Think Twice Before You Tow
Towing your own vehicle might seem like a smart way to save money—until something goes wrong. When you find yourself stranded or your car simply won’t budge, it’s tempting to think you can fix the problem with a few straps and a borrowed truck. Before you take matters into your own hands, though, think carefully. Calling our professional Laurel emergency towing service could save you a lot more than money.
Today, our tow truck operators share their top three reasons why towing your vehicle yourself is a bad idea, based on real experiences we’ve seen firsthand.
Towing Without the Right Equipment is Risky
We’ve seen it happen too many times: someone thinks a basic rope and a friend’s pickup will do the trick. In reality, proper towing requires more than just something to pull the car. Without the right tools, you’re setting yourself up for a disaster.
Towing straps, chains, and hooks have weight ratings for a reason. If they’re not rated for the size of your vehicle, they can snap under pressure. Even a slight jolt from a pothole could cause a dangerous break. Not to mention, improperly secured vehicles can sway, fishtail, or even separate from the tow vehicle altogether.
When we handle Laurel emergency towing calls, we show up equipped for whatever the situation demands. Here’s a quick look at what professional equipment includes:
- Heavy-duty flatbed trucks
- Rated towing chains and straps
- Wheel lifts designed to protect vehicle frames
- Professional-grade safety lights and signals
- Fully trained operators who know how to use all of it
DIY towing skips these critical pieces, putting you, your vehicle, and everyone else on the road at risk.
Towing Without Experience Can Damage Your Vehicle
Pulling a car isn’t like towing a trailer. It’s easy to overlook the technical side of towing: how weight affects braking, how steering changes with an extra load, or how to distribute force without damaging the vehicle’s undercarriage. Every mistake made while towing yourself compounds quickly into serious repair bills.
We’ve recovered vehicles after DIY attempts that ended with:
- Crushed front ends from poor tow points
- Transmission damage from improper towing methods
- Broken axles caused by uneven force
- Frame damage from dragging instead of lifting
When you call for Laurel emergency towing, you’re relying on trained hands that know how to protect your car during every step of the process. We don’t just hook and haul; we carefully load and transport to make sure the only thing your car needs is whatever repair made you call for a tow in the first place.
You Could Be Liable for More Than You Think
If something goes wrong during a DIY tow, you could be responsible for a lot more than your own car. Damage to other vehicles, injury to other drivers, and even property damage could come back on you. Most personal auto insurance policies don’t cover accidents caused by improper towing practices.
A few liability risks to keep in mind:
- Injury to others: If your towed vehicle detaches, you could cause a major accident.
- Damage to public property: Broken signs, light poles, and road surfaces are all expensive to replace.
- Tickets and fines: Improper towing is illegal in many areas, and police won’t hesitate to issue a ticket if they spot an unsafe tow.
Choosing us for your Laurel emergency towing job means the risks aren’t yours to carry. Licensed and insured operators take that burden off your shoulders, ensuring that the job gets done the right way—and legally too.
Call Past & Present for All Your Laurel Emergency Towing Needs
We get it. It’s tempting to try to solve a towing problem yourself, especially if you think it will save a few bucks or a little time. But too often, we end up seeing people in even worse situations because of a well-intentioned mistake. The truth is, the risks far outweigh the rewards. Call Past & Present Towing for all your Laurel emergency towing needs. If you’re stuck on the side of the road or dealing with a broken-down vehicle, remember that our Laurel emergency towing team is just a call away.
