Having your car towed is both a relief — someone's taking you somewhere where you can get help — and a worrying event. Now you have car issues to deal with, and if you're in an unfamiliar area, you have to figure out where to take the car. Calling a tow truck is simple, but you do need to be aware of what it entails if you have never had your car towed before.
Charges Based on Distance
If this is the first time you've had your car towed, be prepared for the charges to be based on distance. You'll get up to a set number of kilometres for one price, and then usually a per-kilometre charge after that, or a charge per blocks of kilometres. This can be a shock to people, and if you think you won't have enough money, call the towing company anyway and see what they can work out. You're not going to be the first person to be in that situation.
Taking Your Car to a Mechanic or to Your Home
You have a choice when the tow truck driver gets ready to tow your car: Do you take the car straight to a mechanic or to your home instead? Some companies will be nice and take the car to a mechanic and then drop you off at home, if needed, but you should be prepared to make a choice between the two when you call. It's generally easier to bring the car to the mechanic during business hours and bring it home after hours. After all, you can have the car towed again to the mechanic the next morning, and you won't have to leave your car key in any dropboxes overnight like you would if you had the car towed to a mechanic after hours.
Towing May or May Not Include Roadside Service
With the proliferation of motoring clubs like AAA and roadside assistance services through car manufacturers, it's easy to assume that calling a tow truck outside of these services will also get you the same amount of potential service. It really depends on the tow truck company. One that's also contracted with AAA or another roadside assistance service could bring you petrol, help you with your battery, and help you with other minor mechanical issues. One that handles only towing will not be able to. So, if you think the problem is something that could be fixed in less than a minute, such as a battery issue, you'll want to be sure the tow truck driver can provide roadside assistance services, too.
Regardless of roadside assistance, at the very least, the tow truck will be able to take you and your car somewhere safe. That's the most important thing when you're stuck on the side of the road. For more information on towing, contact a professional near you.
