After a collision, the responding officer usually decides how a blocking or undrivable car gets off the road, and the owner is normally billed for the tow and storage, then looks to insurance to recover the cost. If the car is out of the way, you can usually call your own tow provider or your insurer's. A truck that appears at a crash scene without being called by you or by law enforcement is a warning sign.
Most of the money after a crash turns on three things: which company takes the car, where it goes, and how many days it sits in storage before the insurer moves it.
Who responds and who has authority
The agency that handles a crash depends on where it happens. The California Highway Patrol handles crashes on freeways, including those inside city limits, and on roads in unincorporated parts of the county; Fresno and Clovis police handle crashes on their own city streets. The officer who takes the report is the one who decides whether a vehicle is a hazard and needs an immediate tow.
| Situation | Who usually calls the tow | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| Car blocks a lane or freeway shoulder | The officer, from the agency's rotation list | Ask where the car is going and get the company's name before it leaves |
| Car is drivable | Often no tow is needed | Move it somewhere safe, then ask your insurer about a shop |
| Car is undrivable but safely off the road | You, if the officer allows; otherwise the officer | Tell the officer your preference and whether you have a plan with a tow provider |
| A truck shows up that nobody called | No one authorized it | Politely decline unless an officer asks that company to handle the tow |
The rotation list and your preference
Police agencies in California keep rotation lists of private tow companies that have signed an agreement with the agency. In the CHP's program, that agreement covers response times, equipment standards and rates, and each operator's rates are approved by the CHP. When an officer needs a lane cleared quickly, the next company on the list gets the call. You can read how that program is organized on the CHP Rotation Tow Program page.
If you have a company you prefer, or a plan that sends its own contractor, say so at the scene. Whether the officer can wait for it depends on safety and how quickly the road needs to reopen. A car sitting in a freeway lane at rush hour cannot wait an hour; a car pulled into a parking lot usually can. When the officer calls the truck, the rotation rate rules apply, which are described in the towing costs guide.
Unsolicited tow trucks at the scene
California law bars tow operators from stopping at a crash to solicit work unless an officer or the vehicle's owner or driver called them, so you can decline an uninvited truck and tell the officer if you feel pressured. The guide to choosing a tow company explains the rule and other red flags.
What to do at the scene, in order
- Get safe and check for injuries. Call 911 if anyone is hurt or traffic is blocked. If the car is drivable and in a live lane, move it to the shoulder or a nearby side street.
- Exchange information and take photos of the vehicles, the road, damage and the other driver's plate and insurance card.
- Tell the officer about your tow preference and whether you have a roadside plan.
- Get the tow company's name, truck number and yard address before the car leaves, along with the yard's hours.
- Ask for a written estimate before the truck attaches to your car if you are able to. Under section 22513, an itemized estimate is required when the owner or driver is present, with an exception that allows an officer-directed estimate to be completed after the car has been moved to the nearest safe place.
- Remove valuables and documents from the car before it is hooked. The CHP says personal property must be released to the owner without charge during normal business hours; other agencies and yards may differ, so ask.
- Call your insurer the same day, so the claim starts while the car is still at a known location.
Where the car goes and what happens next
Accident tows go either to the company's yard or, if you ask and the company agrees, to a repair shop. A vehicle towed to a yard starts accruing daily storage, so the quickest way to protect your wallet is to arrange the next move early. Ask your insurer which shops it works with, whether it will authorize the tow to the shop, and whether the other driver's insurer is responsible for towing and storage. Fault does not change who the yard bills, which is the owner; it only changes who ultimately reimburses the cost.
If the CHP stored your car, you can generally retrieve it from the tow company with proof you are the registered owner or an authorized agent. If it was impounded, for example because of a licensing or registration problem, the CHP office that ordered the impound has to release it. See the guide to getting a towed car back for documents and deadlines.
Reporting the crash to the DMV
Separately from any police report, California drivers involved in a crash generally must file an SR 1 report with the DMV within 10 days if anyone was injured or killed, or if property damage exceeds $1,000. The rule applies even if the police wrote a report and whether or not you were at fault. Check the California DMV site for the current form and thresholds.
If the crash happened on a freeway, the guide to the first ten minutes of a highway breakdown has additional safety steps for waiting outside the car.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I choose my own tow company after an accident?
Often yes, if the car is not blocking traffic and the officer allows it. If the vehicle is a hazard, the officer may call a rotation truck to clear the road quickly. Tell the officer your preference either way.
What should I do if a tow truck I did not call stops at the crash?
Do not hand over keys or sign anything, ask who sent the truck, and tell the officer at the scene.
Who pays for the tow after an accident?
The vehicle owner is generally billed first. Collision coverage, the other driver's liability insurance or a roadside plan may reimburse the cost, which is why you should keep the invoice and tell your insurer promptly.
Can I take my belongings out of the car before it is towed?
Yes, whenever it is safe to do so. Take the registration, insurance card, medications, and valuables, and photograph what remains. The CHP says personal property must be released without charge during normal business hours.
Do I need to report the accident to the DMV if the police already did?
In many cases yes. California generally requires an SR 1 report within 10 days if there was an injury or death, or more than $1,000 in property damage. Confirm current requirements with the DMV.