Do you need auto insurance to be towed? (What You Should Know for 2026)

You do not need auto insurance to be towed, and you can get your car towed for free through your auto insurance company if you have one of the best roadside assistance plans.

Getting your car towed is not the end of the world, but it can be a hassle. Without roadside assistance or similar insurance coverage for towing, you could pay a lot of money to get your car to the shop.

Keep reading to find out how to get your car towed and answers to common questions like Does getting your car towed affect your insurance? Want to shop for affordable insurance with roadside assistance today? Enter your ZIP in our free comparison tool.

Towing Your Car and Auto Insurance Explained

If your car has ever stalled out on the side of the road, or if you’ve ever been in a car accident, you may find that your car needs to be towed. 

Can you tow a car without insurance? You are not required to have car insurance to get your vehicle towed.

In fact, most of the cheapest liability-only auto insurance policies do not include towing as a provided service. But do I need insurance to tow a car? If you need a tow and don’t have insurance, your best bet may be to choose a car shop for your vehicle. Then, you can find the right towing company to help.

If your car needs repairs, you will want to have it towed to a local shop that can do the job. Depending on the extensive nature of the repairs, you may need to do a good bit of research before deciding where your car should go.

Once you’ve chosen a shop, call and ask a mechanic or other representative if they have any recommendations on towing services. Some shops will provide a free tow if you live close enough, while others may recommend a local towing company with competitive rates.

Does a car need insurance to be towed or can you tow an uninsured car? Yes, and in fact, most people who have a car towed without insurance coverage typically tow a stored or classic car that needs some repairs and attention. However, if you are driving a car uninsured, you need to purchase car insurance immediately, regardless of whether you need a tow.

Car Towing Options

If you were in a car accident and need a vehicle tow, you may find that the police officers on the scene will decide which towing service to utilize.

When having your car towed from home — whether for planned repairs or emergency services — you will want to call a towing company and ask about rates.

If you’re nervous about having car trouble and ultimately needing a tow, you could look into a roadside assistance coverage plan such as the AAA towing policy (Read More: AAA Auto Insurance Review).

Plenty of companies offer roadside assistance options, and your current insurance company may have a roadside assistance plan that works well for you. If not, you can look into purchasing roadside assistance with one of the many options in your area.

Some of the most common auto insurance companies that offer roadside assistance plans, like AAA towing coverage, include:

• AAA
• Progressive
• USAA
• Geico
• Allstate

Roadside assistance plans with the companies listed above can cost anywhere from $20 to $800 a year. Be sure to read reviews about any roadside assistance plan you’re considering before purchasing towing car insurance.

Accidents Without Auto Insurance

While you are not required to carry car insurance to have your car towed, you could face legal trouble if you get caught driving without auto insurance. 

The following table shows the penalties in each state for driving uninsured.

Driving Without Auto Insurance by State & Offense

As you can see, you could end up paying thousands of dollars and even spending time in jail if you get caught driving uninsured. Regardless of how much you drive, you need at least your state’s required amount of minimum liability coverage on your vehicle.

How Towing Affects Auto Insurance

Does getting towed affect insurance? In most cases, having your car towed is unlikely to impact your insurance rates. Depending on your towing needs, your car insurance company may not even know that your vehicle got towed. The exception may be if you purchased a roadside assistance plan or another towing service provided through your car insurance company.

But does getting your car towed affect your record? Does towing affect car insurance rates? Having your car towed may affect your auto insurance rates if your car gets towed because of a moving violation that will go on your driving record, like a DUI. The violation would be what made your insurance rates increase.

Learn More: Factors That Affect Auto Insurance Rates

Another way you might see an increase in car insurance rates is if you take advantage of towing services through your insurance company’s roadside assistance plan too frequently. If you know the AAA towing cost per mile without looking it up, or if you have the Allstate roadside number memorized, you might be using that service too much.

If you have roadside assistance and want to know more about does getting your car towed affect insurance, you should call your insurance company to speak with an agent. 

Determining if You Need Auto Insurance for Car Towing

So, ultimately, can you get your car towed without insurance? Yes, but if you need to have your car towed, it can be a bit of a headache when towing a car without insurance. As long as you carry the state minimum auto insurance requirements on any vehicle you drive, you don’t have to stress about getting into any trouble.

Anyone who worries about being stranded in their vehicle should consider purchasing a roadside assistance plan that includes tow insurance for cars.

Before having your car towed, speak to the towing company and ask about the cost. If you find that the tow will be more expensive than you thought, you can call around and speak with representatives from other local companies to see if you could get a cheaper tow elsewhere.

To find an affordable auto insurance policy with towing auto insurance coverage today, compare rates with our free tool.