How to hire a towing service
Towing moves a vehicle that cannot or should not be driven — where the thing to establish before the truck arrives is the total price and exactly where it is going.
What the job usually involves
- Breakdown and accident recovery.
- Flatbed towing for all-wheel drive and low vehicles.
- Roadside assistance: jump starts, lockouts, fuel, tyre changes.
- Winching out of ditches and mud.
- Long-distance and vehicle transport.
What to ask before you agree to anything
- What is the total — hook-up fee, per mile, and any after-hours rate?
- Do I need a flatbed for this vehicle?
- Where exactly are you taking it, and can I choose?
- Do you take card?
- Is there a storage charge if it sits at your yard?
Warning signs
- No total price given before dispatch.
- A tow to a yard you did not choose, followed by daily storage fees.
- Cash only, on the roadside, with no receipt.
- A driver who arrived without being called after an accident.
Common questions
How much does a tow cost?
Usually a hook-up fee plus a per-mile rate, with extras for after-hours, winching or a flatbed. Ask for the total to your chosen destination before the truck is dispatched, and confirm they take card.
Do I need a flatbed tow?
All-wheel-drive vehicles, cars with very low clearance, and vehicles with drivetrain damage generally need a flatbed to avoid further damage. Tell the dispatcher the make, model and drivetrain when you call.
Can I choose where my car gets towed?
When you are the one calling, yes — say the destination up front. After an accident, be careful about a driver who arrived uninvited, because vehicles towed to an unfamiliar yard can accumulate storage fees quickly.
How does Region Beacon work for towing companies?
You describe the job once. The first nearby business that takes it gets your details and contacts you; nobody else does. You deal with whoever you pick directly, and you pay them directly — Region Beacon never handles the money and takes no commission, so nothing is added to your price for using it.
How do I know if a towing service's quote is fair?
Get more than one. A single quote tells you what one business charges; three tell you what the job is worth where you live. Ask each for the same scope in writing, and treat a quote far below the others as probably missing something rather than a bargain.
Get quotes from towing services near you
Describe the job once and the first nearby business to take it contacts you. Only that one gets your details, no commission is added, and your details are not sold on to anyone.