Questions to Ask Before Calling for Emergency Towing Services

Many circumstances can cause a motor vehicle to break down, including a flat tire, dead battery, overheating engine, or electrical problems. Since these misfortunes often happen unannounced, your vehicle may break down on a busy highway, requiring urgent towing.

Luckily, if you know what to do after a roadside accident, you can avoid getting into more trouble. For example, you may spend more on repairs and parts replacement if you drive a distressed vehicle to avoid towing.

Below are some things you should know before calling an auto repair shop for emergency towing services.

Is Towing Necessary? 

Before you call a tow truck, assess the issue to know if you can solve it. A deeper knowledge of the situation will help you negotiate the charges, especially repair costs. Some issues may not need towing services, while others require special attention. For example, if you have a car jack and a wrench, you don't need professional help to replace a flat tire with a spare wheel.

On the other hand, if the issue is an overheating engine, only a professional mechanic can perform a proper diagnosis and complete the required replacement.

While you can call a mechanic for roadside assistance, some problems require special tools only available at a repair shop, like vehicle lifts.

Does My Insurance Cover Roadside Troubles?

If your car insurance policy offers towing services, you can request towing services without worrying about the cost. However, since not all policies cover roadside assistance, call your insurance provider to confirm. Also, ask about the towing distance terms to avoid towing for a distance longer than your policy can cover.

What's My Location?

The first thing an auto repair technician will ask about is your location. Therefore, research your location and nearby landmarks before calling them. So, if your car breaks down on a freeway, explain the traffic direction and the nearest exit. Likewise, give the street's name and the landmark closest to your location if you are on a street.

Alternatively, pull your location from Google or Apple Maps and share it with the towing company. In addition, if you have a preferred mechanic shop where you want your vehicle dropped off, provide the shop's address to the towing company.

What Is My Car Make and Model?

Auto repair technicians expect you to know these details, but you may sometimes need time to research if you borrowed the car. These experts ask for this information to know the towing truck they need and the equipment to carry.

A mechanic may also ask additional questions, like if your car starts and the condition of the wheels.

What Payment Methods Does the Towing Company Receive?

Since a vehicle breakdown can happen when you least expect it, you may not have cash with you when it happens. Therefore, remember to consider payment methods when comparing the towing services.

Most companies with an online payment platform accept debit and credit cards and online cash wallets like PayPal.

What Is the Difference Between a Tow Truck Driver and a Wrecker?

While a tow truck driver and a wrecker drive tow vehicles, a wrecker can repair your vehicle on-site, while a tow truck driver's job is to tow the vehicle to your desired destination.

Even if you call an auto repair company due to an unpleasant situation, knowing the information to provide, like your location and your vehicle's condition, can help technicians serve you better.

At Powers Transmissions, we boast a team of highly trained and experienced technicians committed to helping our clients solve their car issues regardless of location. Contact us today to learn more about our services.