Can Towing Damage Your Vehicle?

Towing a car is not necessarily rocket science, but it does take a bit of serious skill. It’s easy, but also not that easy. You need to drive carefully, correctly, and slowly. There isn’t a high possibility that you will damage a car while towing it, but unfortunately, it can happen.

So, does towing a car damage it? Yes, it does, or at least it can! Even the most skilled tow truck driver can make mistakes, and it’s essential that the job is done well. There are a number of different ways a car can get damaged if not towed correctly.

Common types of damage:

The two most frequent types of towing damage are mechanical and cosmetic damage. When towing a car you will either damage the inner workings or the outside shell of the vehicle. The following are some examples of the damage that can be caused:

Mechanical Damage:

One does need to know the ins and outs of towing a car before trying to get the job done. Mechanical damages often occur due to silly mistakes or from missing a step in the process. If one forgets to put the car in neutral before towing it this will cause some serious damage.

If the tires start to skid, it will affect the mechanical connections between the transmission and the wheels. If the car starts to skid it often leads to bigger transmission damage and damage to your back or front wheels and your transmission.

All cars are different, and different types of cars require various towing methods. A manual transmission vehicle should not be towed the same way you’d tow an automatic transmission. When towing, you always need to consider the weight, towing position, and speed.

You can easily avoid some serious damage by being fully aware of what your vehicle's towing specifications are, and by going through a proper towing company. The following are some examples of mechanical damage to your vehicle:

• Engine
• Transmission
• Linkages
• Tires

Cosmetic Damages:

This type of damage refers to any damage done to the outside structure of the vehicle. This could be the windshield, the body, or the tires.

Cosmetic damage includes dings, scratches, and dents - and nobody likes these so it’s best to take it easy and treat the car like the precious cargo it is. Cosmetic damages won’t affect the vehicle’s performance or the way it drives, but they do affect the way the car looks.

If the tow hook isn’t in the correct position it can cause the vehicle to insecure, making it bump into loads of other things, or it may cause the tow truck itself to strike the car. So ensure that you or the tow truck driver do this properly to avoid:

• Scratches to the vehicle's exterior
• Dings
• Dents

The best ways to prevent damage:

We understand that your car is your baby, and it must be protected at all costs. It is crucial to take extra caution when towing, use proper towing services, and consider the following:

Use proper towing equipment

In order to successfully tow a car, the best and proper towing equipment should be used. A device that is easily manoeuvrable and versatile is your best bet - it will help you get the job done efficiently, quickly, and with no room for mistakes (so no damages, of course!).

A slide-in wheel lift is an excellent device you can use, it works in a similar way to a hook and chain truck, but the risk is much lower. You can start by connecting the device to your tow truck, and then place the wheel lift under the rear or the front tires of your vehicle.

And lastly, you will hydraulically lift the two tires of the vehicle off of the ground. A slide-in wheel lift is great for small to mid-sized cars and for light-duty towing. It is always best to invest in tools that are easy to use, cost-effective, and highly reliable.

Using the proper equipment ensures that you will not cause any damage (or very little) to your car. Tow trucks should always have the right equipment with them.

Put your vehicle in neutral gear

Using neutral gear is essential. You should also make very sure that your parking brake isn’t on. And any towing company or skilled mechanic you use will ask you to do this. Engaging the neutral gear is step one in avoiding damage.

You can very easily damage your transmission, tires, and linkages when your vehicle is towed in park or drive, especially when the wheels are on the road. This damage often occurs because the wheels are not able to properly turn when the car is not in neutral gear.

Make sure all of the equipment is secure

You can easily prevent some very extensive and costly damages by double-checking your whole towing set-up and taking the time to ensure that everything is fastened properly, in the correct place, and secure.

The few minutes you spend doing this can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. There are a number of different tools you can use when towing a car, from a flatbed truck, axle cradle, hook and chain, or more.

All of these tools are fantastic, but always make sure that you understand how they work and how to use them before doing anything else. Making sure that all of your equity is secure is crucial and can save you from a whole range of problems.

Use the vehicle owner's manual

The owner manual is your best friend, your car's bible, and most often has all of the answers to your questions. It is always much better to rather be safe than sorry, and the owner's manual can often tell you all you need to know, so refer back to it as often as you can.

Lastly...stay calm!

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to call in a mechanic, towing company, or any other form of help - stay calm. It is not the end of the world, help is always near, and everything will work out.

If you attempt to do something on your own you could potentially cause a lot more damage than doing good. It is always best to pull over onto the side of the road and wait there. Then you can call a towing company and start doing what you need to do.

Getting the damage to your vehicle repaired:

In the unfortunate event that your car did sustain some damages when being towed, then it is best that you prepare for some hefty repair expenses. Before getting the damages repaired it is always best to determine how the damage was caused.

Did you do something wrong? If you went through a towing company, were they unprofessional and negligent? In the case that it is the tow company's fault, they will need to be held responsible and you can work with a personal injury lawyer or law firm.

When repairing the damages, always ensure that you go through a credited and skilled auto mechanic to be sure that the job will be done properly. Bad repairs can lead to even more damage - and that’s the last thing you want!

You want to find an auto mechanic that will do the job properly and at a reasonable price. Some places overcharge and other places have prices that are often too good to be true - avoid these!

You should also always document the evidence of the damages, you will likely need it at some point as proof for the personal injury attorney or other relevant authorities.

Final Thoughts

Your car should never get damaged when it is being towed. But unfortunately, things do happen, and if not done carefully or without the proper precautions, a lot of damage can be caused.

This is why it is best to go through a towing service that is reputable and knows exactly what they are doing. Even though professionals make mistakes too, the risks are much lower and they are highly skilled and should know exactly what to do.

LINKS:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/minuteman1.com/2021/11/09/does-towing-damage-a-car-how-to-prevent-damage-while-towing/amp/

https://phoenixtowingservice.com/blog/does-towing-a-car-damage-it/

https://www.belsky-weinberg-horowitz.com/what-should-you-do-if-a-tow-truck-damages-your-car/

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