5 Answers You Need Before Calling a Tow Truck Service

Towing Calgary

Chances are, you are going to have to call a tow truck service once in a while.

No matter how well you look after your vehicle, things happen beyond your control. Being prepared with the answers to these 5 questions helps the towing company give you their best service…and also minimizes your frustration, keeping your towing experience as pleasant as possible.

TOP TIP: Keep a pad of paper and a working pen inside your car. Old-fashioned? Could be, but you might find it handy in these situations.

Here are the 5 questions you will be asked by the towing company.

What is your location?

Seems obvious, right? They can't get to you if they don't know where you are.

Yet, you'd be surprised how often we can't describe exactly where we are, especially if we are on an unfamiliar route.

Fortunately, GPS can help us out. If your vehicle has a GPS tracker installed, great. Use that. If not, no problem. Just use the location of the same mobile phone you are using to call the towing company.

Write down your location. You can send a GPS pin if your towing company number is a mobile number or text-enabled. If not, you will need to tell them in words.

The next two questions help the towing company send the right equipment for the job.

What is the make/model of your car?

For those who do not know the make/model by heart, and many of us do not by the way, it is written on the annual car registration certificate and/or car insurance document of your car. Since you should have those documents on you while driving your vehicle, you will have this information at hand.

What is the condition of your car?

Now, make a good assessment of your car's condition including:

• Are all the tires inflated? If not, which ones are flat?
• Do all the doors open? If not, which ones are unusable at the moment?
• Is anything smoking or leaking? You may not know exactly why, but you can get a rough idea of where, right?
• What about dents? Are they slight, deep, and where are they located?
• Have a look at the windscreen and windows. Are they all intact? If not, are there just cracks or are some smashed?

All this information will help make sure your vehicle does not get further damaged while being towed.

Can we have some insurance details?

To understand how to organize your payment, the towing company may need some information, such as the name of your car insurers and your policy number. If you have previously used a towing company with this same insurer, it will be helpful to explain how payment was done in that case.

Where would you like the car towed?

Another seemingly obvious answer, and yet, it is not always straightforward.

If you are close enough to your usual mechanic or garage, then your car will be towed there. What if you are not?

If you are far from your usual repair facility, call your car insurers and ask their advice. They should be able to suggest a reliable mechanic or garage nearby.

BEWARE of towing companies that suggest repair facilities. This is one of the ways fraud and scams take place: higher charges, lower quality work, kickbacks between tower and repairer, etc.

All set with your answers? Now make your call.

In the Calgary area?

Contact us to book Calgary's Trusted Tow Truck Service