When you call a towing service to rescue your car after a breakdown on the road, you trust that they’ll take your vehicle to safety without doing further damage. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Often, errors on the part of the car owner end up making matters worse. Here’s how you can prevent your vehicle from sustaining more damage during a tow.

Is Towing Hard on Vehicles?

Towing can sometimes take its toll on your already damaged vehicle. Issues often run a gamut of possibilities—from cosmetic to mechanical.

Without the necessary precautions, hooking up your vehicle to a tow truck can result in scratches, deep dents, and nasty dings on the exterior and paintwork. Sometimes, mechanical troubles like damaged transmission, tires, drive wheels, and linkage may crop up after having your car towed.

How to Ensure Towing Doesn’t Damage Your Car

Before hooking your vehicle to a wrecker, follow the tips listed below to prevent costly towing mishaps down the road.

Know If You Have a Two-Wheel or All-Wheel-Drive

Understanding your vehicle’s drive wheel type is crucial during towing. A two-wheel-drive means that the engine powers only the front or rear set of wheels. However, an all-wheel-drive evenly distributes power from the engine into all four wheels. 

Compact cars, minivans, and sedans are usually two-wheel drive, while SUVs and pick-up trucks tend to be all-wheel-drive. Drivetrains are complicated and vary in design based on vehicle make and model, making it difficult for the average driver to determine the wheel-drive of their car. The best way to know which you have is to check the driver’s manual.

Put Car in Neutral

Even if the towing service doesn’t tell you to do so, put the car in neutral. This is the position where no gear is engaged in the car, and no power is being transferred from the motor to the wheels. Also, refrain from putting the car in “Park” and engaging the emergency brake. Taking these steps prevents damage to the transmission and wheel mechanisms while the vehicle is being towed.

Choose a Good Towing Service

Perhaps the best piece of advice is to hire a reputable towing company. If you have roadside assistance coverage on your auto insurance policy, research the affiliated towing service provider first before having them dispatched. Check their years in business to gauge their experience, as well as the areas they serve, and their cost. Online reviews can also provide insight into how they deal with customers.

While most towing services will do a good job, some won’t handle your vehicle with the care and professionalism you expect. Tomah Wrecker & Repair, LLC, is a towing company you can trust. For over five decades, they’ve been rescuing stranded motorists in Monroe County, WI, providing 24-hour roadside assistance and towing passenger vehicles and semi-trucks. Their crew will also make sure your car is correctly attached to the tow truck to prevent further damage. Call (608) 372-2550 for an emergency tow truck or visit them online.