You finally get that dream job and you ca n’t wait to fuck up this pop viewpoint . You ’ve kissed your old life history sayonara – tell off everyone who ’s ever annoyed you , delivered a lengthy and tearful word of farewell address at your neighborhood Laundromat and had your mail forwarded . Everything you own is safely packed away in box and the movers have just headed out on their mode to your raw home halfway across the country . All that ’s left is to tow your railroad car with your other railroad car . Your significant other ’s already flown out to your new hometown , so it ’s up to you to take the rack and get both of your cars safely to your new place .
Driving with a auto in tow is a lot dissimilar than driving unfettered . fortuitously you realized this early on on and had the prevision to practice devising turns and back up in the local high-pitched schooltime parking luck for week before your big move . You ’ve also installed tow mirrors to give you a better perspective of the road behind you . You ’re prepared , but there are a few more thing you ’ll want to take care of , though . Do n’t worry ; it ’s nothing that a few minutes on the net ca n’t deposit .
It ’s a respectable approximation to familiarize yourself with the dimensions of your towing equipment and lading . Calculate the combined pinnacle and breadth of the confidential information and towed vehicle ( or the trailer , if you ’ve find one ) and thegross combining weight rating– which is the total weight of both vehicles ( any trailer you may have , the fuel tanks , the passengers , the whole shebang ) . This knowledge will help guide you as you go on to explore the different state guidelines that curb and regulate towing .
Read the next page to acquaint yourself with DoS towing regulation . Once you ’re done with that , we ’ll give you a few intimation to verify you ’re properly cover by your insurance company to protect yourself in font you postulate to make a claim .
Car Towing Regulations by State
When you’retowinga car across the purple mountains majesty and fruit plains of America – or if you plan on head toward the Big Apple – you ’d better slack your rolling wave before you take off . In an unusual gesture of federalism , the U.S. government left it to the states to decide what restrictions they ’d place on dawdler towing .
It may seem a minute in small stages to have dissimilar regulation across dissimilar states regarding car towing , but some land take stronger precautions against accidents than others . For deterrent example , most nation require that the trailer tow your car have breakaway brakes . These are electronic systems touch off in case the car in towage all of a sudden becomes detached . This can be a thorny situation ; one minute you ’re drive unremarkably , your driverless car ’s careening wildly in high - upper traffic the next . breaking away brakes interlock the tow vehicle ’s brake if it becomes detached , and most systems keep the brakes locked for 15 minutes , which manufacturers desire is enough clip for you to realize your car ’s no longer in tow and to recall your wayward car .
It ’s understandable why most states command that a car in towage have this lend safety feature attach during transit . There is n’t a state in the unification that does n’t ask breakaway pasture brake , but some state simply do n’t specify either way ( which could , arguably , make a good case in motor inn if you ’re caught without them ) . This disagreement bring out a common subject : It ’s better to be safe than dingy . Not having breaking away brake could put you in a terrible pickle if your car becomes detached , and since most states require them , it ’s a good idea to err on the side of caution .
You probably could have guessed that most states require safety measures likebreakaway bracken , but what about more nuanced distinctions in regulations among the dissimilar states ? Even before you purchase a drone for elevator car towing – especially if you project on interstate towing – it ’s a practiced idea to get a look at the various DoS restriction and requirements . For exemplar , many state specify a maximum trailer height of 14 feet ; others , 13 1/2 feet . So , if you ’re travel through Georgia with your 14 - foot - marvelous trailer , you may end up with a citation . Ultimately , it may be a better choice to buy one that meets the maximum restriction for the DoS with the strictest standard . This holds true not just for height , but for other attribute and safety devices as well .
You should also familiarize yourself with the varying driving restrictions in different states . The maximum speed for a vehicle with a car in tow is the posted speed limit in most states ; in others it ’s scurvy and may depend on the towing weight of the lagger . Some states also require different permission classes for drivers with vehicle in tow . This may warrant you taking an additional trial run through your state ’s section of motor vehicles . you could find links to sites that display the tow jurisprudence for all 50 states on the LMI page .
Think you ’re ready to go ? Think again . You ’re going to need to take a closer expression at your automobile insurance first . interpret about insurance for car towing on the next page .
Car Towing Insurance
The scenario identify on the last Sir Frederick Handley Page about the come off car lurch through dealings was ghastly . Let ’s say it happens to you . Does your insurance natural covering legal injury to your railway car ? Other cars ? Other people ’s medical bills ? These are a few inquiry you ’re conk to want to posture to your insurance agent before you head out on your Great Towing Adventure .
To get to the bottom of this , HowStuffWorks advocate you place a call to your insurance agent before you tow anything at all . Whether you ’re tow your gondola , boat or even lawn equipment on a bantam trailer , you need to verify you ’re covered in the case of an stroke .
Auto insurance generally extends to towing scenario , but policy vary by company and by DoS . While insurance policy are unlike , there are some normal of thumb when it comes to insurance policy and towing . foremost , in the lawsuit of an accident where the vehicle in tow causes an accident , say , by sideswiping a machine in dealings , you ’re likely going to have two call . The first will be a hit title to furbish up any damage done to the car you ’re tow . This claim will get from the collision insurance policy policy you have on the car you ’re towing . Do n’t have collision insurance policy on the car you ’re towing ? Do n’t tow it ! HowStuffWorks could n’t see a policy where reporting of the lead automobile extend to the motorcar in towage . You ’ll have to asseverate two policies to cover both cars .
When a auto in tow hits another car , another claim will likely be file away . This will be a liability call made against the lead car ’s insurance policy by the sinless bystander whose car was strike by your towed railcar . This claim will unremarkably go against the lead vehicle , since in most character , hitting another vehicle with a towed machine is an act of negligence or bad driving on the part of the lead cable car ’s driver .
clear , it would be a material nightmare to damage another car with the motorcar you ’re towing . You would likely have two claim to file , which could erect your monthly insurance premiums . There are two lesson to be see here . First , never tow a cable car without assure your have the proper indemnity reporting . secondly , it ’s a good policy to practice towing your car . Get the various manoeuvre down , and do n’t simulate you ’re a tow pro . You may be unpleasantly surprised to find that you ’re all inept with a car in tow .
Again , insurance coverage for towing cars varies by company and state . Do n’t take our word for it : get through your insurance federal agent before towing anything . Once you do , and you ’ve got a trivial praxis under your smash , you ’ll be ready to lay out for that new life across the land with confidence .
For more info on towing and other related topics , inspect the next Thomas Nelson Page .
