A Guide to Choosing the Right Vehicle Transport Company

Whether you drove a new car off of the car lot yesterday or you have been driving the same car for 20 years, you should always have the name of a good towing company saved into your phone or otherwise easily accessible. Otherwise, you might find yourself in a broken down car, on the side of the road frantically trying to find any vehicle transport company who can send out a truck.

Since that situation is probably not the way you would prefer to solve the problem, it is a good idea to pre-screen the local towing companies so that when you do need a tow, you have someone to trust. The following advice will help you in that screening process. 

Determine the Towing Companies That Are Closer to Your Office or Home

Although it is common practice for tow trucks to charge a base rate for picking up your vehicle, you might be surprised to learn that mileage accrues on top of that fee. Therefore, it is best to minimize how far your car will need to be towed whenever you can. Since most people spend the bulk of their time at work or home, there is a higher likelihood of your car trouble experiencing mechanical issues at or near one of those locations.

In addition, research has determined that more than three out of every four car accidents happen within 15 miles of home and more than half of accidents occur within five miles of where the driver lives.  

Therefore, since you are planning ahead, you should make a list of the different tow trucks that are closest to your work or your home in order to minimize the towing costs. As part of that, it might also help you to find a good mechanic and body shop near your home to further reduce your out-of-pocket costs if the need to tow your vehicle to one of those facilities arises.

Verify How Long the Company Has Been an Business 

Since you are finding a towing company before you actually need it, the last thing you want is to call them up in a few months to find out that the business has shut down. Although no company is impervious to financial challenges or owners deciding to retire, there is often a smaller chance of them doing so if they have been established in the community for some time. As a result, it's often a better idea to hire an established company in lieu of the newer facility that fewer people might be familiar with. 

As part of your preparation for a tow, you might also want to call the facilities that you have pre-selected to verify that the location is still open, if their prices are still the same and other important details. 

In conclusion, choosing the right towing company doesn't have to be a stressful experience. Therefore, it pays to plan ahead for the tow you hope you will never need, by applying the above tips when you're pre-screening the different towing companies in your area.   

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