In the event of a breakdown or immobilization, it is necessary to have your car towed. Is it better to use a tow truck or is it possible to tow a car on your own? Let’s take a deep look at it.
Car breakdowns are common, even with regular maintenance. If by chance your vehicle breaks down near you or not far from a garage, you just have to push it there to start the repairs. On the other hand, if the breakdown occurs in the middle of the countryside, it is necessary to have your car towed.
- Tow your car yourself
Choose to tow your car on your own rather than with a tow truck to save money ! This is possible if you have a second vehicle or if one of your relatives is available to help you.
The weight of the towing vehicle must be greater than that of the broken down car to ensure braking on hills. The distance covered with a broken down vehicle must be short: find the garage closest to your position to drop off your car.
It is also advisable to limit your speed to 25 km / h and switch on the hazard warning lights for both vehicles. Of course, they must be fitted with trailer rings in order to tow your car successfully.
Car towing equipment
First , get a rigid tow bar. Unlike a rope or chains, this type of approved bar specially designed for car towing maintains a safe distance between the two vehicles. There are several types of tow bars:
Foldable and telescopic bars easier to transport
The more resistant standard bars
Attach the two vehicles
It is best to move to the side of the road if possible to tow your car safely. Position the towing vehicle in front of the broken down car and install the towing eyes which you will usually find in the trunk of your car.
Unclip the cover from the attachment points of the rings, at the rear for the towing vehicle and at the front for the broken down car.
Screw the towing eyes into the attachment points.
Bring the cars closer to a distance of 2 meters to secure them with the tow bar.
- Tow your car with a tow truck
If your car breaks down abroad or when you are isolated, it is best to hire a tow truck to tow your car. The cost of repatriation of your car is defined according to your auto insurance contract.
Auto breakdown assistance: check your insurance
Most auto insurance contracts offer a guarantee to finance the towing of your broken down car to the nearest garage. This is the assistance guarantee offered by the insurance to third parties. You benefit from free towing of your car as well as assistance for the driver and passengers.
The clauses of your car insurance define a deductible generally fixed at 50 km for a car breakdown service. This means that the insurance covers the cost of towing if you are more than 50 km from your home. It is possible to subscribe to a 0 km franchise.
Your insurance contract specifies the costs covered by your insurance if it is a mechanical breakdown, an accident or a fuel failure, for example. Do not hesitate to contact your insurance by phone before taking any steps to tow your car!
Tow your car with a tow truck at your home
It is assumed that if you have purchased third-party insurance, you will not have to pay any costs to tow your car to a garage, except for the deductible. On the other hand, if you wish to carry out repairs to your vehicle at home, or in a garage other than the one chosen by your insurance, it is up to you to pay the towing costs.
It’s up to you to calculate whether the operation is profitable: are the repair costs at home or in your favorite garage low enough to make towing your car profitable? If it is a minor mechanical failure and you are a handyman, it is better to opt for towing to your home.
- The cost of auto repair
Here is an average of the prices charged by professionals to tow your car on the road duty free:
The cost of motorway towing is fixed with a price of € 124.83 including tax for a car weighing less than 1.8 t and € 154.36 including tax for a vehicle weighing up to 3.5 t. These rates are applied from Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and are increased by 50% at night, weekends and public holidays.
