How Do I Prepare My Car For Towing?

Most people have never had to tow their cars before. However, if you are unfortunate enough to be driving down the street and see your engine smoking or flames coming out of the hood, you should know what to do to get out of the situation unharmed. But where do you start? This article discusses how to prepare your vehicle for towing services.

Consider your towing options

When it comes to tow trucks, there are two options you can take. The first option is the flatbed truck which takes up most of the street and offers no protection for your car or its contents. On the other hand, a rollback truck has an angled bed that tilts away from your vehicle so that it does not get damaged and the contents remain safe. It is up to you to decide which option you prefer.

Find the right towing service

Before you call for a tow vehicle, you should find the right towing service. Most companies offer free quotes, so if they ask for money upfront, they’re most likely not reputable. You can also ask friends and family members or co-workers for personal recommendations for any company that has towed their cars before with exemplary service. When calling around for prices, make sure you call at least three different companies to get an idea of what type of price range you are dealing with.

Make sure your car is ready to go

If you are going to have your car towed, you need to make sure that everything will go as planned. If you have a flat tire, fix it up before calling for assistance to make the towing process easier. This is something your towing provider will be able to help you with in case you’re not familiar with how to change a tire. Make sure to let them know ahead of time. Another thing to consider is whether you have gasoline in your car. If so, remember to turn your car off completely; otherwise, it can catch fire during transport and cause an unnecessary accident on top of being very inconvenient at best.

Put your car in park or neutral gear

If you have a manual transmission vehicle, make sure your car is in park or neutral gear. Some vehicles also need to be pushed back, so you want to find somebody else to help you do this before the tow truck arrives. If you have an automatic transmission, turn on the emergency brake and make sure that the tires are pressed firmly against the curb. You should also turn off your headlights unless you don’t mind spending extra money on battery power during transport.

Turn off the engine and remove the key from the ignition

As soon as you see the tow vehicle, turn off your engine and remove the key from the ignition. Ensure that all passengers are out of the vehicle before the towing begins because it is considered a crime in some places to have people inside when someone is hooking cables up. Not to mention that it can result in injury.

Turn off all accessories (radio, lights, etc.), and close all windows

The best way to protect your car’s electrical system is by turning off all accessories such as the radio and brake lights and closing all windows. You don’t want any damage done to these things in transit because it can be costly, especially if you are not planning to do any repairs.

Be mindful of the weather and road conditions

If it is raining or snowing, you might want to consider moving your car off of a busy street as soon as possible. This is because such weather attracts accidents, and leaving your vehicle on the road puts in a sure collision course.

Make sure that your car is off of the road and in a safe location

If you are considering calling a towing service, it’s essential to park your vehicle somewhere where there aren’t any obstacles. This not only means away from other vehicles but also trees or buildings. This will allow easier and safer access to your towing provider. If you need to move your car in the meantime, ensure that it’s parked somewhere away from traffic and busy intersections.

Take pictures of your vehicle for insurance purposes

Give yourself some peace of mind by taking photos or videos before having your vehicle towed so you can document everything about its appearance when it’s not working. You can then give these photos or videos to your insurance provider to help you out in case of any theft or vandalism during transport, which is very common, unfortunately.

Remove all your valuables

It’s a good idea to remove all your valuables when someone moves your car to prevent any theft cases. If you can’t take these things with you, try to keep everything hidden from plain sight. You can keep anything of value locked up in the trunk before transporting because thieves will take advantage of the opportunity when it arises. Most towing providers have a secure lot, but be sure to ask before hand.

Call Us Today!

Don’t just call any service provider to have your car towed. Call the best in town because you deserve nothing but that! At Fife Service and Towing, we will do whatever it takes to help you out when you need help with transportation or emergency roadside assistance services. Just call any of our dispatchers and leave the rest to us!