What if my car needs to be towed farther than the policy limit?

If your vehicle needs to be towed beyond your policy's mileage limit, your insurer typically covers the tow up to the limit and you pay the difference for the remaining distance.

Does auto insurance follow the car or the driver in Georgia?

The policy on the vehicle usually responds first in a Georgia accident, with the driver's own coverage as backup. Permission and household rules decide the exceptions.

Does my auto policy cover a rental car?

Usually yes, if you have comprehensive and collision on your policy.

Can a telematics program raise my car insurance rate?

In some programs, yes. Discount-only programs just shrink the discount when your score is poor, but full rating programs can raise your renewal price on the data. Ask which type you are joining before you enroll.

Does roadside assistance cover a dead car battery?

Yes. Battery jump-start service is one of the most common benefits included in roadside assistance programs. A service technician is dispatched to your location to restart your vehicle at no additional cost per call.

Auto FAQs

What should I do if my car is towed to a shop I did not choose?

All FAQs

Quick answer: You have the right to choose where your vehicle is repaired. If it was towed to a facility you did not select, you can request a second tow to your preferred shop, though you may be responsible for additional tow costs.

If your car was towed to a shop you did not choose, you are not required to have it repaired there. After an accident, police or a tow operator often move a disabled vehicle to the nearest impound lot or storage yard to clear the road. You have the right to have the car released and moved to a repair shop you trust, though you may owe towing and storage fees at the first location before the release.

Do you have the right to move your car to a different shop in Georgia?

Georgia law does not allow an insurer to require you to use a specific repair facility. An insurer can recommend or prefer certain shops, but the final choice is yours. The tow operator’s choice of lot does not change that right. The practical step is paying whatever towing and gate fees the first yard has accrued, then arranging a second tow to the shop you want. Our FAQ on what to do when a carrier estimate is too low covers a closely related issue that often arises once the car is at your chosen shop.

How much do towing and storage fees add up?

Storage yards typically charge $25 to $75 per day, plus a release or gate fee, starting from the moment the car arrives. The bill grows quickly over several days, especially if you are not immediately notified of the vehicle’s location. Acting within 24 hours of learning where the car was taken limits the accrued charges significantly. Get the full itemized total from the lot before deciding whether to release the car yourself or wait for your insurer to arrange the transfer.

For example, a Gwinnett County driver whose car is towed after a fender-bender on a Friday evening arrives at the lot Monday morning to find three days of storage charges totaling $225, plus a $75 gate fee, before the car can move. Calling the lot within hours of the accident would have cut that bill to one day of storage.

Does insurance cover towing and storage after an accident?

If you have collision coverage, towing and storage charges are often covered as part of the claim, subject to your deductible. If the other driver is at fault, their liability coverage may pick up those costs directly. Keep every receipt for towing and storage so the charges can be submitted with the claim. Your auto insurance policy may also carry separate roadside assistance coverage that covers a tow independently of a collision claim and without affecting your deductible. Our FAQ on Georgia auto minimum coverage limits explains the baseline coverage every driver is required to carry.

What steps should you take after a tow you did not choose?

Find the car’s location immediately. Ask the responding officer or check county impound lookup resources for the tow yard information.
Call the lot right away. Confirm the total charges, ask what you need to bring for release, and get their hours of operation.
Notify your insurer and your agent. They can often arrange the second tow to your preferred shop and confirm what the claim covers.
Choose your shop before authorizing the move. Confirm the repair shop can accept the vehicle before the second tow is scheduled.
Keep all receipts. Every towing, gate, and storage charge is potentially recoverable through the claim.

What if the shop starts repairs before you authorize them?

A repair shop generally cannot begin work without your written authorization in Georgia. If a shop claims authorization you did not give, dispute it immediately and document the conversation in writing. Contact your insurer the same day. Our FAQ on what a CLUE report is and why it matters explains how disputes over unauthorized repairs can affect your claims history going forward. For example, a DeKalb County driver discovers a shop began disassembling her car before she authorized the work. She contacts her insurer the same day, and the carrier reaches out to the shop directly to stop work and negotiate the release under the claim. A free coverage review is a good time to confirm your towing limits, roadside assistance terms, and collision coverage levels so you know exactly what applies before an incident occurs.