Yes. In most cases you can choose your own tow company after an accident in Wichita. Wichita Police Department Policy 404 lets the owner or driver ask for a towing provider. The company you pick has to reach the scene within 45 minutes and clear the debris from the street. If you do not pick one, the officer has the next company on the city’s rotation list called for you.
Most drivers do not know this, so they say nothing and take whatever truck shows up. This article explains the three rules, the times you cannot choose, and what to say to the officer.
What Wichita Police Policy Says
The rule is in WPD Policy 404, Impounds and Emergency Tows, last revised in July 2022. The policy calls a crash scene tow an “emergency tow.” Here is how it works in plain words.
- You can ask for a provider. If the owner or driver requests a towing company, the officer passes that request to SPIDER, the police unit that makes the call. If your company is not on the city’s Emergency Tow List, the policy says the officer may offer to have SPIDER contact them for you.
- The company has 45 minutes. A provider must be on scene within 45 minutes of being notified.
- The street has to be cleaned up. The provider must remove any debris from the street before leaving.
If you do not want to decide, the policy says the officer will notify SPIDER, who contacts the next provider on the Emergency Tow rotation list. That is the default. It is not a requirement.
Why It Matters Who Tows Your Car
The tow from a crash scene is only the start. The company that takes your car also decides where it sits, what storage costs per day, and what hours you can pick it up. Those details add up. That is why it pays to choose your own tow company when you can.
Wichita drivers have talked about this in public. A Wichita Eagle opinion column described a $515 bill for an 8 mile tow and four days of storage after a crash, and compared it with the $75 to $90 the writer said a driver might pay by calling a tow company directly. Your bill will depend on the company, the distance, and how long the car is stored. The point is that you are allowed to ask questions before your car leaves.
When you choose your own tow company, you can:
- Get a price before the car is hooked up
- Pick where the car goes, such as your body shop, your home, or a yard you can reach easily
- Skip a second tow later from a storage yard to a repair shop
- Know who to call the next morning
When You Cannot Choose
The owner’s request applies to a normal crash where you are able to make decisions. There are times when police take that choice away, and Policy 404 lists them as reasons to impound a vehicle.
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| You are hurt and cannot arrange for the car | The officer has it towed for you |
| The driver is arrested | The car can be impounded if leaving it creates a hazard |
| The car is needed as evidence | Police place a hold and it goes to an impound yard |
| Your company cannot arrive in 45 minutes | You pick from the city list, or the next company in rotation is called |
| The car is blocking traffic and you are not there | The officer has it removed |
If your car was towed without you, our guide on how to find a towed car in Wichita lists the phone numbers to call.
How to Choose Your Own Tow Company at the Scene
It takes one sentence. When the officer asks about the car, say: “I would like to request my own tow company.” Then give the name and phone number.
These steps make it go smoothly.
- Keep a tow company’s number in your phone. Nobody wants to search for one while standing on Kellogg in traffic.
- Tell the officer early. Do it before a rotation truck has been called.
- Call the tow company yourself too. Give the cross streets and ask how long it will take. If they cannot make 45 minutes, you will know right away.
- Decide where the car is going. If you do not have a body shop yet, a secure yard or your own driveway works until you talk to your insurance company.
- Get a receipt. Your insurer will ask for it.
Miller’s Towing & Recovery is at 4309 S Broadway, and our number is 316-351-4754. We answer 24 hours a day, and we tell you the price before we hook up. Our accident recovery page explains what we do at a crash scene.
What About Crashes Outside Wichita City Limits?
Policy 404 belongs to the Wichita Police Department. On I-135, K-96, or the Turnpike, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper may work the crash. In Derby, Haysville, Park City, or the county, it may be a local officer or a Sedgwick County deputy. Each agency has its own tow rules.
The question is the same everywhere: “Can I request my own tow company?” Ask it early and ask it politely. The trooper or deputy will tell you what that agency allows. A truck that can get there quickly and clear the road helps your case.
Will Insurance Pay if You Choose Your Own Tow Company?
Insurance companies care that the tow was needed and the price was fair. They do not usually require a certain tow company at the scene. If the other driver was at fault, the tow becomes part of your claim against their insurance. If you were at fault, your collision coverage or towing coverage may pay.
Your insurer may want the car moved to one of its partner shops later. That is normal. Keep your tow receipt, the police case number, and photos of the car. Our article on what to do after a car accident in Wichita covers the rest of the claim steps.
Questions Drivers Ask
Do I have to use the tow truck the police call?
No, not in a normal crash where you can make the choice. You can choose your own tow company. If you say nothing, the next company on the rotation list is called.
What if a tow truck shows up that nobody called?
Do not hand over your keys. Ask the officer who called it. A truck that arrives on its own has not been requested by you or by police.
How long do I have to decide?
Decide when the officer asks. The 45 minutes starts when the tow company is notified, so a fast answer gets the road open sooner.
Who pays for the tow after an accident?
You usually pay the tow company first or your insurer pays it directly. The at fault driver’s insurance is responsible in the end, and your claim should include the tow and storage.
Call Miller’s From the Scene
You have the right to choose your own tow company in most Wichita crashes, and it takes one sentence to use it. Save 316-351-4754 in your phone now. If you need a tow company in Wichita, KS after a wreck, we will give you a price, an arrival time, and a ride for your car to the place you pick. You can also read about accident towing in Wichita or use our contact page.