Snow storms, potholes and icy roads are sure signs that winter is here. Any of these can cause an accident that totally disables your vehicle. Barry’s Auto Body, eco-friendly Staten Island auto collision repair shop created a video to help drivers who may need to file a complaint after dealing with a tow truck operator.
In New York City, tow truck companies must be licensed by the Department of Consumer Affairs to be able to tow vehicles from city streets. The licensing requirement falls under New York City Administrative Code Title 20: Consumer Affairs Chapter 2; Licenses Subchapter 31: Towing Vehicles.
The companies are required to provide evidence of Bonding, Insurance, Operational Vehicles and many other criteria in order to be eligible to obtain a license. Licensing is intended to protect drivers from unscrupulous tow truck operators. Once licensed, tow truck companies must adhere to certain guidelines in order to keep their license. If at anytime a customer believes that the tow truck operator is not complying with guidelines, a complaint can be registered with the Department of Consumer Affairs.
The video provides step by step instructions on registering a complaint if a tow truck driver violates any of the regulations governing them. For your convenience, you can learn about the regulations by clicking this link.
In our effort to keep all drivers educated about their rights, Barry’s Auto Body, eco-friendly Staten Island auto collision repair shop has highlighted below, some of the regulations that are most likely to affect tow truck consumers.
Tow truck companies must accept at least two major credit cards.
Consumers must be able to pick up their vehicle between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and either Saturday or Sunday.
The storage facility must be indoors or a lighted, fenced-in outdoor facility with a locked gate.
A bathroom and telephone inside the facility must be available to the public.
Any auxiliary lots must be within 2,640 feet (1/2 mile) of the licensed facility, and it must be indoors or a lighted, fenced-in outdoor facility with a locked gate.
Two tow companies cannot share the same space. The businesses must be separated by a physical separation, such as a fence.
You have a right to direct the company to tow the vehicle to any location within the boundaries of New York City.
Unless you have separately authorized the towing company’s repair shop to make repairs, you are not responsible for the cost of repairs made by such repair shop
The “Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Towing of Accident Vehicles and Repair Shops” must be given to every owner or person in charge of a vehicle involved in an accident.
You can access the video by visiting Barry’s Auto Body, eco-friendly Staten Island auto collision repair shop’s YouTube channel. Or watch below…Please like and subscribe to be notified when we upload more helpful videos.