When you’re standing at the side of a road in the dark, waiting for a tow truck to arrive, you’re probably more likely to feel relief than anything else, but even though most tow truck operators are honest folks, there are some whose sole purpose seems to be to cheat either you or your car insurance company. These are the people who engage in one or more of the followng:
- They monitor emergency scanners and then race to accident scenes to get the tow job before assistance can be requested.
- They may tow your car without telling you where you can find it, costing you significant storage fees.
- They may pressure you to use a specific body shop, where they may either get a kickback, or will steal parts from your car.
- Some even work with less-than-scrupulous attorney, mechanics and doctors to file either false or inflated insurance claims.
While the tow-truck industry is regulated on the state and local level, laws vary from place to place. Even so, dishonest behavior does happen. Here are some tips to help you avoid being the victim of such a scam.
- BE AWARE: Always verify that the truck driver who arrives was sent by your insurance company’s roadside assistance program, or whatever car service you called. Dishonest drivers will claim to be sent by your insurer and rush to tow away your car before the right company arrives. Before you let anyone touch your car, get the name, address, and phone number of the towing company, and be wary about doing business with any company that doesn’t display their name on their trucks.
- GATHER INFORMATION: Before your car leaves your possession, find out where it’s being taken, how far away the storage lot is, and what the storage fees are. You’ll also want to know when storage fees begin, and whether they increase over time. Some companies begin charging fees upon the arrival of the car, while others don’t charge til the first full day in storage.
- CHECK THE DAMAGE: Before your car is towed, do a circuit of the car, with the tow truck operator, and complete a physical assessment of the vehicle. Don’t let them leave until you have a copy of the damage report in your hands.
- BE STRONG: Don’t let any tow truck driver pressure you into taking your car to a particular body shop or sign anything agreeing to prepayment of fees. Also, trust your instincts. If you don’t feel comfortable with the driver who arrives, call another company for assistance.
While these tips all help you deal with a tow truck operator in the moment, the best thing you can do is be prepared. If you’re going on a long trip, and don’t have roadside assistance from your auto insurer, consider joining an organization like AAA – it’s not that expensive. Alternatively, get recommendations for local tow truck drivers in the area where you’ll be, before you leave home. It can never hurt to do some prep-work before a trip, and knowing whom to call is as important as making sure you have air in your tires, and a flashlight in the trunk.