cost over $100 for just a few miles of towing Naturally, many drivers wonder if their full coverage auto insurance policies will cover the cost of towing.
Unfortunately, basic full coverage insurance does not automatically include towing coverage. However, there are three ways you can get towing covered under your full coverage car insurance policy:
- Add roadside assistance coverage
- Have collision and comprehensive coverage
- Get towing coverage through an auto club membership or credit card benefits
Let’s take a closer look at how each of these options can cover towing costs and help you avoid expensive towing bills.
What is Full Coverage Car Insurance?
First, what exactly constitutes “full coverage” auto insurance? Full coverage is a term used to describe a policy bundle with more than just basic state-required liability coverage.
Full coverage auto policies usually include:
- Liability insurance (required in most states)
- Comprehensive insurance
- Collision insurance
Liability coverage pays for damage you cause to others comprehensive covers damage from incidents like theft or vandalism, and collision covers damage from accidents.
Full coverage may also include additional options like:
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
- Medical payments coverage
- Personal injury protection
- Rental reimbursement coverage
But standard full coverage policies do not include extras like roadside assistance or towing coverage. Those must be added separately.
Add Roadside Assistance to Your Full Coverage Policy
One of the easiest ways to get towing covered through your full coverage auto insurance is to add roadside assistance coverage. This can either be purchased as an add-on through your insurer or obtained separately through an auto club like AAA.
Roadside assistance through your insurance company provides services like:
- Towing – Up to 15 miles, sometimes more for an additional fee
- Tire changes – For flats and blowouts
- Jump starts – For dead batteries
- Lockout service – If you lock your keys in the car
- Fuel delivery – If you run out of gas
The specifics of what is covered and the mileage limits can vary between insurance providers. Progressive, Geico, and State Farm are some insurers that offer competitively priced roadside assistance add-ons.
When purchasing roadside assistance from your insurance company, there are a few key factors to consider:
- Cost – Typically $10-$20 per 6 month policy term
- Miles covered – Usually at least 15 miles of free towing
- Other services – Like jump starts, tire changes, lockout help
Adding roadside assistance is an excellent way to gain peace of mind that you’ll have help if your car breaks down or is in a minor accident within a certain distance from home.
Use Collision and Comprehensive Coverage for Accident-Related Towing
Another way full coverage auto policies can provide towing is through collision and comprehensive coverage in the event of an accident or covered peril.
For example, if you are in an accident that is your fault and you have collision insurance, your insurer will likely cover the reasonable cost of towing your vehicle to a repair shop. The same goes for comprehensive claims like vandalism, theft, or storm damage.
However, there are a few caveats to be aware of when relying on collision and comprehensive for towing:
- Accident must be covered – At-fault accidents may not be covered
- Distance limits may apply – More than a few miles may incur fees
- Only covers towing to a repair shop, not all breakdowns
While collision and comprehensive provide some protection for accident-related towing, having dedicated roadside assistance coverage gives you more flexibility and mileage when your car needs a tow.
Use Auto Club or Credit Card Benefits
Many drivers today are members of auto clubs like AAA that provide their own roadside assistance and towing coverage. Others have credit cards that offer similar benefits as part of their rewards programs.
AAA, for example, offers members:
- Towing – Up to 5-7 miles, with additional mileage for a fee
- Tire changes
- Jump starts
- Lockout service
And certain premium credit cards provide services like:
- Towing – Up to 5-15 miles depending on card
- Flat tire assistance
- Winch service
- Battery jumps
The amount of free mileage and exact services vary between auto clubs and credit card reward programs. But they can be an alternative if you don’t want to purchase roadside assistance through your insurer. Just be sure to understand the coverage limits.
Should You Get a Separate Towing Policy?
Some drivers consider getting a standalone towing insurance policy through a company that specializes specifically in roadside assistance and towing. However, this is usually not necessary if you already have coverage through one of the options above.
Dedicated towing insurance tends to be more expensive than adding roadside assistance to your auto policy or utilizing an auto club membership you already have. And towing policies may not provide extras like jump starts, tire changes, and lockout service.
In most cases, it makes more sense to get towing coverage through your full coverage insurance provider or auto club. But a separate policy may make sense if you need coverage across multiple vehicles and frequent long distance towing.
