Steps to Take Right After Your Vehicle Is Towed

Key Takeaways:

• Immediately after a commercial vehicle is towed, it's crucial to confirm the tow, gather essential details (tow yard/company, date, time, reason), and document everything (photos, reports, invoices) to lay the groundwork for proper reporting and minimize confusion or disputes.
• Businesses must quickly assess the full scope of their exposure, including potential cargo claims (especially for perishable goods), general liability concerns (e.g., third-party injury/damage), and the risk of escalating storage fees or legal ramifications if proper procedures weren't followed.
• Activating a specialized claims support team, such as a towing claims administrator, is vital for a rapid and coordinated response, as they can handle communication with tow yards and carriers, validate fee structures, and initiate the overall claim strategy across relevant departments.
• Promptly filing appropriate claims for all exposures (towing, cargo, storage, physical damage, liability) is essential, with claims specialists guiding the process to ensure documentation support, compliance with deadlines, and efficient navigation of approval workflows.
• Veritas, as a third-party administrator, maximizes cost control and operational efficiency by centralizing claims management, overseeing all functions from field response to recovery, and providing seamless coordination across multiple claims (cargo, storage, liability) to deliver fast, accurate results.

Towing incidents can escalate quickly—what you do next will determine how fast the situation is resolved and how much it will ultimately cost. Whether you're managing commercial vehicles, cargo fleets, or high-liability exposures, timely and structured action is critical to mitigating delays, disputes, and financial loss.

Working with a trusted towing claims administrator ensures that every detail, from documentation to communication, is handled with accuracy and speed. At Veritas, we guide organizations through every stage of the towing and storage resolution process—from field response to documentation, claims filing, and recovery. Below are the key steps businesses should take immediately after a vehicle has been towed.

Step 1: Confirm the Tow and Locate the Vehicle

Before anything else, verify that the vehicle was towed, not stolen or relocated. Contact local law enforcement, your dispatch center, or facility security to confirm removal and location.

Gather these key details:

• Name and location of the tow yard or storage facility
• Name of the towing company that removed the unit
• Time, date, and location of the tow
• Reason for the removal (e.g., violation, accident, abandonment

This initial information lays the groundwork for proper reporting and minimizes the risk of confusion during the claims handling process.

Step 2: Document Everything Immediately

Time is critical, especially when perishable cargo or legal claims may be involved. Begin documenting all aspects of the incident for reference and potential dispute.

Be sure to collect and record:

• Photos of the tow location and surrounding signage
• Incident reports from onsite personnel or police
• Copies of any violation notices or parking citations
• Tow receipts or invoices with a fee breakdown

Early documentation supports faster recovery, protects against inaccurate charges, and enables your storage resolution claims adjuster to act swiftly on your behalf.

Step 3: Understand the Scope of Your Exposure

Once the vehicle is located and documentation is in progress, assess what’s at stake operationally and financially.

Key risk categories include:

• Cargo claims management if the goods were in transit and potentially impacted
• General liability concerns if the tow was due to an incident involving third-party injury or property damage
• Extended storage fees if delays occur in release or response
• Legal exposure if regulatory procedures (like proper notice) were not followed

Veritas evaluates all potential claim exposures at once to minimize cost and consolidate resolution efforts.

Step 4: Activate Your Claims Support Team

Whether the situation is straightforward or complex, having the right team in place ensures your response is immediate and coordinated. At Veritas, our towing claims administrator professionals are trained to move quickly and decisively.

Our team provides:

• Rapid communication with tow yards, law enforcement, and involved carriers
• Validation of fee structures and towing compliance
• Full lifecycle support for towing and storage resolution
• Coordination across departments to initiate the claim strategy

We take over the details so your internal teams can focus on operations, not back-and-forth with vendors or investigators.

Step 5: File the Appropriate Claims

Once you've gathered documentation and assessed exposure, it’s time to initiate the claims process. The scope of your claim may vary depending on whether you're addressing towing, cargo loss, physical damage, or liability.

Our claims specialists help you:

• Determine what exposures require claims (cargo, storage, GL, etc.)
• Provide documentation support for efficient claim review
• Ensure compliance with deadlines and reporting requirements
• Navigate insurer or internal approval workflows

As a trusted third-party claims administrator, Veritas ensures each claim is filed, tracked, and resolved efficiently—no missed steps, no fragmented communication.

Verify the Vehicle and Documentation to Avoid Delays

Once you’ve located the vehicle, it’s essential to confirm all details with accuracy before initiating claims or retrieval. Mismatches in records, names, or documents can create costly delays or disputes—especially when cargo claims administration or third-party responsibilities are involved.

Be sure to confirm:

• Vehicle identification details (VIN, license plate, unit number)
• The identity of the registered owner, especially if the vehicle is leased or owned by a different entity
• The issuing tow ticket, including the time of removal and the reason for the tow
• The name and contact information of the tow truck company and the location of the storage facility

These small but critical steps keep the claims management process moving efficiently and reduce back-and-forth with vendors and insurers.

Why a Third-Party Administrator Maximizes Cost Control

When an incident involves multiple exposures—cargo, storage, towing, liability—having a centralized partner manage the response can significantly streamline operations. Veritas acts as a third-party administrator by overseeing a wide range of claims functions, from field logistics to documentation review and coordination with carriers or legal teams.

Our approach to administrative services is built for speed, clarity, and consistency, offering:

• Cost savings by avoiding overcharges, preventing delays, and identifying recovery opportunities
• Scalable support for fleet operations, logistics companies, and self-insured organizations
• Efficient resolutions across multiple claims with unified communication and strategy

With Veritas managing your claims management process, your internal teams stay focused on operations while we deliver fast, accurate results; on every file, every time.

Why Veritas?

Towing events can create a ripple effect of costs, delays, and liability. With Veritas, you gain a full-service partner with the resources, experience, and precision to control that risk.

Our team of storage resolution claims adjusters, towing specialists, and cargo experts works in unison to handle every element of your post-tow workflow. From retrieval and invoicing disputes to cargo exposure and general liability resolution, we provide the structure your business needs to respond with confidence.

Control the Next Step - Not Just the Tow

Every minute matters after a vehicle is towed. With the right tools, processes, and people in place, what could be a costly delay becomes a structured, controlled response. Veritas is your trusted third-party administrator, ready to manage the situation the moment it begins.

Contact us today to build a response plan that eliminates uncertainty and ensures your team is prepared for any towing event.