If you have recently signed up for accident and breakdown coverage, you may be planning on what you will do if your car breaks down. While many people have clear plans on the immediate steps they will take following an accident or breakdown, fewer people consider where they will have their vehicle towed to once the crew have arrived to rescue them. This article explains some of the options available to you. Read on to find out more.
Repair shop
If the car is no longer road-worthy, it is probably best to have it towed to a repair shop. You will need to check out the terms and conditions of your recovery policy. Some policies only cover recovery to destinations within a certain radius of the pick-up point. For example, a policy may state that the tow truck will transport the car to a repair shop within 15 miles of the point of pick-up. This can limit the number of repair shops which are available to you. If you wish for the vehicle to be transported to a repair shop outside of the area covered, you will need to pay an additional fee to cover this cost. The size of the fee will depend on the rates offered by the recovery company and the additional distance they will need to travel.
Home
If you are near to your home when the accident or breakdown occurs, you can opt to have the car towed to your residence. This can be useful if your car has received damage such as a damaged tyre or leaking radiator which can be fixed without the need to see a mechanic. Even if your car has undergone more serious damage, a tow home can get your car to safety until you have time to make some enquires at your preferred repair centre rather than using the nearest mechanic's shop.
Safe location
If you have broken down on the highway and your policy does not cover the cost of towing the vehicle to a repair shop or to your home, you may wish to ask the crew to tow your car to a safe location. For example, you could be towed off the highway to a local rest stop where your vehicle will not pose a danger to other road users. This is a good option if your car has an issue which can be fixed by a roadside service as you will not need to pay to be towed a longer distance.
To find out more, contact a towing service today.
