Does Your Auto Insurance Cover Parade Float Towing?

Whether your auto insurance covers the towing of a parade float depends on your insurer and policy. While standard car insurance policies typically do not cover towing, some insurers may provide coverage if you're involved in a covered accident. You can also purchase roadside assistance coverage as an add-on to your policy, which often includes towing services for a specified distance. Additionally, separate trailer insurance or a specialised recreational vehicle (RV) policy may be required to cover the parade float itself.

Does roadside assistance cover towing?

Roadside assistance coverage helps drivers when their vehicle breaks down. It is an option on almost every auto insurance policy. Whether your auto insurance will cover towing depends on your insurer and policy. Roadside assistance on auto insurance policies will often provide towing, up to a certain distance specified on your policy. Not all policies will be eligible for roadside assistance, and coverage is always optional.

Roadside assistance covers battery jump-starts, lockout assistance, fuel delivery, towing, and spare tire installation. Plans may pay a portion of the service cost or cover the entire service.

Some insurance companies may cover towing if you're involved in a covered accident, even if you don't carry roadside assistance coverage. If you're involved in an accident caused by another driver, the cost of towing your vehicle may be covered under the at-fault driver's liability coverage. However, if you're found to be at fault for the accident, you may be responsible for towing expenses, depending on your coverage.

You can get roadside coverage through an auto club, auto insurance company, car manufacturer, and other types of companies.

Does auto insurance cover towing a trailer?

Whether your auto insurance covers towing a trailer depends on your insurer and policy. Generally, most auto insurance policies will provide liability coverage for a trailer you own if it is being pulled by the insured vehicle when an accident occurs. However, this can vary among different policies and in different states.

With American Family Insurance, for example, your trailer is eligible for liability coverage under your car insurance policy if it is a personal trailer designed to be towed by a motor vehicle, and if it is owned by the named insured on the towing car's auto policy, or it is attached to the towing vehicle.

For comprehensive and collision insurance on a trailer, you may need to purchase separate coverage and list the trailer on your policy. If you own the trailer outright, check with your bank to see if they require trailer insurance and the requirements of the loan.

Roadside assistance on auto insurance policies will often provide towing, up to a certain distance specified on your policy. Not all policies will be eligible for roadside assistance, and coverage is always optional. Some insurance companies may cover towing if you're involved in a covered accident, even if you don't carry roadside assistance coverage. If you are involved in an accident caused by another driver, the cost of towing your vehicle may be covered under the at-fault driver's liability coverage.

Does car insurance cover towing after an accident?

Whether your auto insurance covers towing after an accident depends on your insurer and policy. If you have roadside assistance coverage, towing is usually included, but only up to a certain distance specified in your policy. If you don't have roadside assistance, your insurance company might still cover towing if you're involved in a collision and your vehicle is undrivable. However, this depends on the specifics of your policy.

If you're involved in an accident caused by another driver, the cost of towing your vehicle will typically be covered under the at-fault driver's liability coverage. On the other hand, if you're found to be at fault for the accident, you may be responsible for the towing expenses, unless you have the right coverage.

It's important to note that roadside assistance is usually considered a claim. If you have this coverage and your car breaks down due to a non-accident-related issue, you'll need to file a claim to use it.

Additionally, your insurance company won't cover impound or lot fees if you don't retrieve your car promptly.

To ensure you're adequately covered for towing services, it's recommended to review your policy carefully or consult with your insurance provider to understand the specifics of your coverage.

Does car insurance cover impound fees?

If your car has been impounded, you will need to present the necessary documentation—including your driver's license, the vehicle's vehicle identification number, and proof of auto insurance—to get it released. You will also need to pay any towing, impound charges, and other required fees.

Whether your auto insurance will cover towing depends on your insurer and policy. Roadside assistance coverage can pay for a tow, up to a certain distance specified in your policy, if your vehicle is disabled. Your insurer might also cover the cost of towing if your vehicle is involved in a collision and you're unable to drive it. However, your auto insurance company will not cover impound or lot fees.

If your car was towed because of an accident, whether or not towing and storage fees are covered by insurance will depend on who was at fault for the accident and whether the at-fault driver has insurance. If the accident was not your fault and the at-fault driver has insurance, their insurance should cover damages to your vehicle and may cover any towing expenses. If the accident was your fault, and you have collision coverage and/or towing and storage fee coverage, you can file a claim with your insurance company.

Does auto insurance cover towing due to mechanical issues?

Whether your auto insurance covers the cost of towing depends on your insurer and policy. Most insurance companies will not cover towing due to mechanical issues unless you have roadside assistance coverage added to your policy. Roadside assistance is usually an optional coverage that you can add to your policy to cover towing, flat tire changes, and locksmith services if you're stranded on the road. It typically costs around \$5 to \$15 per car, per month.

If you have a liability-only policy, your insurance likely won't cover towing. However, if you have full coverage, your insurance may reimburse you for towing that results from a collision, but this can vary depending on your policy. Some full-coverage policies only cover towing if you have roadside assistance. Therefore, it's important to review your policy or contact your insurer directly to understand exactly what is covered.

If you don't have roadside assistance as part of your car insurance, you can purchase it from a third-party provider, such as AAA. These providers offer similar roadside services to those offered by insurance companies, and some include additional perks like trip-planning tools and discounts.

Frequently asked questions