Tip #96: After a crash, have the car towed straight to the body shop you choose
After an accident, you decide where the car goes. Towing it directly to the body shop you have chosen avoids a second tow, and possible storage charges, later.
Tip #96 in one line
After an accident, you decide where the car goes. Towing it directly to the body shop you have chosen avoids a second tow, and possible storage charges, later.
Stuck right now? Skip the reading and call.
Call nowPick the shop first, if you can
Once everyone is safe and the police have what they need, take a moment to decide where the car should go. If you have a body shop you trust, or your insurer has suggested one, call the shop or check its hours. Sending the car straight there means it is in the right place when the adjuster and the shop are ready to look at it.
When you book with us, you choose the destination. Tell the dispatcher the shop's name and address when you call (908) 444-0129, and the price is quoted before the truck rolls: a flat hook fee plus a per-mile rate. There are no night, weekend or holiday surcharges.
One call, one flat quote, 24/7.
Call nowIf the shop is closed
Many shops accept after-hours drop-offs with a key drop. Ask the shop how it wants the car left. If the shop cannot take it overnight, home is a fine option; the car can be moved to the shop later with another local tow. Either way, the decision is yours.
One call, one flat quote, 24/7.
Call nowWhat to do before the truck arrives
Call 911 first if anyone is hurt or the car is blocking traffic. Take photos of the vehicles, the plates, the scene and any damage. Exchange information with the other driver. Remove valuables, the garage remote and any paperwork you need, but leave the registration and insurance card for the shop if they ask for them.
In New Jersey, your own auto insurance includes personal injury protection for medical costs, so report injuries to your insurer even if the crash was not your fault. Your insurer will tell you how it handles the vehicle claim and the tow.
A damaged car that does not roll straight, an all-wheel-drive car or an EV goes on a flatbed. Tell the driver about fluid leaks or warning lights. More about accident towing and what happens next is in the accident towing guide.
If the car is driveable but should not be, say so. A car with a loose bumper, a damaged wheel, a broken light at night, or a leak is safer on a truck than on the road, even if it starts. The driver can also advise whether a car is safe to tow on a wheel-lift or needs the flatbed.
Keep the tow receipt with your claim paperwork. It shows where the car was taken, when, and from where, which your insurer and the shop may both ask for later.
One call, one flat quote, 24/7.
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
Need towing and roadside assistance right now? One call, truck on the way.
Real dispatcher, 24 hours a day. Quoted price before we roll.