Does Full Coverage Car Insurance Cover Towing? What You Need to Know

When your car breaks down or is involved in an accident, towing services can be a lifesaver. But many drivers wonder: Does full coverage car insurance cover towing? The answer depends on the specifics of your policy. Let’s dive into what full coverage typically includes and whether it can help with towing costs.

What Is Full Coverage Car Insurance?

The term “full coverage” is commonly used to describe a combination of auto insurance coverages, including:

1. Liability Coverage
   • Covers damages or injuries you cause to others in an accident.
2. Collision Coverage
   • Pays for repairs to your car if it’s damaged in an accident, regardless of fault.
3. Comprehensive Coverage
   • Covers non-collision-related damage to your car, such as theft, vandalism, or weather-related incidents.

While full coverage provides robust financial protection, it does not inherently include roadside assistance or towing services.

Does Full Coverage Automatically Include Towing?

In most cases, full coverage car insurance does not cover towing unless you have added specific roadside assistance or towing coverage to your policy. Here’s how it typically works:

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  Without Towing Coverage:
  If you only have the standard components of full coverage, towing expenses after a breakdown or non-accident situation will not be reimbursed.

  
  
• 
  

  With Towing Coverage (Roadside Assistance):
  Many insurers offer optional towing and roadside assistance coverage. If you’ve added this to your policy, towing costs will likely be covered, subject to the terms and limits of your policy.

  
  

When Towing May Be Covered by Full Coverage

Although full coverage alone doesn’t usually include towing, there are situations where it might indirectly cover it:

1. After an Accident (Collision Coverage):

   • If your car is damaged in an accident and needs to be towed, collision coverage may cover the cost as part of the claims process. However, this depends on the specifics of your policy.

2. After a Covered Event (Comprehensive Coverage):

   • If your car is vandalized, stolen and recovered, or damaged by weather, towing may be reimbursed under comprehensive coverage.

In both cases, the insurer may cover towing to a repair shop or storage facility, but not for non-emergency or mechanical breakdown situations.

How to Add Towing Coverage to Your Policy

If you want to ensure towing services are covered, consider adding a roadside assistance or towing and labor coverage endorsement to your insurance policy. This add-on typically includes:

• Towing services
• Flat tire assistance
• Battery jump-starts
• Fuel delivery
• Lockout services

The cost of this coverage is usually minimal, ranging from $10 to $50 per year, depending on your insurer and coverage limits.

Other Options for Towing Coverage

If your full coverage policy doesn’t include towing, there are other ways to get protection:

1. Auto Club Memberships:

   • Organizations like AAA offer roadside assistance plans that include towing, often with generous distance limits.

2. Credit Card Benefits:

   • Some credit cards offer roadside assistance as a perk, but this is usually limited to emergencies and specific cardholders.

3. Standalone Roadside Assistance Plans:

   • Some companies specialize in roadside services that you can purchase independently of your car insurance.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Distance Limits:

  • Towing coverage often comes with a distance limit (e.g., 10 miles, 50 miles). If your car needs to be towed further, you’ll be responsible for the additional costs.

• Deductibles:

  • While towing coverage through roadside assistance doesn’t typically involve a deductible, towing related to an accident claim might, depending on your policy.

• Emergency Situations Only:

  • Insurers may only reimburse towing costs if they deem it necessary or related to a covered event.

Conclusion

Full coverage car insurance does not automatically include towing services unless you’ve added a specific roadside assistance or towing endorsement to your policy. If you want peace of mind for breakdowns or emergencies, consider enhancing your coverage or exploring other options like auto club memberships.