Jeffrey Wade
Whether towing is covered by your insurance depends on the specifics of your policy. Most car insurance policies won't cover towing due to mechanical issues unless you have roadside assistance coverage added to your policy. However, 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. If your vehicle is disabled and needs to be towed, your car insurance may cover the towing costs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does insurance cover towing? | It depends on the insurance provider and the type of insurance package. |
| What factors influence whether insurance covers towing? | Whether the vehicle is disabled, whether the vehicle has been involved in an accident, the distance the vehicle needs to be towed, whether the vehicle has roadside assistance coverage, and whether the vehicle has comprehensive coverage. |
| What is roadside assistance coverage? | A type of insurance coverage that provides assistance if a vehicle is stranded on the road due to issues such as a flat tire, lost keys, or mechanical issues. |
| What is comprehensive coverage? | An optional insurance coverage that pays for damage to a vehicle not related to a collision. |
| What if the towed vehicle is not a car, such as a boat or motorcycle? | The towing vehicle's insurance will not cover the towed vehicle, and the towed vehicle will need its own separate insurance policy. |
| What if the towing vehicle is a rental truck or trailer? | The towing vehicle's insurance will not cover the towed vehicle, and the towed vehicle will need its own separate insurance policy. Trailer rental companies typically offer their own insurance for purchase. |
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What You'll Learn
Towing costs and insurance coverage
The cost of towing a car depends on several factors, including distance, the type of vehicle, and the reason for towing. On average, towing costs range from $2.50 to $7.00 per mile, with the average tow in the US being between 10 and 40 miles. However, it's important to note that not all car insurance policies cover towing costs. Whether towing is covered depends on the specific terms and conditions of your insurance contract.
Some common types of insurance coverage that may include towing are collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, and roadside assistance coverage. Collision coverage typically covers damage to your vehicle resulting from collisions with other vehicles or objects, and some policies may also include towing your car to the garage for repair. Comprehensive coverage usually covers damage caused by incidents other than collisions, such as theft, vandalism, or natural disasters, and towing may be included to get your car to a garage or return an inoperable car to the owner. Roadside assistance coverage is often offered as an optional add-on or as part of a comprehensive package, and it typically includes towing, battery jump-starts, tire changes, and locksmith assistance.
If your car insurance policy includes towing coverage, they may have a list of preferred towing providers with pre-negotiated rates that can help reduce costs. Additionally, your insurer may partially or fully cover the cost of towing, but coverage limits and deductibles may apply. It's always a good idea to call your insurance company before engaging with a towing company to understand your coverage and any potential out-of-pocket expenses.
In some cases, 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, you may be responsible for the towing expenses, depending on your insurance coverage. It's important to review your policy carefully to understand what is and isn't covered in different scenarios.
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Roadside assistance and towing
Whether your car insurance covers roadside assistance and towing depends on your insurer and policy. Some insurance companies may cover towing if you're involved in a covered accident, even if you don't have roadside assistance coverage. However, most insurance companies won't cover towing due to a mechanical issue unless you have roadside assistance coverage added to your policy.
Roadside assistance, sometimes called emergency road service coverage or towing and labour coverage, is a car insurance coverage option that covers you in case you're stranded on the road. For example, if you get a flat tire, run out of gas, or get into an accident that makes it impossible for you to keep driving. If your auto policy only includes liability coverage, it probably doesn't include roadside assistance. But if you have collision coverage and comprehensive coverage, your policy may also include roadside assistance. Collision coverage is designed to cover damage to your vehicle resulting from collisions with other vehicles or objects, while comprehensive coverage typically covers damage to your vehicle caused by incidents other than collisions, such as theft, vandalism, or natural disasters.
If your insurance doesn't offer roadside assistance, there are other ways to make sure you're covered. Some car manufacturers offer roadside assistance with a new car, usually free up to a certain amount of time or number of miles. If you purchase a used car, you may be able to get roadside assistance through the dealership, often as part of a warranty. There are also standalone roadside assistance providers, like AAA, which offers a certain amount of towing per year, depending on the coverage plan you purchase.
If you're towing a trailer or dolly with another vehicle attached to it, the towing vehicle's insurance will not cover damage to it. It's best to carry insurance coverage for each vehicle, whether it's being towed or doing the towing. Most trailer rental companies will offer their own insurance you can purchase when you rent a truck or trailer.
To see if you have towing coverage, check your policy documents or ask your insurance company or agent. The exact limitations and exclusions will depend on the terms of each policy and may differ between insurance carriers.
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Insurance for towed vehicles
If you're towing a vehicle, it's important to understand what your insurance covers and what those coverages mean. A typical car insurance policy may cover your medical expenses, bodily injury liability, and property damage liability in the event of a car accident.
