Even though it would be ideal, we will probably never need to do more than a weekly car wash. You will eventually need to spend money on your car in addition to your monthly payments and insurance premiums.
While routine maintenance can considerably lower the likelihood of a mechanical problem, you will eventually have to deal with an unexpected breakdown that will necessitate having your automobile towed to a repair facility. How much does it cost to tow a car? It’s a fact that almost every driver must ultimately face.
An overview of towing expenses
Our autos frequently have unexpected breakdowns. For this reason, it’s crucial to get a rough estimate of the cost of transporting your car safely to a repair facility.
Every towing operation will provide its own set of difficulties that will necessitate the use of unique equipment and strategies to transport your car to its desired location. It can be challenging to provide a precise estimate without first assessing the circumstances.
One of the services a towing firm provides is:
- gas is delivered to the client’s location
- launching a vehicle
- replacement of tyres
- moving a stationary vehicle
- rescuing a stranded car
Regardless of the circumstance, the first thing you should do is see if the towing costs are covered by your insurance policy. If they are, you will be able to have your car relocated without paying any additional costs. However, it’s important to take into account how the following elements may affect your towing charges if you’re one of the unlucky drivers whose policy doesn’t cover towing.
The average cost of towing
How far a car needs to be transported ultimately determines how much it will cost to tow. Although prices may vary, you should plan to pay between €2.51 and €7.11 per mile. The national average cost of a tow is roughly €119.
This price will vary depending on your car’s make and model, whether you need towing overnight, on the weekend, or on a holiday, and the sort of terrain your vehicle must traverse.
Following are the distance-based average prices:
- 5 km or less, between €35 and €125
- 41 miles: €125-€275
- Up to 111 miles for €611
Also keep in mind that compared to towing necessary after a vehicle incident, the cost of towing a broken down car is frequently substantially lower. The cost of towing a car from the scene of an accident is significantly more than the cost of standard towing.
If your car becomes stuck and you need to have it towed, there may be additional fees of between €51 and €251 involved. The usage of a winch frequently results in these extra expenses.
How is tow truck pricing determined?
There are a few things you should bear in mind when determining the cost of a tow among the many others.
Starting off, almost all towing services will charge you a hook-up or base fee, then a mile fee. The price per mile can range from €2.51 to €5, while hook-up fees might be as high as €111. Before selecting which tow company to choose, be sure to receive an accurate price breakdown to minimise any potential sticker shock. For example, some tow companies include the first five to seven miles in their base fee.
If the quotations you received seem way too expensive, you could also want to discover if the local municipal or state government has set a cap on what a towing firm is permitted to charge.
Will My Insurance Pay for the Costs of Towing?
Your choice of insurance provider will have a complete impact on the response to this inquiry. The majority of insurance providers include roadside assistance as an optional benefit in their insurance plans. However, these costs are often not covered by the standard cost of an auto insurance plan and must be purchased separately. Let’s say you’re unsure if towing is covered by your insurance. In that scenario, you should get in touch with your insurance provider right away to find out if roadside help is a benefit that is covered by your policy.
Verify the mileage or cost cap if the roadside assistance coverage in your insurance policy covers it. Keeping in mind that your insurance provider might only reimburse you for roadside assistance expenses up to a certain distance or dollar amount can be helpful.
How to Prevent Tow Truck Price Hiking
Some businesses can be considered predatory if they try to profit from your predicament by charging you excessively expensive towing fees. Unsavory businesses that are aware that you are in a rush or desperate may try to take advantage of helpless drivers. These service providers might make the argument that they don’t have a set pricing structure and try to charge you whatever they like.
In light of this, it’s a good idea to speak with a towing firm in advance or request a reputable reference from your regular maintenance dealer. It would be helpful to get in touch with a reputable towing company, especially if you find yourself in a precarious scenario.
Summary
Although no motorist ever wants to contact a tow truck, being well-informed on the matter can help you avoid having to do so and can also help you save money. Even if you get up stuck on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere, you’ll know how to contact a reliable towing company to help you get to where you need to go.