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The crash just happened. Your car is damaged and won't move. Someone asks if you need a tow. You say yes, because what else would you say. But the moment that answer is given, a decision is made that affects where your car ends up, how fast repairs can start, and what the whole situation costs before any body shop sees the vehicle.
Most people have never had to think about towing before an accident forces the question. This guide covers what to know before the tow truck arrives, from who calls it to who pays for it to what you can do if the car ends up somewhere you didn't intend.
Two kinds of tows after an accident
Most accident tows happen one of two ways. The first is a police-dispatched rotation tow. When officers respond to a collision and a car needs to be removed from the roadway, they call from a rotation list of licensed tow companies. You don't pick who shows up. You often don't pick where the car goes. Police-dispatched tows typically end up at the towing company's storage yard, not at a repair shop you chose.
The second kind is a tow you arrange yourself. If you have roadside assistance through your auto insurance, a credit card benefit, or a membership program, you can call that number from the scene and give a specific destination. That destination can be a body shop. This path keeps you in control from the start.
When you have the option, calling the tow yourself is almost always the better approach. Knowing this before it happens means you won't be caught off guard at the scene.
The storage lot problem
When a damaged car goes to a tow company's storage yard instead of a shop, two things happen right away. Daily storage fees start from the first night. And the car cannot leave until the full balance owed to the tow company is paid before it goes anywhere.
Most yards charge a gate fee for the initial tow, then a per-day rate beginning the first night. If the insurance process takes a few days to get moving, if the adjuster isn't immediately available, or if any back and forth over coverage slows things down, the car sits. Each day adds to the balance. When you are finally ready to move the car, that total has to be settled first. This creates real financial pressure on top of the stress of an accident.
If you can prevent the car from landing in a storage yard by directing the tow to a repair shop, do it from the start. If the car is already at a storage yard, move it as quickly as possible.
Your right to choose where the tow goes
In California, you generally have the right to choose the shop that repairs your car. That same principle applies to where the tow takes the vehicle. If you are calling the tow yourself, tell the dispatcher your destination before the truck is dispatched. If a rotation tow is already on the way, ask the driver directly whether they can take the car to a specific shop instead of their lot. Many drivers will agree if you ask before the car is loaded. It costs nothing to ask.
If the car has already gone to a storage yard, call the repair shop you want to use first. Many shops have working relationships with local tow services and can help coordinate a release and transfer. You will need to authorize the release in writing and settle the storage balance before the car can move. A shop you trust can walk you through exactly what that process involves.
The right to direct the tow connects to the same right you have with the repair itself. Our article on whether you have to use the body shop your insurance recommends covers that in full.
Who pays for towing after a collision
Whether towing is covered depends on your specific policy. If you have roadside assistance as part of your auto insurance, it typically covers a tow after a collision up to a dollar limit that varies by policy. Some policies include towing under the collision claim itself. Others treat roadside assistance as a separate add-on that has to be on the policy for the coverage to apply.
If the accident was the other driver's fault and you are filing through their liability insurance, the cost of the tow may be reimbursable as part of the property damage claim. Expect to pay upfront and receive reimbursement after the claim processes, which can take time depending on how the liability side moves.
If you have no collision coverage and no roadside assistance, the tow is an out-of-pocket expense. Calling your insurer before an accident to ask what towing coverage you carry is the best preparation. Calling them right after to ask the same question is the right next step when you're not sure. Ask specifically: is towing covered under my current policy after a collision, and up to what dollar amount? Write down who you spoke with and what they said.
If your car is already in a storage lot
Call the shop you want to handle the repair right away. Give them the name and address of the storage yard, your name, and your claim number if you have one. A shop with regular collision repair work knows how storage releases are handled and can guide you through what needs to happen.
Get an itemized statement from the storage yard before paying anything. Ask for the gate fee, the per-day rate, and the number of days the car has been on the lot. If anything seems off, ask for the breakdown line by line. Get the release authorization in writing once you pay, so there is no question about the transaction afterward.
If you have an open insurance claim, tell the adjuster the car is in storage and ask them to prioritize the inspection. An insurance inspection at the storage lot, or a prompt arrangement to move the car to a shop, keeps fees from building further. Every day in storage adds to what is owed before the repair can even start.
Calling us from the scene
If your car is anywhere in Contra Costa County and you want it to come to our shop, call us from the scene. We will tell you what to say to the tow driver, give you our Brentwood address, and start preparing before the car arrives. That is the first step of The Painless Collision Process.
After the tow, the repair starts
Once the car arrives at the shop, everything moves forward. A free estimate tells you honestly what the repair involves. If you are filing a claim, we open it with your insurer, document the damage, handle parts and any supplemental claims, and keep you updated at every stage.
Frequently asked questions
Does auto insurance cover a tow after a car accident?
It depends on your coverage. Roadside assistance, if it is part of your policy, typically covers a tow after an accident up to a dollar limit. Some policies also include towing under the collision claim itself. Call your insurer and ask specifically whether towing is covered under your current policy before assuming it is.
Can I tell the tow truck to take my car to a specific body shop?
If you are calling the tow yourself, yes. Tell the dispatcher the destination before the truck is dispatched. If a police-rotation tow is already on the way, ask the driver before the car is loaded. Many will accommodate the request. If the car has already gone to a storage yard, you can arrange a release and transfer to your chosen shop from there.
My car is in a storage lot after an accident. What should I do?
Call the repair shop you want to use first. They can help coordinate the release and transfer. Before you pay anything at the storage lot, get an itemized statement of what is owed. If you have an open insurance claim, let your adjuster know the car is in storage so they can prioritize an inspection and help move the process along.
How long can a tow company keep my car in storage?
Storage yards hold a vehicle until all outstanding fees are paid. There is no fixed cutoff, which is why acting quickly to authorize a release limits how much accumulates. The sooner you move the car to a repair shop, the lower the total storage bill when you go to pick it up.
Can I be charged for storage if I didn't authorize the tow?
Yes. If a police-dispatched tow took your car to a storage yard, fees begin accumulating even if you did not call the tow yourself. Contact the yard as soon as possible, get the itemized statement, and arrange the release to a shop quickly to limit the total.
Next step
If your car was just in an accident and you are not sure what to do next, call us.
Call (925) 516-1930 or stop by 44 Sycamore Ave, Suite A in Brentwood. Estimates are free. Read about our what to do after an accident, how we work, or get directions and hours. We serve Brentwood, Oakley, Antioch, Discovery Bay and Byron.