When calling for a tow truck, there will always be some amount of wait time involved. While most people tend to spend this time on social media or playing games, this is your ideal opportunity to get your car ready to go.
We often get people accidentally leaving important things in their car like keys, laptops and important documents. By spending that wait time gathering everything of importance from in the car, you take all that pressure of yourself once the truck arrives.
No scrambling to look through your car, no stress about trying to find everything while the driver waits, just a simple, smooth process. These tips are just another way we try to work with you to reduce those stress levels and make it a positive towing experience.
Get your important possessions out of the car before the tow truck arrives
Before the tow truck gets there, make sure you have any important possessions packed up and ready to go. Most people tend to leave it to the last minute but end up rushing after the truck has arrived, leaving important possessions behind.
At the very least, make sure you gather your:
- Wallet / purse
- Phone
- Tablets, laptops and other electronics
- Important documents
- Jewellery
- Cash
- Any other valuable items
Remember, once your vehicle has been loaded onto the tow truck, you likely won’t have access to it until it arrives at its destination. If you won’t be following the tow truck to that drop-off location, getting your valuables back can be a pain!
If your vehicle is being left outside, leaving valuables in sight could tempt thieves to break in, adding another expense to your day!
Take your house and work keys off the keyring
This is another common one that we see all the time. When you give your keys to the driver, make sure you take any important keys off that keyring. All that your tow truck driver will need is the car to the car and the remote if that’s separate.
It’s often best to remove your car key from the keyring, keeping everything else in tact. That way you don’t risk having an important key fall out of your pocket or getting left behind somewhere.
This is a small detail but one that can make your day much more complicated than it needs to be.
Get your garage door remote out of the car
Much like the previous point, nobody is thinking about their garage door when they’ve had to call for a tow truck – consider this your friendly reminder.
If you have a remote for your garage door, take it out of the car before the truck arrives. The more you can prepare for their arrival, the easier the entire process can be.
Don’t underestimate the importance of your garage door opener. Even if you don’t need it until you have your car back, it’s something you don’t want to get into the wrong hands. Particularly since most people have some kind of paperwork in their car that has an address on it.
Don’t forget your toll tag!
If you use a tag for the toll roads, make sure you don’t leave that behind as well. Particularly if your car will be towed through one of the toll gates.
You already pay enough in tolls, no need to go paying an extra trip for no reason!
Unbuckle the baby seat if you have one
If you’ve had the baby seat installed in your car for a while now, this is probably another point you won’t think about until its far too late. Removing a baby seat is a simple but time consuming task so its better to get it done while you wait for the tow truck.
You can always leave it inside the car until you’re ready to be picked up, just don’t wait until the truck has arrived to figure out how it comes out.
Take your disability parking permit off if you have one
If you have a disability parking permit, make sure you take that with you as well. While not as important as something like your house keys, it can make getting around that much easier.
Although you can always get a new one from the Department of Transport and Main Roads, it’s much easier to just avoid that hassle in the first place. With a potential fine of $575 for parking without that permit, it could become a costly mistake!
For anything being left in the car, store it out of sight
Less of a concern if your car is being taken home or to someone’s house. If your car is being dropped at a mechanic or smash repairer though, security becomes more of a concern.
Since a lot of petty theft is opportunistic, moving your belongings into the glovebox, center console or boot could be enough to save you – out of sight, out of mind.
When getting picked up, park the second vehicle clear of the scene
If you’re getting a ride home with a friend or family member, make sure they don’t park too close to the vehicle being towed. Depending on the location you’re being towed from, the driver may need access from several angles to get the job done safely.
Rather than trying to predict where they’ll need to go, its best to just have the second vehicle parked at least a couple of cars lengths away in any direction.
We’ll always prioritise safety over speed so this move can avoid potential delays on arrival.
Overall, we do everything we can to make sure your towing experience goes as smoothly as possible. By preparing your vehicle ahead of time, you can make your day that much easier.
