Of the 448 company employees PCI surveyed, excessive rates and fees were identified as the worst problem insurers and consumers face with towing companies.

Houston and Dallas rank number one and two on the list of U.S. cities with the most hostile towing markets for consumers, according to a new national towing survey conducted by the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI).

Related: 1 in 8 U.S. drivers was uninsured in 2015, new study says

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Key findings

Of the 448 company employees PCI surveyed, excessive rates and fees were identified as the worst problem insurers and consumers face with towing companies. Excessive daily storage rates ranked second, while others listed towing company practices that make it difficult to recover a vehicle or even gain access in order to get personal effects or commercial cargo.

The top five worst cities for towing hassles, ranked in order, are Houston, Dallas, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. The top five states for towing hassles, ranked in order, are Texas, Illinois, California, Pensylvania and New York.

Related: Top 10 states for auto hail damage claims

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Know your rights

Following an accident, the parties involved may feel helpless, but it is important to remember that if you need tow truck assistance you have options. Scams often occur when a tow truck just shows up at the scene of an accident, so PCI developed a checklist to remind consumers of their rights.

  1. You can refuse a tow for any reason.
  2. You may choose who will tow your vehicle.
  3. You decide where your vehicle will be towed.
  4. You should get an itemized statement of the charges.
  5. You should receive a copy of the towing authorization form.
  6. You should request to see a valid towing permit and company identification.

Related: What you should know about auto accident liability exclusions

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Denny Jacob

Denny Jacob is an associate editor for NU PropertyCasualty360. Contact him at [email protected].

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