Insurance Claims & Towing — How to Get Reimbursed

Paid for a tow out of pocket? Good news: most major insurance carriers in Texas reimburse towing costs — if you have the right policy rider, and if your tow operator gives you the right paperwork.

What makes a tow reimbursable

Your insurance typically covers tow costs if you have one of these:

• Roadside Assistance rider — covers any tow regardless of cause, usually capped at 100 miles or a dollar amount per event
• Rental reimbursement / tow coverage — covers tows after a covered accident
• Comprehensive coverage — covers tows after a covered loss (flood, fire, vandalism)
• AAA or similar club membership — reimburses independent of your insurance

Check your declarations page or call your carrier to confirm which applies.

What to get from the tow operator

Every tow should come with an itemized receipt that shows:

• Tow company name, address, TDLR license number
• Date and time of service
• Pickup location
• Drop-off location
• Vehicle year/make/model/VIN
• Itemized charges (tow fee, hookup, mileage, storage if any)
• Total paid
• Payment method
• Driver/operator name

Without an itemized receipt, insurance won't pay.

At Smith Towing, we provide this automatically on every tow. No request needed.

How to file the claim

1. Call your insurance carrier within 24 hours of the tow (or as soon as reasonable)
2. Provide the claim details — date, location, reason for tow, cost
3. Submit the receipt — photo from your phone is usually fine; some carriers want a scan
4. Wait 3–10 business days for reimbursement

If the tow was part of a larger claim (accident), the reimbursement usually rolls into that claim's settlement.

Common pitfalls

• Don't wait weeks to file. Many carriers have a 30-day or 60-day window for roadside-assistance reimbursement.
• Don't accept a receipt without the company's TDLR license number. It's a red flag — and a non-starter for most insurance claims.
• Don't pay in cash without getting a written receipt. You'll have nothing to file.

When the tow company works DIRECTLY with your insurance

Some scenarios allow us to bill your insurance directly, skipping the out-of-pocket step:

• Accident tows where another driver's liability covers yours
• Fleet accounts with pre-arranged agreements
• Commercial vehicle recovery where the cargo or vehicle is insured

Ask us when you call. If direct-bill is an option, we'll coordinate with your adjuster.

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Questions about a specific claim or need a copy of a receipt from a past tow? Call (832) 360-7122. We keep records of every tow and can re-issue itemized receipts on request.