Tip #69: Getting a tow reimbursed is four steps, and the first happens at the car
Most tow reimbursements fail on paperwork, not coverage. Pay with a method that leaves a record, keep the itemized receipt, file it with your claim or roadside plan quickly, and follow up until it is paid.
Tip #69 in one line
Most tow reimbursements fail on paperwork, not coverage. Pay with a method that leaves a record, keep the itemized receipt, file it with your claim or roadside plan quickly, and follow up until it is paid.
Stuck right now? Skip the reading and call.
Call nowStep 1: Pay with a record
Pay by card or digital wallet if you can, so there is a bank record matching the receipt. If you pay cash, photograph the receipt as soon as you have it.
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Call nowStep 2: Get the right receipt
Reimbursement depends on detail. The receipt should list the company, the hook fee, the miles and per-mile rate, the pickup and drop-off addresses, the date and time, and your plate. Our itemized receipt arrives by text or email with all of that. For a roadside job, it lists the service and the flat price.
If the car was in a crash, ask the driver for the photos taken before loading and at drop-off; adjusters sometimes ask for them.
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Call nowStep 3: File it in the right place
**After a crash**, the tow is part of the vehicle damage claim: your collision coverage, or the other driver's liability coverage if they were at fault. Send the receipt to the adjuster with your claim number on it. New Jersey's PIP coverage is for injuries, so the tow does not go there.
**After a breakdown**, the tow falls under roadside or towing and labor coverage on your policy, a roadside club, a credit card benefit or a warranty. Each has its own claim form or app upload, and many have a deadline for submitting.
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Call nowStep 4: Follow up
Note the date you filed and check back if nothing arrives. If part of the amount is denied, ask which limit it ran into, mileage or dollar amount, so you know for next time. We do not bill insurers directly, but we resend a receipt any time you ask.
Reimbursement can take weeks. Keep the receipt and the claim confirmation together until the money arrives, and if you change phones or email addresses in the meantime, save a copy somewhere you will not lose it.
If you are not sure where to file, call your agent with the receipt in hand and ask. It takes a few minutes and saves you from sending it to the wrong place.
More on the claim side is in the accident towing guide and roadside assistance. Call (908) 444-0129 for a quote before the truck rolls.
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Call nowMore on accidents & insurance
Keep reading, or go back to every post on the blog.
- What to do after a car accident in New Jersey
- Tip #36: At a multi-car crash, get people safe before you think about the cars
- Tip #37: Take timestamped photos before the car moves an inch
- Tip #59: Check whether your policy covers roadside help, and keep the receipt either way
- Tip #60: In New Jersey, your own PIP pays your medical bills first after a crash
- Tip #61: Your insurer will ask for a claim number, photos and the police report number
- Tip #66: You can usually choose your tow, but the police decide when safety requires it
- Tip #67: A roadside club and a local tow operator each have a place, so know when to use which
- All posts
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