Step 1: Choose your body shop before arranging the tow
The most important decision in the towing process is your destination. See the complete guide to what to do after a car accident. Where the car goes determines who repairs it — and changing your mind after the fact means paying for a second tow.
If you have a body shop you trust from previous experience, call them first. Confirm they have capacity to receive your vehicle and ask about their typical wait time for insurance-claim repairs.
If you do not have a preferred shop, your insurance company can provide a list of direct repair facilities in your area — shops that are pre-approved for insurance claims and often offer faster claim processing. Using an insurer-approved shop is not required but can streamline the process.
Research shops briefly before committing. Google reviews, Better Business Bureau ratings, and referrals from friends are all useful. A body shop with strong reviews for insurance claim work and clear communication is worth prioritizing.
Step 2: Call your insurance company
Before arranging any tow, call your insurance company. This single step can save you significant money and prevent complications.
Your insurer can tell you whether your policy covers the tow and under which coverage. They can dispatch a preferred towing provider directly, often at no cost to you. They can authorize the vehicle going to your chosen body shop or redirect you to an approved facility if you prefer.
If the accident was the other driver fault, your insurer can also coordinate with the at-fault driver insurance company to ensure towing costs are billed to the right policy.
If you are at the accident scene and time is pressing, call the insurance claims line and get explicit authorization for the tow before the truck moves the vehicle.
Step 3: Arrange the tow
Once you have your body shop destination and insurance guidance, arrange the actual tow.
Through your insurer: If your insurance dispatches a preferred provider, coordinate destination and timing directly with the insurer. They handle payment with the tow company directly in most cases.
Through your roadside membership: AAA and similar programs cover towing but typically have per-incident mileage limits. Confirm the destination is within your coverage distance before relying on roadside membership for accident towing.
Through a local tow company: Call a local flatbed towing company directly. Provide the pickup location, destination body shop address, and vehicle make and model. Get a written cost estimate before authorizing the tow.
Always use flatbed towing for accident vehicles. Wheel-lift towing damaged cars risks additional damage and complicates insurance claims.
What to do when the car arrives at the body shop
Once the vehicle arrives at the body shop, the repair and claims process begins.
Walk around the vehicle with a shop representative before leaving and note any additional damage that may have occurred during towing. This is rare with professional flatbed operators but worth confirming.
Provide your insurance information to the shop. They will contact your insurer to arrange the claims adjuster inspection and get authorization for repairs. Most shops handle this communication directly — you do not need to coordinate between them.
Ask about the timeline. Insurance claim repairs typically take longer than cash repairs because of the adjuster review process. Most shops can give you a rough estimate of repair time after the initial damage assessment, which usually happens within 1-3 business days of receiving the vehicle.
When to use a tow yard instead of a body shop
In some situations, towing directly to a body shop is not the right first move.
If the vehicle may be a total loss: If the damage appears to exceed the vehicle value, you may want the insurance adjuster to inspect the vehicle before it goes to a shop. Have it towed to a storage facility temporarily while the insurer evaluates total loss status.
If you have not yet chosen a body shop: Do not let the vehicle go to an unknown tow yard just because you have not decided on a shop yet. Make the decision quickly — storage fees accumulate daily and you want the car in your preferred shop as soon as possible. See whether insurance covers towing to a body shop.
If the shop is not immediately available: Some busy body shops have a wait for incoming vehicles. Confirm the shop can receive the vehicle before directing the tow there — arriving at a shop that cannot accept the car means a second tow to storage. See how body shop storage fees work.