Yes, your car insurance policy may cover the cost of towing your vehicle and storage after it is damaged. However, you need to know that the specs will depend on what happened during the accident, who’s at fault, and the coverage you chose.
Towing and storage fees after an accident can be pricey, but auto insurance might help cover these costs. Here’s a clear look at how insurance can handle towing and storage expenses.
How Does Car Insurance Cover Towing?
Just as I have mentioned above, your insurance can cover these costs, but it will depend on your policy. Here’s how towing and storage coverage works after an accident:
- Roadside Assistance: This helps with things like towing, battery jumps, or running out of gas.
- Comprehensive Coverage: If something like hitting a deer damages your car, this coverage can help to pay for towing of the vehicle.
- Collision Coverage: This covers towing costs if the accident is covered by your policy.
- Liability Coverage: If someone else causes the accident and your vehicle is damaged, their insurance should cover your towing costs.
Keep in mind that some certain insurers require you to have comprehensive or collision coverage before you will be able to add the towing coverage to your policy. Also, towing may be reimbursed after you pay for it upfront, with possible limits on the amount reimbursed, sometimes as low as $50.
Benefits of Towing Coverage
• Peace of mind
With towing coverage, you can relax knowing help is just a call away if you are stranded while traveling or going to an important destination. It’s a reliable safety net that ensures you’re never alone during a roadside emergency, no matter where you are.
• Cost savings
Towing can be pricey if you pay out of pocket. Having the coverage for the towing service helps you avoid these unforeseen costs. And this makes vehicle ownership more affordable by reducing the financial impact of breakdowns and emergencies.
• Convenience
Towing coverage simplifies things by handling the logistics of arranging assistance. You don’t have to hunt for a towing service; just call your insurance provider, and they’ll take care of the rest, easing the stress of breakdowns.
• 24/7 availability
Most plans that offer towing service coverage provide round-the-clock help, so you’re covered anytime, day or night. Whether it’s a late-night breakdown or a daytime issue, you can count on support being available whenever you are in need of it.
• Versatility
Towing coverage often includes additional services like jump-starts, fuel delivery, and tire changes. This versatility means you are always ready for any type of problem that occurs on the road. Whether it’s a dead battery or a flat tire, you don’t need to be scared or anything.
Will I Have to Pay Extra for Roadside Assistance?
Roadside assistance isn’t just for accidents; it also helps with breakdowns, flat tires, and other car issues. And the best part is that it often includes towing, which might be part of your normal standard auto insurance or an optional add-on.
Roadside assistance can cover more than just towing, like refueling or jump-starting your battery. It’s a popular add-on because it is always very cheap, often costing between $5 and $15 a month.
What Towing and Storage Fees Do I have to pay?
Even with insurance coverage, you might still have to pay some out-of-pocket costs for towing and storage. Here’s what you might need to pay:
- Towing charges beyond mileage or cost limits.
- Storage fees if your car stays beyond the covered time.
- Costs if you’re at fault for the accident.
- Any fees for accidents where you don’t have comprehensive coverage, like just liability.
Knowing these costs can help you be prepared if you have to be responsible for this portion in the future. On average, a tow costs about $109, with rates ranging from $2.50 to $7 per mile. Storage fees can add up quickly, averaging $450 for five to six days at a tow yard or repair shop.
Bottom Line
After an accident, your insurance might cover some towing and storage costs, depending on your policy. Check your coverage to find out what’s included. If you’re looking for better auto insurance with more comprehensive towing and storage coverage, you can look for comparison tool tools online that can help.
These comparison tools can quickly compare quotes from more than 40 top insurers, so you can see how different policies stack up against your current one and find potential savings. By comparing quotes from multiple providers, you can find a policy that meets your needs and possibly save money while ensuring you’re adequately protected for any roadside emergencies.
