How Long Does it Take for an Abandoned Vehicle to Get Towed?

Posted on December 31, 2021 by Zores

After breaking down, whether from engine problems or flat tire, the last thing you will worry about is whether or not your cars can get towed away. Will the property tow your car away if you leave there overnight? Will the city tow your car from a public parking spot if you leave it for a few days while you gather the necessary funds or resources to repair your vehicle?

These are all pertinent questions that are asked by countless drivers all across the nation. But the answers to these questions depend on many factors, namely the location of the broken down vehicle. Where a car breaks down is the true deciding factor in how long it can be left there legally, or before it is declared “abandoned” by authorities.

Continue reading to learn how long it takes for an abandoned vehicle to get towed away depending on its location, plus what you can do to avoid being towed after breakdown.

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Where Did Your Car Breakdown?

Municipal Property

If a car breaks down on the side of a public road or highway, the typical statute of time before labeled “abandoned” is 24 hours. If the car actually breaks down in the middle of traffic, it is recommended to attempt to get the car off to the side of the road as soon as possible, but if it is too dangerous, the police take on the task.

Public Property

If a car breaks down on other public property, like a public parking lot, the police can legally tow it after it has been registered as an abandoned vehicle. Although it varies from state to state, if a car is left unattended for more than 30 days, and is never reported stolen, it is labeled “abandoned.”

Private Property

If a vehicle breaks down on private property, there is very little time before it will be towed. As long as the towing truck company has written authorization from the property owner or police, it can be towed immediately. It is never recommended to leave your broken down car on private property. So, always have it towed right away to a mechanic by a professional tow company near your location.

Prepared Drivers are the Safest Drivers

A breakdown can be a frustrating and time consuming situation, so be sure you know what to do if it ever happens to you. Not only will this knowledge better prepare you for how to handle the situation, but it can also give insight on how to prevent similar vehicular problems from happening in the future. A trusted Indiana towing service can provide all the information you need about breaking down on public or private property.

Are you faced with the decision of leaving your broken-down car somewhere? Don’t do that! Contact Zore’s Towing for truly affordable 24 hour roadside assistance and towing services in Indianapolis and its surrounding locations. We operate 24/7, year-round, and state-wide.

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3 Factors to Consider When Buying a Trailer Hitch

Posted on October 15, 2019 by Zores

The right trailer hitch can make your cargo towing duties a lot easier. Not only does it increase versatility, it also makes the towing process more convenient. But how do you find the proper tow hitch for your vehicle? You have to make the proper considerations.

Continue reading to learn the top three considerations for buying new trailer hitch.

The top three considerations you must keep at the front of your mind when matching a new trailer hitch are cargo weight, weight class, and installation standards. Below are some details to help you understand what makes these 3 factors so important.

❶ Cargo Weight

How much weight will you be towing with your trailer hitch? What type of cargo will you be hooking up and carrying? Do you have bicycles? Electric wheelchair or scooter? Mini-camper? Boats? These answers will help you determine the best trailer hitch and hitch receiver for your needs. Class I trailer hitches are designed to carry up to 200 pounds. Class II trailer hitches carry up to 300 pounds. Class III trailer hitches can carry even more weight.

Trailer hitch receivers also have class weights that must be considered. Class I receivers can manage up to 2,000 pounds. Class II receivers can manage up to 3,500 pounds, while Class III and IV receivers can haul as much as 5,000 and 10,000 pounds, depending.

❷ Weight Class

In addition to the weight classes of your trailer hitch and hitch receiver, you must also consider your towing vehicle’s weight class and capacity. Refer to your owners’ manual for instruction on how much your vehicle can haul. Typically, compact and sub-compact cars should never haul more than 2,000 pounds of cargo. Similarly, mid-size or crossover SUV’s should not haul more than 3,500 pounds of cargo.

❸ Installation Standards

You are responsible, morally and legally, to ensure your trailer hitch and receiver are hooked up and installed up to standards. Electrical connections of brake lights and signal lights must be installed correctly when using a trailer. This set-up might also require a power adapter to protect the other electrical systems in your towing vehicle. For mechanical connections, solid and secured mounting is imperative.

Need Help With Towing in Indianapolis?

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for prompt, 24 hour towing and roadside assistance in Indianapolis and its surrounding counties. Our licensed towing and recovery division retains an extensive fleet of over 35 tow trucks and wrecker equipment, allowing us to assist drivers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, rain, snow, or ice. Request a free estimate, anytime.

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Pertinent Towing Laws in Indiana

Posted on October 3, 2019 by Zores

If you want to get rid of your neighbor’s junk car that’s been taking up space in front of your house for too long, you may want to review the common towing laws in Indiana before making any decisions that you can’t undo. After all, you wouldn’t want to put yourself at risk of being in violation of such laws, and subsequently, subjected to several fines, fees, and tedious litigation.

Taking matters into your own hands when it comes to towing is something that should only be done under certain circumstances. Furthermore, you must understand towing laws in order to protect yourself from becoming a target of a tow.

Continue reading to learn the most basic and pertinent towing laws you need to know as a common resident in Indiana.

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Indiana Laws for Towing and Being Towed

Here in Indiana, if you are a licensed driver, you have officially consented all terms and conditions that come into play if you were to violate a state or federal traffic offense. When it comes towing, these same conditions apply to all drivers; if you park a vehicle in a spot it shouldn’t be, you have surrendered to the possible penalties, which include ticketing and towing.

As of July 2011, the City-County Council granted a towing law that empowers the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services to license qualified wrecker companies. You can find details of this ordinance in Chapter 995 of the Municipal Code. However, this law also protects drivers against unlawful and unethical towing practices.

Standard Towing Laws:

📛 A vehicle can be towed instantly if it’s an emergency situation or if it’s impacting a business.

📛 If a driver is arrested, their vehicle is immediately towed.

📛 Vehicles abandoned on private property must be tagged with a notification sticker 24 hours before they are towed. After 24 hours of being tagged, a vehicle can be towed by the appointed towing company.

📛 Vehicles abandoned on private property for more than 21 consecutive days can be towed away without notification by appointed authorities.

📛 Vehicles with false license plates will be towed and impounded.

📛 When vehicles are taken to the impound, it can legally be searched.

📛 Towing signs must be entirely visible at all times.

What To Do After Being Towed

If your car was just towed, ask yourself why. Was your license plate expired? Do you have several unpaid parking tickets? Was your car just involved or suspected of being involved in a recent crime? Was your vehicle in extremely poor physical condition, like flattened tires, missing bumper, or busted oil tank, while parked in a private lot?

If you answered yes to any of these circumstances, it could be the reason your car was towed. From here, look for towing signs. These signs typically have information about the appointed towing company and how to contact them. If this does not work, contact the DMV or the local police.

Indianapolis Towing Services You Can Trust

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for 24 hour towing and roadside assistance in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. Our friendly staff is waiting by the phones, ready to help you get back on the road, safe and sound. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, so you can always count on us. Request a free estimate, today.

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