Whether you’ve gotten into an auto accident or your vehicle has broken down, there’s a good possibility that you’ll be calling a tow truck in Miami for assistance.  But before you do, it’s important that you follow some guidelines so you can get the most value out of that towing service. Depending on where the accident occurred, you may not have too many choices at your disposal since fire or police departments often times dispatch a wrecker to the scene for you.

However, in other situations such as breakdowns, engine trouble, or a single vehicle accident, a little due diligence and research will save you a great deal of stress.  Here are some helpful tips that could save you a lot of grief in the long run when hiring a tow truck in Miami:

• First and foremost, do your homework – Call several companies and talk to them about their rates.  Once you find a reliable, reputable company, save their phone number into your contact list.  If you have an auto body shop in mind that has worked on any of your other vehicles, ask them about towing your vehicle.  In many cases, they won’t charge you a fee if they’re going to be working on your vehicle.

• Be wary of a tow truck that arrives unannounced – Although you may not have a choice of towing companies (see above), don’t just blindly trust any tow truck in Miami that shows up at the scene of your accident unannounced.  Reputable companies will always have their Department of Transportation ID numbers displayed on their trucks as well as any other numbers that are required by law.

• Pictures of your vehicle – If you have a digital camera or you have a camera-equipped phone, take several pictures of your vehicle and the condition it’s in prior to the tow truck’s arrival.  This could come in handy when dealing with your insurance company. A reputable paint and body shop that offers towing will ensure that no additional damage is done to your vehicle when it’s en-route to their facility.

Depending on your situation, there’s a good possibility that your auto insurance will cover the cost of the towing.  However, if the auto body shop that is doing the repairs and repainting provides a tow truck in Miami for you, you may not have to worry about this.  Remember, do some research about this before the need for a towing service arises. It could save you a lot of grief in the long run. Additionally, if you have used a service before or have found the right company, keep the contact details on speed dial because you don’t know when you might again need those services.