author-img
Written by:
Prachi Singh
Contributing Writer
Prachi is an insurance writer with a master’s degree in business administration. Through her writing, she hopes to help readers make smart and informed decisions about their finances. She loves to travel and write poetry.
author
Reviewed by:
Laura Longero
reviewer icon
Executive Editor
Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

What does towing and labor coverage do?

Towing and labor (TL) coverages and limits are different for each carrier that offers towing and labor coverage, but typically, it pays the cost of towing your car to a repair shop when it is unable to be driven and covers a specified amount of necessary labor charges at the place of the breakdown. 

Items that may be covered by towing coverage include:

  • Towing
  • Tire changing
  • Gas, oil, and water delivery
  • Battery services
  • Lockout services

Most car insurance companies will only offer towing and labor coverage if the owner has other types of car insurance that cover physical damage — comprehensive and/or collision — as part of the policy. Some policies limit coverage and only pay when a claim has been issued against your physical damage coverage after a covered accident.  

Coverage is also referred to as tow club, emergency road service, or emergency roadside service.

Is towing and labor coverage mandatory?

No.  Towing and labor an optional coverage. 

What happens if I don’t have towing and labor coverage?

Without towing and labor, you will have to pay personally for the expense of towing your vehicle if it becomes disabled, and you will be without coverage for roadside labor costs of services listed above.

The premium for towing coverage is typically low; however, if you are a member of an auto club, you probably already have this service and there would be no need to duplicate your coverage. 

Before buying towing and labor coverage from your car insurance provider, compare stand-alone roadside assistance plans, and prices, against it to see which one best covers your needs.

 — Michelle Megna contributed to this story.

Laura Longero

Ask the Insurance Expert

Laura Longero

Executive Editor

Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

John McCormick

Ask the Insurance Expert

John McCormick

Editorial Director

John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.

Leslie Kasperowicz

Ask the Insurance Expert

Leslie Kasperowicz

Managing Editor

Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.

Nupur Gambhir

Ask the Insurance Expert

Nupur Gambhir

Managing Editor

Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.

Please Enter Valid Question. Min 50 to max 250 characters are allowed. Only (& ? , .) charcters are allowed.
Please Enter Valid Email.
Error: Security check failed
Thank You, Your message has been received. Our team of auto insurance experts typically answers questions within five working days. Note that due to the volume of questions we receive, not all may be answered. Due to technical error, please try again later.
Get quotes near you!
Please enter valid zip
author image
Contributing Writer

Prachi is an insurance writer with a master’s degree in business administration. Through her writing, she hopes to help readers make smart and informed decisions about their finances. She loves to travel and write poetry.