Noticed a huge number of accident related posts here on OzBargain. I’m hoping that someone can enlighten me on a question that I have.
After an accident and if your vehicle is no longer drivable, who would you normally contact first (assuming if there is no injury) for towing? Insurer? Roadside Assistance?
…and where would you tow it to?
That’s interesting. One of the insurer I was with before, is only contactable during office hours and there is no 24hours hotline. I wouldn’t have been able to contact them if that was the case. I’d imagine a lot of ‘online’ only insurers wouldn’t have a 24/7 hotline.
Use a proper insurance company then.
Other alternative is to arrange yourself and seek reimbursement.
Do they not have a "what to do in a crash" page on their website?
Your car normally gets towed to an assessment center, organized by your insurance company. If you don’t have insurance, get it towed to your house
I’m not sure who was contacted for the tow. All I know is the man at fault organized the towing.
My parents car was recently towed to a holding yard. My brother first had to confirm the repairer (panel beater) of choice via the insurance agency. It was then towed to that repairer later that same day.
If the car is causing an obstruction, let the police organise the tow. You sign nothing.
Otherwise, be guided by your insurer - yes, wait until they are open to ask, or even read your PDS…….
When I smashed a Goget car (write off) police must have organised it… I had no idea where the car was and neither did Goget….
Lost a jacket in the process….
Interesting to know - did you get the optional insurance? If so, did you fork out anything extra?
Asking as I see a lot of people grab rentals without insurance for multiple days/weeks lol
I didn't have the additional insurance, it cost me $1500. But considering I could have died it wasn't too bad.
A few days later Goget said we are temporarily suspending your membership lol, I wonder why… Never got it back
Unlucky… but you are right, no $$ is worth your life!
I always try to opt in for full insurance even though it hurts my pocket when I pay - for peace of mind and to minimise those hefty expenses.
LOL plenty of other rental car companies available :P
If you know who your insurer is, it is likely the tow truck operator will know where the assessment centre is for that company.
Depends if there is a body still in the boot.
See my post below about pushing it into the river.
Tow it Home, then work out which repairer and have them tow to their shop. This was my experience, it didn’t cost me extra in the process. Can’t say if there would be additional costs (you would pay) to your insurance and repairer.
Towing magically shows up, you don’t have to contact them, unless you are in middle of nowhere.
Answer: Contact your insurance company.
RACQ or your state equivalent.
UM dir a mechanic/panel beater depending on what needs fixing
In Victoria your supposed to call '13 11 66' for a tow truck post car accident. It's a 24/7 number for tow truck dispatch, used to also be on all the Vic rego stickers before they were removed.
I believe the car goes to an impound lot that the insurance companies have access to, or something like that.
Pizza Hut organises tow trucks in Victoria!?
They just make shitty Pizza in WA.
LOL supposed to be 13 11 76
Makes me wonder how many people have called Pizza Hut after an accident.
It would be amazing if the delivery guy rocked up with a flatbed and pizza.
If it was next to the Yarra River, I'd just push it into there.
Hahhaha
Don’t you mean ‘on there’ I doubt it would sink with all the crap in the ‘water’
I'd tow it nowhere, the tow truck does that.
Call your insurance and let them deal with it all
Ask your insurer, or…
Call any repair place, theyll give you a number to call for a tow truck.
Totalled a car and had it sitting on the street out front my place for a whiles.
If its towed to a repairer, could be fees for storage.
Cash for scrap.
You get a tad confusing here…
If you had roadside assist, you contact them and they would deal with the rest. If not, and if of a mechanical nature, I would have it towed to a local mechanics, if panel related, take to a local panel beater that you trust.
Fairly simple. Why would you tow it to an insurer's office?
After an accident and if your vehicle is no longer drivable
That would explain why an insurer would be involved. Roadside assist won’t be of much help, mechanics probably won’t be either.
I was once in an accident where my motorcycle was no longer rideable as the front wheel was wrecked. I was glad I had phone service in the area, so I could call the towing company (the only one in that area). This was a weekend and my insurance (QBE motorcycle) call centre wasn’t open on weekends.
The local towing guy showed up, took me and motorcycle to his garage. Just gave me his business card and dropped me to a local motel. The motorcycle was left there, I spent the night at the motel and the next day I used NSW public transport (bus, then train and then taxi) to get home.
QBE paid for it all . For the towing, for sending a guy from Sydney 250kms+ to fetch my motorcycle back to a garage of my choice and for my motel+transport back.
Repairs were $5000+ too!
I would assume, it would have worked pretty much the same way with a car accident.
Not roadside assistance that's for sure.
Call your comprehensive insurance company and they can arrange a tow truck.