It can seem that towing a car is a simple task. You can just use your own car and connect it through a hitch. However, it isn’t as easy as it might seem. In fact, there are rules and regulations that need to be followed if you are to tow another vehicle.
These rules and regulations were created for safety purposes not only for your sake but for the sake of everyone else on the road.
Mode Of Towing
One of the first things that you should determine when towing a car is the mode of towing to be used. Some would tow the vehicle using a trailer while others will use a dinghy. Either way, both modes can successfully tow the vehicle.
If you choose to tow the vehicle through the trailer mode, you’ll have to attach a trailer to the back of the pulling vehicle. Don’t just use any vehicle for towing because they may not have enough power to tow the vehicle safely. It is best to get a capable truck then attach a trailer to it.
With a dinghy, the car to be towed would be attached through either the two front wheels or two rear wheels. This will depend on the car’s transmission. Also, you may need to perform additional steps to prepare the car for proper attachment with this method.
Safety While Towing
There are different benefits of the two mentioned methods of towing above. Nevertheless, whichever method is chosen, it is very important to observe safety precautions. One of them is to have tail lights for towed vehicles. These tail lights will help the towed vehicle to be more visible for the other people. They help inform the drivers at the back when the tow truck is slowing down.
Moreover, safety chains and straps can be used to ensure that the car towed is securely attached to the towing vehicle. This helps prevent the towed car from accidentally getting loose on the road.
In some states, there are also additional safety measure requirements like the presence of breakaway breaks. These will apply the brakes immediately in case the car being towed suddenly breaks away from the hitch. On the contrary, instead of breakaway brakes, some may use auxiliary brakes. These are great for the RVs that are towing extra weight because of the trailer or a car.
Legal Requirements For Towing
In order for you to legally operate a tow truck or an RV to tow a vehicle, some states could require an endorsement on the driver’s license while in other states, all you need is to be over the age of either 18 or 21.
Apart from that, you may also be required to have insurance to tow the cars. It is always best to check the car towing laws and regulations in your state to ensure that you’re not breaking any law. Additionally, if you are crossing state borders when towing a car, it would also be best to check the regulations of both the states before heading out for your trip.
It is also important for you to check the height requirements or restrictions of various states. Some would only allow trailers a maximum height of 14 feet while there are others who require a lower height of about 13.5 feet. Even if there is a small difference, violating the requirements can still result in a citation.
Besides providing requirements and guidelines for the tow truck and trailers themselves, there are also additional requirements on the road that need to be followed. Different states may have different maximum speeds for those that are towing a vehicle.
Car Towing Insurance
Related to car towing safety is car insurance. In the worst case scenario, the car can get detached and go out of control on the road. If this happens, a good insurance would cover the cost of repair for other vehicles as well as the medical bills of the people injured. If you don’t have insurance coverage, you’d have to pay for all that from your own pocket.
Remember that not all insurance is the same. Some auto insurance policies don’t cover towing scenarios while others do but for an additional fee. The best thing to do here is to figure out first whether your insurance would cover anything that happens while the car is towed. Call your insurance agent for clarification or to see if they have other policies or add-ons that can provide insurance cover for towed vehicles.
Source: https://www.motorists.org/blog/rules-regulations-towing-vehicle/
https://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/vehicle-towing/car/car-towing-regulations2.htm
