📄 Fort Wayne, Indiana · Indiana Insurance Guide · 2026
Does Car Insurance Cover Towing in Indiana? The Complete Guide
Indiana’s towing laws changed in 2025. Here’s what’s covered under different policy types, how to file for reimbursement, and what the new HEA 1390 law means for every towing invoice you receive.
Does car insurance cover towing in Indiana?
Short answer: only if you’ve specifically added roadside assistance coverage to your policy. Standard liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage does not automatically include towing. Roadside assistance is a separate rider — sometimes called ’emergency road service’ or ‘towing and labor coverage’ — that you add to your policy.
In Indiana, the most common auto insurance scenarios and how towing fits:
| Coverage type | Towing covered? | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Liability only (state minimum) | ❌ No | Covers damage you cause to others — nothing for your vehicle |
| Collision coverage | ⚠️ Sometimes — after an accident only | Towing from an accident scene may be covered under collision; breakdown towing usually isn’t |
| Comprehensive coverage | ❌ Generally not | Covers non-collision damage to your car; not typically roadside |
| Roadside assistance rider | ✅ Yes — up to the coverage limit | Check your declarations page for this specific line item |
| “Full coverage” (collision + comprehensive) | ⚠️ Not automatically | “Full coverage” is an informal term — doesn’t always include roadside |
What Indiana HEA 1390 (2025) means for your insurance claim
Indiana’s 2025 towing law created a specific requirement that directly affects how insurance reimbursement works: every towing company in Indiana must now provide a fully itemized invoice for every tow. Not a total amount — an itemized breakdown showing each charge separately.
This matters for insurance claims because your insurer typically needs documentation of the specific charges to process reimbursement. An invoice that says ‘$125 — Fort Wayne to Lima Road’ without breaking down the hook-up fee, mileage, and any other charges may not be accepted by some insurance adjusters. The itemized invoice that HEA 1390 requires is exactly what you need.
We provide an itemized invoice on every call — no request needed. If you’ve received a call from us and need a duplicate for an insurance claim, call (260) 555-0100 and we’ll send you a copy.
The 70% rule — also relevant to insurance disputes
If you receive a towing invoice after an accident and you believe a charge is incorrect, Indiana HEA 1390 gives you a specific right: you can pay 70% of the disputed amount to retrieve your vehicle while a complaint is investigated. This prevents the situation where a towing company holds your vehicle until you pay the full disputed amount. For insurance claims involving towing from accidents, this can be particularly relevant when the insurer and the towing company disagree on what was reasonable.
How to file a towing reimbursement claim in Indiana
- Keep the itemized invoice from every tow — this is your primary documentation
- Note your policy’s roadside coverage limit before filing — most cap at $50-$200 per incident
- Call your insurer’s claims line within 24-48 hours of the tow — most policies have reporting windows
- Submit the invoice plus any accident or police report documentation
- Track the claim — Indiana regulations require insurers to acknowledge claims within 10 business days
- If reimbursement is denied, ask for the specific policy language that excludes the claim — “we don’t cover this” is not a sufficient explanation under Indiana insurance regulations
Car insurance and towing in Indiana — answered
“Full coverage” typically means liability plus collision plus comprehensive — but not automatically roadside assistance. Towing coverage usually requires adding an emergency road service rider to your policy. Check your declarations page for “roadside assistance,” “emergency road service,” or “towing and labor” — if you don’t see it, it’s probably not there. Adding it usually costs $3-10 per month.
Keep the itemized invoice from the tow — Indiana HEA 1390 (2025) requires every towing company to provide one. Call your insurer’s claims line (or use their app), report the incident, and submit the invoice along with any documentation of the breakdown or accident. Most Indiana insurers process towing reimbursements within 5-10 business days after documentation is received.
Generally, roadside assistance claims don’t affect your rates the same way collision claims do — they’re not at-fault incidents. However, some insurers do track the frequency of roadside claims and may adjust rates after multiple uses in a short period. Filing once or twice a year rarely triggers a rate change. Check your specific policy terms if you’re concerned.
You pay the difference. Most roadside coverage caps at $50-200 per incident. A local tow within Fort Wayne runs $75-150 — usually within or near the cap. A long-distance tow, winch-out recovery, or after-hours call can exceed the cap. Understanding your limit before you’re in the situation prevents surprise out-of-pocket costs. Call (260) 555-0100 for an upfront quote on any call.
Need a tow with a proper itemized receipt?
Every call we handle includes a fully itemized invoice — required by Indiana HEA 1390 (2025) and exactly what your insurer needs for reimbursement. Call us, get the tow, file the claim.
