Can you ride in a tow truck with your car? In most cases, yes. If the cab has an open seat with a seat belt, the driver can usually take you along to the shop or to your home. The limits are the number of seats, company policy and safety.
The easy fix is to say how many people need a ride when you call. For a tow in Wichita, call Miller’s Towing & Recovery at 316-351-4754 and tell the dispatcher who is with you.
Can You Ride in a Tow Truck? The Short Answer
| Who needs a ride | Usually possible? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| One adult | Yes, in most trucks | Say so when you call |
| Two or more adults | Depends on the truck | Some cabs have one passenger seat, others have more |
| A child | Only with the right car seat | Take the seat out of your car before it is loaded |
| A pet | Ask first | It is up to the company and the driver |
| Anyone inside the towed car | No | Nobody rides in a vehicle that is being towed |
Seat count is the main limit. AAA’s passenger transportation page for its Mountain West clubs puts it this way: the maximum number of passengers varies by truck. Smaller trucks fit one passenger, while larger trucks can fit up to four.
6 Rules When You Ride in a Tow Truck
1. One seat belt, one rider
Kansas requires seat belts for adults and for riders ages 14 to 17 in passenger cars under K.S.A. 8-2503. Tow companies hold their cabs to the same standard. If there are three of you and two belts, one person needs another ride.
2. Kids need their own car seat
Kansas child passenger law, K.S.A. 8-1344, sets these rules for passenger cars:
- Under age 4: a child safety seat
- Ages 4 to 7 who weigh under 80 pounds or stand under 4 feet 9 inches: a child seat or booster
- Ages 8 to 13, or bigger than those limits: a seat belt
A tow truck driver does not carry child seats. Pull yours out of the car before it goes up on the bed, and tell dispatch a child is riding so they can tell you if the truck has a seat that fits it.
3. Nobody rides in the towed car
You cannot sit in your car while it is on the flatbed or behind the truck. A towed vehicle can shift, and nothing about it is set up to protect a person during the trip. This rule has no exceptions.
4. The driver has the last word
The driver is responsible for everyone in the cab. A driver can say no if the cab is full, if a rider is aggressive or too impaired to ride safely, or if company rules do not allow it. If the answer is no, ask what the driver suggests.
5. Ask about pets before the truck arrives
There is no standard rule on pets. Some drivers are fine with a calm dog on your lap or a cat in a carrier. Others cannot take animals. Ask on the first call so you are not solving it on the shoulder of I-135.
6. The ride goes where the car goes
A tow truck is not a taxi. The trip is from the pickup point to the drop off address. If your car is going to a shop on West Street and you live in Derby, plan a ride home from the shop. If you want a second stop, ask dispatch if it is possible and what it adds to the price.
What If There Is Not Enough Room?
This happens most with families and carpools. Here is how to handle it.
- Say the number early. Tell dispatch how many adults, children and pets need to leave the scene. A larger cab may be available.
- Call a second ride before the car is loaded. A friend, a family member or a rideshare can meet you where you are.
- Do not wait on the highway shoulder. If you are on Kellogg, I-135, I-235 or K-96, nobody should be left standing by the road after the truck leaves. Ask the driver what is possible, such as waiting until your other ride arrives.
- After a crash, tell the officer. If police are on scene and you have no way to leave, say so before they clear the scene.
Why It Helps to Ride in a Tow Truck With Your Car
Most people who ride in a tow truck do it because they have no other way to leave. There are other good reasons:
- You can tell the shop in person what the car was doing
- You hand over the keys yourself
- You are there to pay and get your receipt
- You are not left alone at night in a parking lot or on a county road
If the shop is closed, riding along also lets you see where the car is parked and use the key drop yourself. See towing a car to a repair shop in Wichita.
What to Take Out of Your Car First
Once the car is loaded and strapped down, getting back into it is hard. Grab these before the driver starts:
- Phone, charger, wallet and house keys
- Medicine you need today
- Child seats
- Garage door opener
- Registration and insurance card
- Anything valuable in plain sight
If the car is headed to a tow yard and you forgot something, read getting your belongings out of a towed car in Kansas.
More Questions Riders Ask
Can you ride in a tow truck on a AAA call?
Usually, if there is room. AAA says the number of passengers varies by truck. Each AAA club sets its own rules, so ask when you request service.
Can kids ride in a tow truck?
Yes, with the right child seat or booster and a seat it can be belted into. Tell dispatch the child’s age when you call.
Can I ride along after a crash?
Yes, if you are not hurt and there is a seat. If you have any pain, dizziness or bleeding, go with EMS first. The car can be towed without you. Call the tow company later to find out where it is.
Do tow trucks take you home?
Only if home is where the car is going, or if the company agrees to a second stop. Ask before the truck is sent.
Does it cost extra to ride along?
Riding to the same drop off address as the car normally does not change the tow price. An extra stop can. Ask for the total on the phone.
Should I tip the driver for the ride?
It is never required. See should you tip a tow truck driver.
What if I cannot climb into the cab?
Tow truck cabs sit high. If you have a mobility limit, tell dispatch. It may be safer to arrange a car to pick you up.
Need a Tow and a Ride?
If you need to ride in a tow truck with your car, say so when you call. Miller’s Towing & Recovery is at 316-351-4754, 24 hours a day. We are a local tow company in Wichita, KS, and you get the price before we hook up.