Towing fees

[mmotley]

Just curious as to how others handle towing fees.

 

Example:

Customer called me today and said they needed to have their vehicle towed to my shop. They informed me that the belt had some off and the radiator is leaking. The customer was at work, but had left keys in the ignition before he left. Do I go ahead at the first opportunity to give him the cost of towing? Do I take a credit card number down??? I don't usually ask for credit card information or money down before performing repairs, so it doesn't feel right to ask for CC info for towing services. Do you roll this into the cost when you quote the repairs?

 

Also, is their any sort of special deal you can work with local towing companies? Are these folks I should be sending pizzas for lunch to earn their recommendation or handing them 3-5 business cards when they drop cars off? Still new to this end of the business (in other words, treat me like a dummy and assume I know nothing). Any advice and/or scenarios would be helpful or things to look out for. Vehicle walk arounds, etc.

[Joe Marconi]

As long as the car is being towed to me, I don't ask for money up front. I never did in all the years in business and never had a problem. I create a line item for towing on the invoice. All the tow companies in my area have a wholesale rate and a retail rate. We make a few bucks on a tow, not much. But, it's not a profit center for me. A typical $80.00 to me, will cost the customer $100.00.

 

I do ask, what the retail price is, so that we are line with what the tow would be to the customer.

[xrac]

In our town our towing comnpany charges us $40 in tow and we charge the customer $50.

[FROGFINDER]

I try to Jog the customers memory at some point that they may have towing on their cell phone package, insurance , credit card,etc. Excludes me from all towing issue liability while it was being towed to me.If not a organize the tow up front to a limit of my cost $100.00 as long as it comes to us.

[ExclusiveAutoCare]

We also offer a towing service. We don't ask for money upfront but we do inform the customer upfront that there would be a towing charge. We add the towing fee in the final invoice.

 

My question is should we type up a form for the customer to sign giving us permission to towed their vehicle and that we are not responsible for any damage while is being towed to our shop. We don't have any insurance on this service in case something was to happen to the vehicle while it being towed.

 

What do you guys suggest.

[Jeff]

I add 10% to the tows. As far as insurance...a quality towing company has the coverage from hook to drop. Your insurance would not kick in till it hit the ground at your shop. And yes I ask if they have towing coverage they may not know about. I was pushing the BG road service BUT they recently cut the tow from the $100 limit to 5 miles OR $100 which ever comes first.

[Jmazur]

Towing companies can be a great source of referrals. You should absolutely take care of them! Offer coffee and pop every time they are in. Most of all, train your staff to be nice to them!! They will take cars to the people they like.

 

As far as towing fees go, we mark them up between $10 and $20, and add the charge to the invoice. When we call the customer to discuss the repairs, we will go over the towing cost at that time, but have never asked for money up front. In my opinion, AAA road service is the best value for a road service plan. We recommend that to our customers.

[JimO]

I always ask the customer "Do you have AAA to avoid the cost of towing?" If the answer is "No AAA" then the customer has been told and is now aware that there will be a charge for the tow. If the answer is "Yes, I have AAA" then I suggest they call AAA and provide them with the phone number if needed. If the vehicle is being towed to my shop then I do not ask for credit card info or pre-payment. If it is going anywhere else and I don't "know" the customer then I would ask for credit card info or pre-payment.