If you’ve ever had your car towed, you probably know that it’s a pretty painful experience. Whether you get in a fender-bender, have a breakdown on the road, or unknowingly park in a restricted area, having your car taken away by a tow truck usually signals bad news.
When you have the misfortune of losing your car to a tow truck, the process of getting your car back can be irritating and expensive. But the circumstances of your tow impact the process quite dramatically.
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Here are the differences between consent and non-consent tows:
Consent Tow (Voluntary Tow)
A consent tow happens when the vehicle owner or operator agrees to have their vehicle towed.
Common examples include:
- You call a towing company after your car breaks down.
- You request a tow truck after an accident.
- Law enforcement or your insurance asks for your permission to tow your car.
Insurance Implications:
- Tows are covered by most auto policies, especially if you have roadside assistance or towing coverage.
- You choose the towing company, so you have more control over cost and destination.
- Less likely to have disputes over towing or storage charges.
Non-Consent Tow (Involuntary Tow)
A non-consent tow happens without the vehicle owner’s permission.
Examples include:
- Towing from private property (like apartment complexes, businesses, etc.) due to parking violations.
- Towing by law enforcement after a crash, arrest, or abandonment.
- Illegal parking or obstruction of traffic/public space.
Insurance Implications:
- Usually not covered by standard insurance policies unless it’s part of a covered claim (like if your car is impounded after a crash and you were not at fault).
- Towing and storage fees can be high and are set by the towing company or city regulations.
- You may be on the hook for costs, even if you feel the tow was unjustified—though you can sometimes dispute it through local authorities.
Tips for being towed
- Always ask who is authorizing the tow and where your car is going.
- Get a receipt or another form of documentation as soon as you can.
- If you’re involved in an accident, ask your insurance if they can arrange towing directly to avoid unexpected charges.
- If your car was non-consent towed, and you believe the tow was illegal or predatory in nature, contact your city or state towing regulatory body.
- If you were towed from an apartment complex, contact the leasing office for tow company information. If you believe you were towed unjustly, ask them to explain their towing policy.
