Photo: Andriy Blokhin/Adobe Stock
An estimated 55,000 vehicles are towed in the United States every day, and drivers would be wise to watch out for towing scams.
Common scams include:
- Bait and switch: A tow service could quote a price over the phone or online and then raise the price once the vehicle has been towed. They often refuse to release your vehicle until you’ve paid the higher price.
- Bandit towing: These companies watch shopping centers and other well-trafficked areas and then tow vehicles without authorization. They’ll claim a vehicle has violated a rule, like being parked illegally, and tow it. At the scene of an accident, they might appear on site and say they were sent by insurance. They take the car to another location and charge heavy fines for you to recover it.
- Add-on services: The tow company might exaggerate the car’s problems and charge for expensive repairs or take your car to a partner body shop that will charge more.
- Fake companies: Criminals sometimes create fake tow companies to steal your vehicle or hold it ransom.
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