---
title: "Does insurance cover towing after an accident — TowingDad"
canonical: https://towingdad.shop/questions/emergency-what-to-do/does-insurance-cover-towing-after-an-accident/
lang: en
---

# Does insurance cover towing after an accident?
By [Ray Delgado](/authors/ray-delgado/) — Tow operator, 16 years Last reviewed: 2026-08-17 R1 Urgent

Sometimes, and it depends which coverage. Roadside assistance is a separate optional add-on that pays for a tow whether or not you crashed. Collision or comprehensive may cover towing that follows a covered accident, as part of the claim. Plain liability covers the other party's damage and generally pays nothing toward moving your own car.

- Add-onRoadside is optional
- After a claimWhen collision pays
- RarelyWhat liability pays

## Short version
- Roadside assistance is a separate add-on, not part of standard liability.
- Collision and comprehensive can cover a tow that is part of a covered claim.
- Liability covers the other party, not the recovery of your own vehicle.
- Reimbursement almost always requires the itemised receipt.

## Which coverage actually pays
Three different things get called "towing coverage". **Roadside assistance** is an optional endorsement that pays for a tow, a jump, a lockout or a tyre change regardless of fault, usually up to a mileage or dollar cap per call. **Collision and comprehensive** can cover towing as part of a covered claim — the cost of moving the car from the scene is treated as part of the loss. **Liability** pays for damage you cause to others and does not move your vehicle.

## Whether a claim is worth making
Towing under collision or comprehensive normally sits behind the deductible, so a $200 tow against a $500 deductible reimburses nothing. Roadside assistance usually has no deductible, which is why it is the coverage that actually gets used. That difference is worth knowing before you file: an unnecessary claim can affect renewal pricing without paying you anything.

## How to get reimbursed
Most insurers reimburse rather than pay the operator directly unless they dispatched the truck. Keep the itemised receipt — tow, mileage, any surcharge — because a handwritten total is routinely rejected. Photograph it before you hand the paper over. If the insurer arranged the tow, confirm whether the mileage cap covers the shop you actually want, not just the nearest one.

## Common mistakes
- **Assuming liability includes a tow** — it covers the other party, not the recovery of your car.
- **Filing a collision claim for a tow below the deductible** — you get nothing and may still affect renewal pricing.

Sources (2)- Towing and Recovery Association of America — [Training and certification levels](https://www.traaonline.com/) (accessed 2026-08-17) T2
- U.S. PIRG Education Fund — [Predatory Towing — consumer protections by state](https://pirg.org/resources/predatory-towing/) (accessed 2026-08-17) T2

## Related questions
- [Can you be towed with emergency brake on?](/questions/emergency-what-to-do/can-you-be-towed-with-emergency-brake-on/)
- [Can emergency vehicles in georgia be towed?](/questions/emergency-what-to-do/can-emergency-vehicles-in-georgia-be-towed/)
- [Impound](/impound/)
- [Calculators](/calculators/)
- [Glossary](/glossary/)
- [Your rights](/rights/)

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