Quick Answer: Farmers Insurance covers towing up to your policy limits if you have comprehensive or collision coverage, or purchased roadside assistance. File your claim within 24-72 hours with receipts, photos, and incident details. Reimbursement typically takes 5-10 business days after approval.
What To Do
Check your coverage immediately. Log into your Farmers app or call 1-888-327-6335 to verify you have comprehensive, collision, or roadside assistance coverage that includes towing. Do this before you call a tow truck if the situation is safe enough to wait a few minutes. If your roadside assistance is active, Farmers can dispatch a contracted tow truck directly, which simplifies the reimbursement process and avoids out-of-pocket costs upfront.
Keep all paperwork. Save your towing receipt, any repair estimates, and take photos of your vehicle’s condition and location where it broke down. The receipt needs to show the towing company name, date, pickup and drop-off addresses, mileage towed, and the total charge. A generic handwritten receipt can slow down your claim significantly.
File your claim fast. Report the incident within 24-72 hours through the Farmers app, website, or by calling their claims line at 1-800-435-7764. Waiting longer does not automatically disqualify your claim, but it gives the adjuster grounds to question the timeline and require more documentation to verify the incident.
Provide complete information. Include the exact breakdown location, time, cause of breakdown, towing company name, distance towed, and total cost. If the breakdown was caused by an accident, a flat tire on a highway, or mechanical failure, state that clearly. Adjusters look for a direct link between your covered event and the towing expense.
Submit required documents. Upload or email your towing receipt, any photos, police report (if applicable), and repair shop estimates if the vehicle needs work. If the tow was connected to a collision claim, the repair estimate from the shop ties the tow directly to the covered loss and strengthens your reimbursement case.
Follow up if needed. Check your claim status through the app or call your adjuster directly if you don’t hear back within 5 business days. Ask for a claim reference number on every call. If your claim is denied because towing was deemed unnecessary or outside your coverage type, ask specifically what documentation would reverse that decision before escalating to a supervisor.
Photo: Pexels
What It Might Cost
Farmers typically covers towing costs up to these limits:
- Basic roadside assistance: $100-150 per incident
- Comprehensive/collision claims: Actual towing costs as part of covered repairs
- Enhanced roadside: Up to $200-300 depending on your policy
Your deductible applies to comprehensive or collision claims, but not to standalone roadside assistance coverage.
One important edge case: if your tow costs more than your per-incident limit, you pay the difference out of pocket. A standard local tow runs $75-125, but a long-distance tow or one requiring a flatbed for an all-wheel-drive vehicle can easily hit $300-500. If you know you are in a rural area or have a specialty vehicle, check whether your policy caps towing by distance rather than dollar amount. Some Farmers policies reimburse per mile towed, typically around $3-5 per mile after the first few miles.
Also, using an out-of-network tow company does not disqualify your reimbursement under roadside assistance, but always confirm this with your adjuster before dispatch if time allows.
Common Questions
Q: Does filing a towing claim raise my Farmers insurance rates? A: A standalone roadside assistance claim almost never affects your premium because it is not considered an at-fault event. If the tow is filed as part of a collision claim, that collision itself is what can affect your rate, not the towing cost specifically.
Q: What if I already paid the tow truck driver and didn’t know insurance would cover it? A: You can still file for reimbursement after the fact. Submit your paid receipt with the claim and note that you were unaware coverage applied at the time. Farmers processes retroactive reimbursements regularly as long as you file within a reasonable window and have documentation.
Q: Does Farmers cover towing if my car broke down due to mechanical failure and there was no accident? A: Yes, but only if you have roadside assistance coverage added to your policy. Comprehensive and collision coverage only pay for towing when the vehicle needs to be moved as part of a covered loss, such as a crash or weather damage. A straight mechanical breakdown with no other coverage means you pay out of pocket.
Photo: Pexels
Stay Safe
- Never leave your broken-down vehicle unattended without proper warning devices
- Get the tow truck driver’s license and insurance information
- Verify the towing company is legitimate before allowing them to hook up your car
- Take photos of any vehicle damage before and after towing
- Keep your insurance card and policy number easily accessible in your phone
Need roadside help? Visit Tow With The Flow for real answers when your car breaks down.