What documentation you need before filing
Before you call your insurance company to file a towing claim, gather these documents.
Police report: The report number and a copy if available. Most insurers require a police report for accident claims above a certain damage threshold. File the police report at the scene or at a local police station within 24-48 hours if an officer did not respond to the scene.
Towing receipt: A written receipt from the tow company showing their business name, the pickup location, the destination, the date and time, the vehicle towed, and the total cost. This is your primary evidence for reimbursement. If the tow company did not provide a written receipt, call and request one before filing.
Accident photos: Photos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and both vehicles involved. These support your claim and help establish the sequence of events.
Other driver information: Name, contact information, insurance company, policy number, and license plate number.
Step-by-step: filing the claim
Follow this sequence to file an insurance towing claim efficiently.
Step 1: Report the accident to your insurer. Call your insurance company claims line as soon as possible after the accident — ideally from the scene or within 24 hours. Most policies require prompt notification. Provide the accident details, the other driver information, and the police report number.
Step 2: Receive your claim number. Your insurer will assign a claim number and a claims adjuster. Write this down — you will need it for all future communications about this claim.
Step 3: Submit your towing receipt. Email or upload your towing receipt through your insurer app or portal. Reference your claim number. If you paid out of pocket, clearly note the amount paid and request reimbursement.
Step 4: Follow up on towing reimbursement. Towing costs are usually processed quickly as part of the overall claim. If you do not see reimbursement within 5-7 business days of submitting the receipt, call your claims adjuster directly.
Filing with the at-fault driver insurance
If the accident was the other driver fault, you file a third-party claim with their insurance rather than your own.
Contact the at-fault driver insurance company directly using the information you collected at the scene. Provide your account of the accident, your vehicle damage documentation, and your towing receipt.
The at-fault driver insurer will investigate the claim and determine liability. This process can take days to weeks depending on the complexity of the accident. During this time, your vehicle may sit in storage accumulating fees — another reason to move it to a body shop quickly.
If you need your vehicle repaired quickly and cannot wait for the third-party claim to resolve, file with your own collision coverage first. Your insurer will pursue reimbursement from the at-fault driver through subrogation, and your deductible may be returned once fault is established.
What to do if towing reimbursement is denied
If your insurer denies towing reimbursement, ask for the specific reason in writing and which policy exclusion applies.
Common denial reasons and responses:
Towing not at the accident scene: If you drove the damaged vehicle home before having it towed, some insurers deny coverage because the tow did not occur at the accident location. See when it is safe to drive after an accident — documenting that the vehicle was not safely drivable strengthens your claim.
Excessive towing charges: Insurers may dispute towing bills that appear above market rates. If you were charged significantly above market, the insurer may reimburse at market rate and ask you to dispute the remainder with the tow company.
No collision coverage: Towing reimbursement after an accident requires collision coverage. Liability-only policies do not cover your own vehicle damage or towing. See how insurance covers towing after an accident. See who pays for towing after an accident.