3 Reasons You Shouldn'T Leave Your Car Stuck Overnight

Posted on: 13 June 2022

There are many situations where you may find yourself stuck in a disabled car overnight. Everything from breakdowns to severe snowstorms can leave you stranded at inconvenient times outside normal business hours. While you may be able to call up a friend for a ride, you still need to decide what you should do with your vehicle.

In most cases, the choice comes down to calling a 24-hour towing service or waiting until morning to deal with the problem. Although taking the latter approach might get you home sooner, it's rarely a good idea. Next time you find yourself in this unfortunate predicament, consider these three reasons you should call for a late-night tow instead of waiting until morning. 

1. You'll Avoid Fines

The specifics vary from place to place, but most jurisdictions do not allow motorists to leave their vehicles parked on the side of highways or other major roads. Even if you can get yourself clear of the traffic flow, you may still be at risk of receiving a ticket or even having your car impounded. Unfortunately, the costs to recover an impounded vehicle can be high.

The small amount of time and money needed to wait for a late-night tow is usually much less significant than the effort to recover an impounded car. Having your vehicle towed home (or to a safe location) is almost always cheaper over the long run.

2. You Won't Risk a Complicated Insurance Situation

What happens if someone hits your vehicle after you abandon it? The answer can be complex. If your car is somewhere it shouldn't be, you may be found at fault or partially liable for the accident. On the other hand, the other driver may simply leave without providing their information. In these cases, you can return to find your car damaged without anyone to blame.

While you may still be able to make a claim against your insurance in these cases, you'll need collision coverage, and you'll risk increasing your rates. The small amount of time you save by leaving your car for the night will hardly compensate for the added frustration and cost of dealing with a potential hit-and-run accident.

3. You'll Have Peace of Mind

It may be hard to place a monetary value on it, but knowing that your vehicle is in a safe location can provide peace of mind and less anxiety. Instead of rushing to get a tow truck in the morning, you can calmly and carefully deal with the problem that left you stranded. By saving yourself from the stress of leaving your car unattended, you'll be able to make better decisions and ultimately save money.

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