If your car has broken down or is no longer safe to drive, the chances are you need it taken to a garage. However, if it can’t be driven, then the only option is to tow it there. Most people have no experience towing cars, which is why it’s sensible to outsource to a professional towing company. A towing company will be able to collect your car and tow it safely, ensuring it arrives in one piece. This post will explore this topic in more detail and tell you six key facts you need to know.
Finding a Company
The very first thing worth knowing is that not all towing companies are the same. Some are much better than others. What makes a towing company stand out is its speed, responsiveness, and the professionalism of its staff. A good way to determine a company’s suitability is to take a look at its reviews. The experts from one towing company in Burnaby also make clear on their site that online booking is another sign a company should be hired. Online booking means you don’t have to bother with long call times, nor do you have to sit on hold for hours. Going back to reviews for a moment, they can help you assess a towing firm’s suitability because they will give you insight into the minds of customers who’ve already worked with them.
Riding with Your Car
Most towing companies will allow you to ride with them in their truck to the garage or house you are having your vehicle moved to. Some companies will allow you to sit in your car, too. The only companies that permit this are the ones that load people’s cars onto the back of their trucks. Make sure that when the towing firm you have hired arrives, you ask them how they would prefer you to travel. If you were traveling with multiple people, some of you might need to get a taxi to the destination your car’s being towed to.
Clearing the Interior
Make sure that if your car is going to be collected from your home and towed, you clean it out. In addition to making sure it’s clean so mechanics can work on it, remove any valuables. While the employees of a towing company are extremely unlikely to attempt to steal anything from your car, the same cannot be said for the mechanics who’ll be working on it. It’s not uncommon for mechanics to take things from people’s cars that are of value. Clear your car’s interior so you don’t have to worry about this happening to you.
Towing Your Car
Most people hire towing companies to tow their cars for them. It is technically possible to do it yourself, however. If you are planning on doing it yourself, you need to make sure that you conduct a lot of research and find out how it’s supposed to be done. Attempting to tow a car when you do not know what the proper techniques are can be very dangerous. If your car detaches while you are driving it, drivers behind you could end up getting seriously injured or even killed. Also, ensure you have a specific place in mind where you want your car towed, so you don’t waste your chosen company’s time.
Speak to Insurer
If your car has broken down, speak to your insurance company first. Depending on the time of coverage your policy offers, they could arrange for your car to be towed or reimburse fees incurred back to you. It is a very good idea to get breakdown coverage, but more on that in the next section. If your car does not have breakdown coverage included as part of its existing policy, you will have to foot the bill for your car’s towing fees yourself. Find the most affordable company you can if you are going to be the one paying.
Breakdown Cover
Finally, if you do not already have a breakdown cover, now’s the time to get it. Breakdown cover ensures that in the event your car breaks down, you don’t have to worry about paying any of the bills incurred as a consequence of its breakdown. For example, your insurance company will pay for your car to be towed and give you a replacement vehicle to drive in the interim between your car’s breakdown and its repair. Breakdown cover is not usually a lot of money, so definitely look into it.
If you are towing a vehicle, consider the points mentioned here. They will help you to get a better idea of what you are supposed to do and make it easier for you to find a reliable towing company to work with.