Professional accident towing from AER Towing, available 24/7.
Call (858) 461-7383Accident towing happens when your vehicle can't be safely driven after a collision, breakdown, or emergency situation. Unlike a simple roadside assist where we might jump your battery or change a flat, accident towing means we're loading your entire vehicle onto our equipment and transporting it somewhere else — usually to a body shop, mechanic, or storage facility.
The process starts when we assess your vehicle's condition and positioning. If your car is still driveable but unsafe, we'll use our wheel-lift system to secure the front or rear wheels and tow with two wheels on the ground. When there's frame damage, fluid leaks, or the vehicle won't roll properly, we bring out our flatbed truck and winch system. The winch cable rating matters here — ours handles up to 8,000 pounds, which covers everything from compact cars to full-size trucks.
Most accident tows require some cleanup work too. We carry absorbent pads for fluid spills, push brooms for debris, and reflective cones to keep traffic moving safely around the scene. If your vehicle is blocking traffic or positioned awkwardly after an accident, we'll often need to winch it to a better spot before we can actually load it for transport.
Timing matters with accident towing because disabled vehicles create safety hazards, especially on busy roads like the 15 or Poway Road. Our trucks carry emergency lighting systems and we work with CHP officers when accidents happen on freeways. The whole process from arrival to clearing the scene typically takes 15-20 minutes once we've got the right equipment positioned, but complex recoveries involving ditches or major damage can take longer.
When accidents involve multiple cars on highways like I-15, we coordinate with CHP to safely remove damaged vehicles from traffic lanes.
Vehicles that have rolled require specialized winching techniques to upright them safely before loading onto our flatbed.
Cars with damaged fuel tanks, oil pans, or cooling systems need flatbed transport to prevent environmental contamination.
Once airbags deploy, vehicles often can't be driven safely due to impaired visibility and potential steering issues.
Vehicles that slide down embankments or into ditches require winch-assisted recovery before standard towing can begin.