How Much Does Towing Typically Cost?
To understand why towing coverage is important, it helps to have an idea of typical towing costs:
- Basic hookup fee – $50-$100 in most areas
- Towing per mile – $3-$7 per mile depending on distance
- After hours fees – Extra $20-$50 for nights and weekends
- Storage fees – If car is kept at tow yard overnight
A tow of just a few miles can easily cost over $100. Longer distances of 10-15 miles may cost $200 or more. Plus you’ll need to pay gate fees and daily storage if your car is not retrieved quickly.
Having towing coverage through your insurance or auto club helps defray these expenses. Just be sure to understand mileage limits and when additional fees may apply.
Key Takeaways on Insurance and Towing Coverage
To wrap up, here are some key points to remember:
- Standard full coverage insurance does not include towing
- Add roadside assistance to get guaranteed towing miles
- Use collision/comprehensive for accident-related towing
- Auto clubs and credit cards also provide tow benefits
- Towing can cost $100+ for just a few miles
- Know your mileage limits to avoid surprise fees
Don’t get stuck with an expensive towing bill. Talk to your insurance agent about adding supplemental roadside assistance to your policy. And review what options you may already have through auto club memberships or credit card benefits. With the right coverage, you can get peace of mind that towing costs will be covered in an emergency.
How much does towing cost?
The cost of towing a car ultimately depends on how far it needs to be towed. As a rough estimate, towing costs typically range from $2.50 to $7.00 per mile, and the average tow in the US is between 10 and 40 miles. Do the math, and it adds up. According to Quicktow, the average towing cost in the US is $109.
But those are just averages. There are a lot of other factors that can influence towing costs, including:
- Distance: Longer distances usually mean higher tow fees because the tow truck driver has to spend more time and money on gas.
- The type of car you have, its size, weight, and condition are also important. Larger vehicles, like SUVs or pickup trucks, may cost more to tow because they need special tools or more work.
- Time of Day: Towing services that are needed in an emergency, overnight, or after hours may cost more.
- Location: Not only does the distance of your car’s location matter, but towing in cities or areas with a lot of traffic may cost more because of higher demand and more difficult logistics.
- Problem: If your car can’t move or is hard to get to, like if it’s stuck in a ditch, in mud or ice, or off-road, you may need to be winched, which can make the cost of towing go through the roof.
- Extra Services: Along with a tow, some tow companies offer roadside assistance, lockout assistance, and tire changes. Others will offer these services separately at an additional cost.
Tips for managing towing costs
If towing is covered by your car insurance, the company may have a list of preferred tow companies with discounted rates that can help you save money on tows.
Additionally, your insurer may partially or fully cover the cost of towing. There may be limits on your coverage, though, so it’s a good idea to call your insurance company before calling a tow company.
Here are some other tips for managing automobile towing costs:
- You should compare local tow companies before you need a tow, of course. Get general quotes and contact information for tow services you can rely on if you usually drive in your area. Ask for the per-mile rate and service area limitations. Find companies with a good reputation, clear pricing, and good customer reviews.
- Ask for Quotes: Before agreeing to tow services, ask several tow companies for quotes. This is why you should do the step above before you need to. Doing research ahead of time can keep you from being ripped off and charged too much when you need help right away.
- Communicate clearly: When you call for tow services, be sure to give accurate information about where you are, including cross-streets or mile markers, as well as information about your car’s condition, whether it starts, and so on. Clear communication can help keep things from going wrong, pick-up times being pushed back, and extra fees being added.
- Prepare: Keep jumper cables, a spare tire, and a basic toolkit in your car in case you need emergency roadside assistance. Cars that get regular maintenance are also less likely to break down and need to be towed.
- Know Your Rights: If you think a tow company overcharged you or treated you unfairly, don’t be afraid to file a complaint with the right people. The Department of Consumer Affairs in your city or state is a good place to begin.
Does Car Insurance Cover Towing?
FAQ
What does towing mean in car insurance?
In which of the following situations would the insured not collect on the automobile insurance towing and labor coverage?
How many times can you use roadside assistance Progressive?
What is the basic limit for towing and labor costs if added as an endorsement on a personal auto policy?