What To Ask A Towing Service Before Hiring One
Imagine this: You were merely driving in one of your daily routes when your car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road. No matter how hard you try to start the engine, it doesn’t work. You try to push your car to the side of the road but to no avail. This created a traffic jam with drivers honking at you, telling you to stay out of their way. You start to stress out and begin calling the first towing service you see on your phonebook. Sure, calling the professionals might be a wise decision but doing it because you desperately need help might compromise the service you deserve. You might end up settling with a towing service which is either too pricey or doesn’t give you the service you need because you urgently needed to hire one.
Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn’t call a towing service the moment you need them; you should start scouting for options beforehand to ensure that you can get the best possible deal. Emergency situations such as accidents and car breakdowns shouldn’t push you to hire a towing company which you can’t afford. To ensure that you’ll be able to work with a towing company apt for your needs, ask them these question before hiring them:
- What is your average time of arrival?
This is the first question you should ask the towing service. You’ll need a towing service because you’re involved in an emergency, and immediate response is needed right away. A towing service which takes more than forty-five minutes to respond to the scene should be crossed off your list. Remember, the faster the towing service like fidelitytowing.com can provide, the better it can help you out.
- Can I get an estimate?
You don’t want to hire a towing company and be surprised at how expensive their fees are after they’ve towed your car. Before anything else, the estimates of a towing service should be discussed. You shouldn’t work with a towing service which can’t give you an estimate over the phone as this can be an indication of lack of trust. Don’t commit to a towing service which can’t give you clear details of how much you’re going to pay. Instead, choose a towing service which can provide you with a clear breakdown of the fees you’re going to pay. This will also help you prepare your budget during emergencies.
- Are you licensed?
You’ll be paying for a towing service that’s why you should always get your money’s worth. Working with an unlicensed towing services can mean additional expenses for you. These people might not know what they’re doing with your car, and the state might not approve their business operations in the first place. Always ask for a towing service license number and identification before working with them. If they can’t show you any, walk away from them and start looking for other choices.
- Is this service covered by my insurance?
Before saying “yes” to a towing service, it’s best that you call your insurer first. You should confirm if the towing service is covered by your insurance or not. This will save you money, and you’ll avoid paying for services which you’re entitled to in the first place.
- What types of payment do you accept?
Although this is quite obvious but you should still ask this question to the towing service. You don’t want to hire a towing service, have them respond to the scene, pay them with MasterCard, only to find out that they only accept AMEX. This can add to the stress you’re already feeling because of the emergency. Discuss this with the towing service and make sure you’re carrying their recommended mode of payment every time.
Hire The Right Service
Regardless of where you’re living right now, for sure, there are a handful of towing services. Some might offer very low prices while some might claim that they’re the best in the business. Don’t fall victims to marketing campaigns like these. Use the information from this article, take the time to know the towing service you’re eyeing to hire and make sure you work with one which can satisfy your needs. The towing service you’ll hire should provide you with hassle-free service with reasonable prices and not add stress to any of your emergencies.
Peter Short
Peter is a mechanic by trade and is dedicated to providing great services for his clients. In his spare time he enjoys writing for different sites like Fidelity Towing and sharing his knowledge of real world experience. He has two daughters and a loving wife. In his spare time he enjoys working on vehicles in his shed.