Most car insurance policies won't cover towing because of a mechanical issue unless you have roadside assistance coverage added to your policy. Roadside assistance, sometimes called emergency road service coverage or towing and labor coverage, is a car insurance coverage option that covers you in case you're stranded on the road due to a flat tire, running out of gas, or getting into an accident that makes it impossible for you to keep driving. If your auto policy only includes liability coverage, then it probably doesn't include roadside assistance. However, if you have collision coverage and comprehensive coverage, your policy may also include roadside assistance. Collision and comprehensive coverage typically require you to meet an out-of-pocket deductible before the coverage kicks in. If your policy doesn't include roadside assistance, it's usually easy to add it as an optional 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. Your auto insurance company won't cover impound or lot fees, and you may only have a few days to recover your vehicle before additional fees are assessed.
In general, vehicles being towed are only covered under their own insurance policies. Any towed vehicles are not covered under the towing vehicle's policy and need separate policies. If you're towing a trailer with personal property inside, your car insurance may cover the trailer itself but not its contents. Instead, your homeowners or renters policy may cover belongings damaged inside a trailer. Your personal car insurance policy will likely not cover damage to a towing rental, like a moving truck or van, or your liability if you injure someone or damage property while driving the moving truck. Similarly, your insurance may not cover damage to a trailer that you rent even if you tow it with your personal vehicle. Most trailer rental companies offer their own insurance that you can purchase when renting a truck or trailer, which can give you peace of mind, especially if you're not used to driving a large vehicle or towing a trailer.
If you're towing a trailer or dolly with another vehicle attached, the towing vehicle's insurance will not cover damage to it. It's best to carry insurance coverage for each vehicle, whether it's being towed or doing the towing.
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Insurance for towing trailers
When it comes to insurance for towing trailers, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Firstly, it's important to understand that your car insurance policy may not automatically cover the trailer you're towing. While your liability insurance from your auto policy will likely cover any damage you cause while towing, it typically won't cover damage to the trailer itself. Therefore, you might need to purchase additional trailer coverage or add it to your existing car insurance policy.
In some cases, your car insurance coverage may extend to your trailer, but this usually only applies to liability coverages. Liability insurance will help cover costs associated with bodily injury and property damage caused by the trailer. However, it's important to note that your trailer won't be included in your liability insurance if it's unregistered, not street legal, or if you're using the wrong type of vehicle to tow it. For example, a liability claim may be denied if you overload a trailer and try to tow it with a small car.
If you want more comprehensive protection for your trailer, you may need to purchase separate trailer insurance. Trailer insurance can provide coverage for repairs to your trailer in the event of damage due to severe weather, collision, or even instances where the trailer is in storage, such as fire or flooding. Additionally, if you're using a trailer to transport personal items, you may want to consider contents coverage to protect your belongings in case of damage or loss.
It's worth mentioning that if you're renting a trailer or towing vehicle, most rental companies offer their own insurance that you can purchase. This can provide peace of mind, especially if you're not experienced in towing trailers. However, it's always a good idea to check with the rental company about their specific policies and coverage details.
Lastly, it's important to be aware of any towing regulations and requirements, as these may vary by state. For example, there may be restrictions on the dimensions of the trailer, including width, length, height, and weight. Understanding these regulations will help ensure the safety of everyone on the road and can also impact your insurance coverage in the event of an accident.
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Collision and comprehensive coverage
Collision coverage and comprehensive coverage are two different types of insurance policies that can help cover the costs of towing in certain situations.
Collision coverage pays for repairs if your car is damaged in an accident. It covers damage from accidents regardless of who was at fault. Collision coverage may also include towing costs after a collision, especially if your car is too damaged to drive. If you are at fault for the accident, collision coverage may cover towing services, depending on your policy's terms and conditions.
Comprehensive coverage, on the other hand, handles non-collision events such as theft, vandalism, and natural disasters like hail damage, floods, and storms. It can also cover towing costs in certain situations. For example, if your vehicle is rendered useless due to a natural disaster, such as needing to be towed out of floodwaters, comprehensive coverage may include the towing fees. Comprehensive coverage may also cover towing after an accident with a deer, for instance.
It is important to note that both collision and comprehensive coverage typically require you to meet an out-of-pocket deductible before the coverage kicks in. This deductible can range from $500 to $1,000. Additionally, roadside assistance, which is often included as an add-on to collision and comprehensive coverage, can provide towing services in the event of a breakdown or mechanical issue. However, this may not be included in your policy by default, and you may need to pay extra to add it on.
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Frequently asked questions
Whether towing is covered by your insurance depends on the specifics of your policy. Most car insurance policies won't cover towing because of a mechanical issue unless you have roadside assistance coverage added to your policy.
Roadside assistance coverage, sometimes called emergency road service coverage or towing and labour coverage, is a car insurance coverage option that covers you in case you're stranded on the road. This can include towing, flat tire changes, and locksmith services.
If you're towing a trailer or dolly with another vehicle attached to it, the towing vehicle's insurance will not cover damage to it. It's best to carry insurance coverage for each vehicle, no matter if it's being towed or doing the towing.
