Is your car your most prized possession? Do you rely on it to get work on time or to transport your kids between school and hockey? No matter how you choose to use your vehicle, cars are an investment from day one. With any investment, you need to do everything you can to protect and care for your assets. So, when the dreaded day arrives and your vehicle needs a tow, you best be sure you hire a reliable towing company.
With that said, how do you distinguish the good from the bad? To avoid being trapped in a towing scam, here are some tips to guide you in the right direction:
1. Customer Service
What do customers have to say about the services they received? One of the most important traits of a reliable towing company is good customer service. Look through past reviews to gauge the experience of others. You can often find them on Google, Facebook pages, or directly on company’s website to name a few.
If a company has nothing but negative reviews, you’ve got a clear answer. Keep in mind, while reviews are a great indicator of service quality, they’re very one-sided. A few poor reviews amongst many positive ones should not discourage you from learning more about the company and their towing services.
2. Qualifications
Every professional tow truck company needs to be certified and licenced. A lawfully operated company will have the necessary licensing and insurance in compliance with your municipality’s laws. In BC, check to see if your towing company is accredited by your local leading insurance providers.
3. No Hidden Fees
A towing company that is willing to disclose their full fees is a sign of a trustworthy company. Prior to providing their services, you should discuss the towing prices to ensure you’re not billed more than you should be. An honest company will provide a clear statement of what determines the pricing, for your peace of mind and theirs.
4. Experience
While every company has to start somewhere, nothing beats years of tried-and-true towing experience. Not only does this show that they know what they’re doing but it’s a strong indicator of quality and reliability. A company with a poor track-record won’t be towing cars for 40+ years like Mundie’s. By hiring an experienced towing company, professionalism and expertise are practically guaranteed.
5. Availability
Emergencies don’t often respect the 9-5 schedule. Consequently, your towing company can’t either. A company’s willingness to assist you at all times of the day or night, plays into their reliability. Look for hours of service prior to settling on a towing company. If your car breaks down at 3 AM in the middle of nowhere, you’ll want to call someone offering 24/7 emergency assistance.
6. Response Time
An excellent indicator of reliability is response time. After you make the call, how long does it take for the driver to be at your side? While unforeseen traffic delays can increase wait time, your driver should be able to provide an estimated time of arrival. To better gauge this speed, look at the areas of service. If they advertise towing services in multiple surrounding areas, including yours, you can bet they’re efficient with their time management.
7. Fleet Size
Don’t go calling a company that has one pick-up truck parked outside their parent’s garage. An established towing company will have a varied fleet of trucks, designed to deliver services to anyone who needs them. From motorcycles and sedans to large excavators, your towing company should be able to handle it all.
What’s Next?
At Mundie’s Towing and Recovery, we’re all about providing excellent customer service to ensure reliability and efficiency. If you’re in need of a towing company in Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, New Westminster, Surrey, or Delta, our team is the one to call. Contact our 24-hour dispatch to reach a reliable towing company near you.