Begin Looking for a Tow Truck Insurance Company Early

When you’re shopping around for a new tow truck insurance company, it’s best to get started right away. Give your agent at least 60 days before your current insurance ends. 60 days is about the amount of time it takes an agent to thoroughly shop your account around to companies that offer tow truck insurance.

Contact Multiple Tow Truck Insurance Agents at Once

Agencies have access to certain tow truck insurance companies, but no agency covers every company. That’s why it’s important for you to contact several agents. Working with several agents both speeds up the time it takes to receive a quote and ensures that you get the best insurance company possible.

An easy way to speed up this process even further is to use our Online Quote Form. By filling out this form, you will be connected with three agents without having to conduct the search yourself. And, of course, the service is free.

Gather All Pertinent information

Your agent will need to know certain facts about your business that will be the basis for which coverages you need and how much your premium will cost. He’ll ask you questions about

• How many towing vehicles you own
• What types of vehicles you own (e.g., light, meduim, or heavy duty)
• What services you provide in addition to towing (e.g., auto repair, parts sales, repossession, salvage, impound, roadside assistance)
• What percentage of your business these additional services represent
• Your hours of operation
• What types of vehicles you tow
• What safety programs and security measures you employ
  • Do you offer safety manuals and emplyee handbooks?
  • Do your drivers use GPS systems?
  • Do you have security cameras installed on your property?
  • Which state and federal safety programs do you follow?
• Your driver qualification files and the last three years of your loss run history.

Do Your Homework on Your Insurance Company

After your agent has suggested a company, look at that company’s rating on Moody’s or A.M. Best. An insurance company’s rating indicates how trustworthy they are. The ratings offered by these sites are often the only way for consumers to gauge whether an unknown insurance company is reputable or not. With that said, large insurance companies aren’t always the best option. There are many, many small insurance companies that can offer you better service at a lower price than many of the big names in insurance.

Get Information About the Company’s Policies

You want a policy that suits your needs. After you find out from Moody’s and A.M. Best whether you can trust this company, you’ll want to determine if their policy fits your specific needs. Some things to ask them include

Can I cancel my policy at any time? – Many tow truck insurance companies will charge you a fee if you leave them prematurely

What kind of repairs do you offer? – You want repairs that cover parts from the original equipment manufacturer, as some policies only pay for the cheapest replacement parts

Do you offer combined deductible? – If you get into an accident where your tow truck and the vehicle you’re towing are damaged, you might have to pay separate deductibles for each vehicle, since they are protected by different coverages. A combined deductible eliminates this problem.

Get a payment plan that matches your budget

Tow truck insurance companies want to work with you to get you a payment plan that fits your operation. Many businesses will choose to pay their premium on a month to month basis, but there are usually other options. Generally, when you opt for higher payments paid in quarterly or semiannual installments, your overall cost drops.