questions about towing services answered

Posted on: 5 January 2016

When the weather makes a change and the snowflakes start to make an appearance, it brings about a new set of worries and concerns as a driver. Just as towing services are available through the summer when you need help, these companies are willingly available through the roughest months of winter as well. As a driver who may have to rely on a towing service for help at some point through the coldest part of the year, it is likely that you have a few questions about how auto towing services change during the winter. 

Will you have to wait longer in the winter for help from a towing service?

It is a possibility that as a stranded driver in the winter you would end up waiting longer for a tow truck to arrive, especially if the roadway conditions are severe. During a major winter storm in the state of Kentucky in 2015, some drivers were stranded as long as 11 hours due to the sheer number of vehicles that were stranded on the interstate. For this reason, it is always a good idea to keep a winter emergency kit in your car, which contains items like emergency blankets, snacks, and water.  

Do you have to pay more for towing fees in the winter than you do at other times of the year?

In general, auto towing companies will charge about the same rate whether they come to your rescue in the middle of winter or on a perfectly sunny day in the summer. The average cost to have a vehicle towed from the highway is usually between $75 and $125 and part of this may be covered if you have some form of roadside assistance insurance. 

Are the roads ever too bad for a tow truck to operate on?

It would be rare, but there could be times when an auto towing company will not send their vehicles or drivers out onto the roadways to assist drivers. Tow trucks are typically heavier than the average passenger vehicle and have supreme traction control systems because these are features that are necessary for towing other vehicles. Most tow trucks could plow right on through snow to get to a stranded driver. However, if there is a great deal of ice accumulation, it will be at the auto towing company's discretion whether they will be sending out their employees or not. If you do get stranded and the roadway conditions are bad enough that a towing company cannot help, contact the local fire and rescue center for immediate assistance. 

If you have any more questions or concerns, contact a business like Michael's Towing & Recovery Service.