Tow Trucks And Your Motor Insurance

When you sign up for a new car insurance policy, you will be given some documents and a sticker or two to put on your car. One of these stickers will be a DO NOT TOW sticker, with the contact details of the tow truck company that has been authorised by your insurance company on it. You need to know that it is very important for you to place that sticker on your motor vehicle.

It is true that there are a lot of towing companies around, who will normally be the first to arrive on an accident scene. It is vitally important that you do not allow any tow truck operator who is not authorised on your policy to tow your vehicle. If you do this, then your insurance company will probably not pay for the cost of the towing. Bear in mind that your insurance company will usually have a standing deal with reputable tow truck operators, who then take your vehicle to a repair shop. If you have your vehicle taken by someone whom is not authorised by your insurance company, they will not have to pay out because they will not know whether or not the vehicle sustained further damages during its transportation.

Drivers need to be wary of unscrupulous tow truck drivers. They have been known in the past to play a part in causing collisions so that they will be able to do business. Some tow truck drivers tap into police radio frequencies so that they know when and where accidents have occurred. This is not the worst case scenario though, as it has been recorded previously that tow truck drivers have placed oil on the roads near sharp corners, so that they can cause collisions. The tow truck operator will then park nearby to ensure that he is the first on the accident scene. There are some tow truck operators who will trick you into believing that your insurance company has authorised them as a tow operator over the phone. When you speak to this person on the phone who is supposed to be from your insurance company, it will seem legitimate. The truth of the matter is that the person on the phone is in cohorts with the illegitimate tow truck operator. This is why it is imperative that you call your insurance company yourself for the authorisation, if you are able to of course.

Try not to be coaxed into having your vehicle towed by just anybody. Remember that these people will be making money off your vehicle, and will do whatever it takes to get your business. They may offer a free towing service, but then the storage costs on your car in their lot can race into the thousands.

In conclusion, you need to remember how important that sticker on your vehicle is. Even if you have the phone number of your authorised tower saved on your phone, you might be injured and unable to call. The DO NOT TOW sticker on your vehicle will deter unauthorised tow truck operators, and will also display the contact number of your authorised tow truck company to anyone who is getting your vehicle removed.