After breaking down on the side of the road, you know that you need to have your vehicle moved to either your home or a mechanic's shop, so you have started looking for the nearest emergency towing service. However, since you do not want to be stuck on the highway for longer than needed, use the following tips to make sure that your car is prepared for when the tow truck driver arrives.

1.  Check the Underside of Your Vehicle Before You Call the Towing Company

The first thing that you should do before you even make the call to the towing company is to inspect the underside of your vehicle. While performing your inspection, look for any areas that appear severely rusted or have any cracking that could cause issues if the vehicle were hooked up to a standard tow truck.

If you do see any areas of concern, you can tell the dispatcher that you do not believe that it is safe to use a direct hitch. In this case, the dispatcher will know to send a flatbed, roll-on tow truck that the driver can use to haul your car without the risk of damaging the already compromised underside.

2.  Disengage Any Features That May Hinder the Easy Movement of Your Car

Once you have made the call, you can use the time waiting for the driver to arrive by further preparing your vehicle for being moved. You can do this by disengaging any features that may hinder the easy movement of the car, whether it will be hitched to the truck or pulled onto a flatbed.

If you have four-wheel drive, make sure that it is turned off as this could cause a drag on the tires. Also, make sure that the emergency brake is not on so that the attempted movement of the car does not burn it up or break it.

Once all of these features are disengaged, straighten out the tires. You may also be required to put your car in neutral, but you should wait until the driver arrives before doing so since your car could roll away if you are on an incline.

Using the above tips can help ensure that the tow truck driver is able to hitch up and haul your car without issues that could cause a delay in the towing of your car or cause damage to your vehicle. For more specific requirements, speak with the dispatcher or driver from the towing company before they begin to hook up your car.