It may be a beautiful day in northern Michigan, but the last thing you’ll be enjoying is the weather if your car is stranded on the side of the road. For most of us, this is not a regular occurrence, so our first instinct may be to hit the yellow pages for a tow truck.  If that’s the case, please take this to heart – all towing is not created equal!

Most of us have this idyllic picture in our minds of the front (or back) two wheels of our cars propped up on the back of a truck as it’s being dragged around town.  While this was choice back in the day, your modern vehicle may not be so happy with that arrangement! Here are a few things to consider when towing your vehicle:

• Is your car all wheel drive (AWD), front wheel drive (FWD) or rear wheel drive (RWD)?  If you have AWD, we ONLY recommend a flat bed tow truck, unless you plan on initiating some pretty severe maintenance repairs.  Many towing fleets, especially in our area, are primarily flatbeds, but it’s ALWAYS a great idea to ASK when you call.  Do not be afraid to turn down a company that cannot send you a flatbed – there are plenty of fish in the towing sea!
• Understand your insurance policy.  No, it’s not glamorous reading that thick packet of information that your agent sends you every few years, but it definitely makes for a good reference.  In many cases, roadside assistance may be covered by your policy.  Please understand – there is a difference between roadside and your driveway.  In many instances, towing is not covered from your residence, but is covered if you’re stranded away from home.  If you can put your car into neutral, it might not be a bad idea to give it a push down the street a bit.  Also, some companies, such a AAA, will disbatch a tow truck for you (they have bargaining agreements with local companies).  When you call your insurance, and they offer to send a truck, be sure to ask for a flatbed in these cases as well.
• Chances are, any company you call will tell you that they can be there in (insert length of time here) minutes – or even upwards of hours!  If you can find a ride from a family or friend, don’t be afraid to leave your key with the car – let’s face it, you called a tow truck because it’s not going anywhere on its own.  Any good towing company is more than willing to find your hidden key – just be sure to tell them where you put it!

If you’re towing near the Traverse City area, Dave’s Garage can easily give you a recommendation for our favorite towing company and body shop.  Just call or stop in, and we can share the contact information for reputable service places to keep in the glove box with your insurance information.  Planning ahead always pays off!