How Towing Bills Are Covered By Car Insurance After Accidents
Towing bills can be extremely costly, especially when a vehicle needs to be towed from the scene of an accident. An average tow bill can easily be a few hundred dollars, and many drivers wonder if they can be reimbursed through their car insurance. Accidents can mean big bills for all parties involved, and it's certainly worth the time to investigate every aspect of a driver's car insurance coverage in order to ensure the best possible payout. The good news is that many drivers can quickly get assistance with towing bills, provided that they understand how their insurance policies work and that they make a claim in a timely manner.
When towing is related to an accident, it will usually be covered under a standard car insurance policy. It's considered a reasonable and necessary cost of an accident, so drivers with collision coverage usually won't have to pay for the cost of towing their own vehicles. Likewise, drivers with liability coverage will be reimbursed for the cost of towing other drivers' vehicles, depending on how fault is sorted out after the accident has been reported. Drivers should contact their insurance companies to check whether these costs will be reimbursed, preferably before an accident takes place, but the good news is that towing bills are covered in most states.
However, drivers will need to follow the correct procedure for submitting a towing claim after an accident. Like other car insurance claims, towing bills are usually reimbursed by the insurance company after the accident. Usually, a driver will need to pay for a tow in cash in order to get his or her vehicle back, and in some cases, the driver may also have to pay for the vehicle to be towed to a repair yard or another location where the vehicle's damage can be assessed. Drivers can then submit the receipt for the towing and storage to their insurance providers, who will pay reasonable costs. It's important to ask for a receipt and to fax this in to an insurance provider as soon as possible to improve the chances of receiving quick payment.
Towing that isn't related to an accident won't be covered by an insurance provider unless the driver has roadside assistance coverage, which costs a few extra dollars per month and adds coverage for things like towing, water delivery and other services. This is a separate type of car insurance. Accidents are always covered under other coverages, but a roadside assistance program can be worth the money for drivers who want to stay protected from the potential costs of a tow.
