Beware Of Towing Scams In New York: What You Need To Know

Kudos to those who work in the towing industry. Being called out at any time of the day or night, in all kinds of weather, encountering difficult situations from safety while hooking up a vehicle to tow, to sometimes irate vehicle owners.

The Hard Hat Training website notes that according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 1,280 tow truck workers are injured each year in the U.S.

That's one of the reasons New York State adopted the Move Over Law. Motorists must move over when approaching hazard vehicles, highway worker vehicles, tow trucks, and, as added to the law in 2023, all vehicles stopped on the roadway.

While we are on the subject of the tow truck industry, recently, the New York State Police went on social media to warn motorists about suspicious “24-hour emergency towing” websites.

The NYSP has been receiving reports of New Yorkers who searched online through a quick search, found a towing company, paid out a large fee on the phone in advance, only to find on tow truck never arrived.

If a tow truck company listing has a phone number, but no physical address, local reviews, verified business information, appears to look almost identical to other towing websites, and requires a payment upfront before dispatch, it's probably a fake company.

New York State Police also notes that some might just be acting as third-party brokers, charging high fees before contacting a local tow company, while others may take your money, and you never see any assistance arrive.

Safeguard yourself against online towing scams. The NYSP says to use established local towing companies with verified addresses, check online reviews from real customers, and avoid companies that require large upfront payments. Report any scams to local law enforcement.

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Gallery Credit: Traci Taylor