To get your car towed to a mechanic, call the shop first to confirm it can take the car, then call a tow company with four details: where the car is, what it is, whether it rolls, and the shop’s exact address. Naming the destination before the truck moves is what keeps your car out of a storage yard and saves you paying for a second tow.
Call the shop before you call the tow
A shop that is closed, full, or does not work on your kind of car cannot receive it, and a tow with nowhere to go ends at a yard, where storage is charged by the day. Ask the shop three things: whether they can take the car today, what time they stop accepting vehicles, and whether they take drop-offs after hours. If they do, ask where the keys should be left.
What to tell the tow company
Four details decide which truck comes out and what the job costs:
- Where the car is, including whether it is on the street, in a garage (and the clearance height), or on a highway.
- The year, make and model.
- Whether it rolls, steers and brakes. A car that will not roll, or has locked wheels, needs different equipment, and finding that out on arrival is how a quote changes.
- The shop’s name and full address.
Ask for the total price before the truck is dispatched, and ask what would change it.
Which truck your car needs
All-wheel-drive cars, electric vehicles, lowered and sports cars, and anything that will not roll should go on a flatbed. Towing an all-wheel-drive car with two wheels turning on the road can damage the drivetrain, which costs far more than the difference in price. For most other cars a wheel lift is fine.
Check whether someone else is paying
Before you pay out of pocket, check for roadside assistance on your auto policy, a motoring club membership, the manufacturer’s roadside program on a newer car, and your credit card benefits. Most plans cap the distance or the amount, so ask what the limit is and whether your shop is inside it. See what towing insurance actually covers.
If the car has been in an accident
Take photographs before the car moves, then send it straight to the body shop you have chosen rather than to a yard, so it only moves once. If you do not have a shop in mind, it can go to A1 Collision NY in Long Island City, which handles collision repair and deals with the adjuster directly. See accident towing in NYC.
At pickup and drop-off
Take out everything you will need over the next few days: documents, medication, house keys. Get a receipt showing the date, the pickup location and the destination, because insurers ask for it. If the shop will be closed when the car arrives, settle in advance where the car and the keys should be left.
Car Towed to a Mechanic: Common Questions
Can a tow truck take my car to any mechanic I choose?
Yes, when you are the one calling for the tow. It is your car and your decision where it goes, so give the address when you book rather than when the driver arrives. A tow arranged by the police at an accident scene or on a highway can work differently, so ask the officer where the car is being taken.
Can I get my car towed to a mechanic late in the day?
A1 Towing NYC tows from 8 AM to 8 PM, so the question is whether the shop can still receive the car. If it closes earlier, book the tow for when it opens, so the car goes straight into the bay instead of waiting outside.
How much does it cost to tow a car to a mechanic?
It depends on the distance, the hour, the equipment and whether the car rolls. See how much a tow costs in NYC, or call 212 695-3157 with the four details above for a price before anything is dispatched.
Can I get my car towed to a mechanic in another borough?
Yes. Getting a car towed to a mechanic in another borough is routine; tolls and traffic are part of the price, so give the shop's full address when you book.
To book a tow to your mechanic, call A1 Towing NYC at 212 695-3157.