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A car can end up with a towing Winnipeg company in two cases: by force or by the owner’s will. Forcibly – if it’s being towed for a traffic violation or if someone is planning to steal it. At the owner’s discretion – if the vehicle isn’t running or is otherwise prohibited from being driven on public roads. A car could break down, be involved in an accident, or have a flat tire in a large pothole: there are various reasons for calling a tow truck.
This article will tell you when it’s best to call a tow truck instead of driving yourself, and how to do it safely and effectively.
When you need a tow truck
The car is broken and can’t be driven.
Even a minor malfunction can be the reason for ending the journey and turning the car into a piece of real estate. The alternator might fail, the water pump drive belt might break, the ignition coil might fail, or one of the engine sensors might fail.
If you notice one or more warning lights on your dashboard illuminate while driving and you don’t understand what they mean, stop driving. Check your owner’s manual and find out what they mean. If you don’t have a hard copy, look online or call your local auto repair shop.
Do the same if you hear any unusual sounds while driving or if the engine is running, such as clunking, knocking, or grinding. Look under the car: if any fluid is leaking and there appears to be a lot of it, do not drive the vehicle.
The car was damaged in an accident.
Traffic regulations prohibit driving a car with a broken bumper or headlight. This can result in a fine of 100$.
Usually, inspectors don’t bother with this, especially if you show documents about the accident and don’t drive the damaged car for a long time.
Crumpled body parts can interfere with the wheels’ rotation, and a deployed airbag will prevent proper control—all of which are compelling reasons to call a tow truck.
A flat tire.
Not all cars come with a spare tire. And not every driver can install it without assistance. If you notice one tire is flat and there’s no way to install the spare, you should call a tow truck. After driving on a flat tire, it almost always needs to be replaced. Buying a new tire will obviously be more expensive than a tow truck ride to the tire shop. And most importantly, a tow truck is safer.
The manufacturer does not recommend or prohibit towing.
Sometimes a car can be towed, and we wrote a separate article about this. Here, we’ll be brief. Avoid towing a car with an automatic transmission; at most, limit towing to a distance of no more than 50 km. Cars with continuously variable transmissions and electric vehicles are not allowed to be towed; a tow truck is recommended for these vehicles.
What types of tow trucks are there?
With a fixed platform and ramps. The simplest type of tow truck Winnipeg Near Me: a light truck with a fixed platform and extendable ramps. If the vehicle can’t drive onto the platform itself, it is towed with a winch.
This type of tow truck has its drawbacks: it requires the most space to load the vehicle. A vehicle severely damaged in an accident will have to be dragged, which a winch may not always be up to. However, this type of tow truck is the simplest in terms of design, and its services can also be cheaper.
The sliding platform tow truck is a more advanced version of the platform tow truck. Thanks to its hydraulic drive, the platform can be positioned directly under the vehicle’s wheels.
These types of tow trucks are the most common. They require less space and less time to load even a badly damaged vehicle.
With a crane: for example, these are the ones at the Moscow Traffic Management Center. This type of tow truck is very popular with emergency services in large cities. A special crane-manipulator lifts the vehicle and places it on a platform. The body is left untouched; special hooks are placed under the wheels and the vehicle is lifted by them.
The crane option provides the most convenient towing option. It can even be retrieved from a tightly packed line of other vehicles. However, it’s also the riskiest: lifting the vehicle two meters high can result in it falling.
How to call a tow truck
Auto repair shops and their towing trucks. There’s little point in bringing a broken-down or accident-damaged car to your home. It’s better to call a tow truck right away to the repair shop, so you don’t have to pay for another towing trip.
Call the auto repair shop where you’re servicing your car: most shops offer friendly towing services. This will at least make your car transport safer; there’s no point in the shop recommending a bad tow truck in Winnipeg. At best, they’ll offer you a discount or even free towing if you need expensive repairs.
If your car is under warranty, check if you have a valid roadside assistance program. This may be included with a premium car or bundled with a car loan. Sometimes, a tow truck may be sent free of charge. Your comprehensive insurance policy may also include a similar option: in this case, your car may be towed to the insurance company’s lot.
How to do everything right
Paperwork. This is neglected in most cases. But simply loading the car and handing over the paperwork carries a significant risk: if the car is damaged during transportation, filing a claim will be difficult.
If the driver plans to travel with the vehicle, before loading, he must present the following documents to the tow truck driver: a passport or, at a minimum, a driver’s license, a vehicle registration certificate (VRC), and a power of attorney if the driver is not the owner and is not listed on the MTPL policy.
The tow truck driver should also be checked for the same documents, as well as their motor vehicle liability insurance policy. Cars are often stolen, and it all starts as if they were being loaded onto a tow truck. Police officers are aware of this and regularly stop tow trucks to check all documents: both for the tow truck and for the vehicle towed on its platform.
If there are problems with the tow truck’s documents, the car owner and the car itself become hostages to the situation. There’s a risk of wasting time and not making it to the service center before closing time.
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