10 Towing Myths Atlanta Drivers Believe (Debunked)

TRUTH: Tow truck type matters enormously for vehicle type and condition.

AWD vehicles, EVs, and accident-damaged cars all require specific equipment. Towing an AWD with a single-axle wheel lift can destroy the transfer case. Towing an EV with wheels on the ground can damage the motor and inverter. A hook-and-chain tow on a luxury vehicle with modern plastic bumpers will cause cosmetic damage. Match the equipment to the vehicle.

TRUTH: Towing coverage depends entirely on your specific policy and the cause of the tow.

Comprehensive coverage covers fire, theft, hail, and animal strikes — not breakdowns or accidents. Collision coverage covers accident-related towing. Roadside assistance coverage (often a rider) covers breakdowns. If you don't have one of these applicable coverages, you pay out of pocket. Check your declarations page before assuming you're covered.

TRUTH: On most non-emergency calls, you can request your own towing company.

When police dispatch a tow for a vehicle impeding traffic, they typically use a rotation list of local companies — and in that scenario you may have less control. But in non-emergency breakdowns or accidents where you're simply requesting assistance, you can call any company you choose. Ask the responding officer before a rotation tow is dispatched.

TRUTH: Flatbed is required for all AWD vehicles, EVs, and accident-damaged cars regardless of make or price.

AWD drivetrain damage from improper towing can happen to a Honda CR-V just as surely as a Range Rover. The requirement isn't about price — it's about drivetrain configuration and structural condition. Any car with all-wheel drive, any electric vehicle, and any vehicle with significant collision damage should be on a flatbed.

TRUTH: Distance doesn't matter — even a short wheel-down tow can cause AWD drivetrain damage.

AWD transfer case damage from improper towing is not a function of distance. The damage mechanism is that the transfer case and differentials expect all wheels to rotate at the same relative speed. When some wheels are lifted and others turn freely, the geometry the system expects is violated — and it can damage bearings, gears, and clutch packs even in a very short move.

TRUTH: You can use any licensed towing company. The insurance company cannot require you to use a specific tow service.

Insurance companies often have preferred towing providers in their network — but they cannot mandate which company you call. If you have a towing company you trust, use them. Keep the receipt for reimbursement. The insurance company's preferred rate may differ from what you pay, but you're entitled to use your own choice.

TRUTH: You decide the destination — not the tow driver.

The destination is your choice. Tell the driver before they hook up the vehicle. If a driver tells you that your car is going to a specific shop without asking you, that's a referral-payment arrangement — not standard practice. Legitimate towing companies always ask where you want the vehicle delivered before loading.

TRUTH: You can dispute a towing bill after paying — paying under protest preserves your right to seek recovery.

Pay under protest in writing, then dispute through the Georgia Consumer Protection Division or magistrate court. Refusing to pay keeps your car in storage, accumulating daily fees that compound your losses. Paying under protest is the correct sequence: retrieve the car, then fight the bill through legal channels.

TRUTH: If you called the tow and change your mind before they hook up, you can decline. If they showed up uninvited, you never had an obligation.

Until a towing agreement is signed and the vehicle is connected, you can decline service from any unsolicited tow truck. Don't sign anything an uninvited tow driver presents. If you called a company and haven't signed anything yet, you can use a different company — though courtesy and a clear no-show may avoid confusion.

TRUTH: Neutral mode doesn't protect against all drivetrain damage during wheel-down towing.

For some vehicles, putting the transmission in neutral disconnects the engine — but on AWD vehicles, the transfer case and differentials are still active even in neutral, and wheel rotation during towing still puts stress through those components. "In neutral" is not a universal solution for safe wheel-down towing. Confirm the correct towing method in your vehicle's owner's manual — and when in doubt, use a flatbed.