Getting in a car crash, or having your vehicle unexpectedly break down at the side of a road is a very stressful situation to be in. You might find yourself confused about getting your vehicle to safety so it can be fixed without moving it yourself if you’ve never been in that situation before. Everyone knows that when you can’t move a vehicle on your own, you should call a tow truck for roadside assistance, but you shouldn’t just call a tow truck without being prepared first. If you’ve never heard about the steps you need to take before calling a tow truck, don’t worry, we’ve put together a list of the top tips to help you out! 

#1: Make sure you’re calling the right towing service 

There are random towing companies everywhere, and not all of them are going to be qualified to properly tow your car. Remember, your car is expensive, and even if it’s in a bad condition, you still need to be sure that you’re leaving it in good hands. Call Towing Brooklyn, or a highly rated towing company in the area you’re stranded in so you can be sure that everything goes smoothly, and your car is returned to you safely. 

#2: Ask them their price quote 

Nothing says “shady company”, like being secretive about being what they charge. Scamming companies will come to you without disclosing their charges and then over charge you when they get there. At that point, it may be too difficult to get rid of them, so it’s better if you start with the right company instead!

#3: Take pictures of your vehicle 

Before the tow truck arrives, make sure that you’ve thoroughly documented the condition your car was in when you were handing it over to them. Do this even if you’re going to be driving right behind them. 

#4: Ask them about their towing methods 

When you call the towing company, ask them if they use the hook-and-chain method, or a flatbed for towing vehicles. Although a hook-and-chain does get the job done, it can cause damage to your car in the process of being hooked on. A flatbed is a lot safer and will prevent your car from getting any further damage. So it’s better if you can find a company that has that available, instead of having to make do with whatever they’ve got when the truck arrives. 

#5: Ask them where they’ll tow the car to 

A lot of people get their car towed and assume that it’s going to be an easy pick up or that the towing company will just drop the car over wherever they’re asked to, but that’s usually not the case. Most towing companies have their own lot that they take the vehicles to, and the owners have to pick them up from there. Others will let you pick the location instead. Call the towing company that will let you choose the option so you end up having the easiest time with the pickup.

#6: Sign all the paperwork after reading it  

A legit towing company will give you paperwork and will lay out all the details before they tow the car. The more transparent a company is, the safer your vehicle will be with them. You should also be able to read the paperwork and sign it before you hand them the vehicle over. If a company isn’t letting you sign anything before that, it’s better to let them know you don’t want to go through with the towing and call someone else. This might be a little uncomfortable to do at first, but it’s much better to be uncomfortable for a little while, than to risk something happening to your car later on.