Michigan Towing Laws › Accident Tows
Who picks the tow company at a crash scene, and whether you can choose your own.
Call (269) 925-9573At most accident scenes, the responding police department calls a tow truck from its rotation list — a rotating roster of pre-approved local towing companies. This keeps dispatch fast and impartial: officers aren’t choosing a favorite, they’re calling whoever’s next on the list. Benton Harbor PD, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, and Michigan State Police posts each maintain their own rotation.
In many cases, yes — if your vehicle is drivable enough to wait a few extra minutes and the scene is safely cleared, officers will often let you call a company of your choice instead of using the rotation truck. This is worth asking directly: “Can I call my own tow truck?” If the road needs to be cleared immediately for safety, the rotation truck takes priority regardless of your preference.
The tow itself is generally your responsibility (or your insurance’s) regardless of which company shows up — rotation status doesn’t make it free. If the at-fault driver’s insurance is covering the claim, keep your tow and storage receipts; they’re typically reimbursable as part of the claim. See our towing fees guide for what’s normal to be charged.
A rotation tow company typically holds your vehicle at their own storage lot, not a police impound, unless the vehicle is being held as evidence (common in serious injury or fatality crashes under Michigan State Police investigation). You can usually request the vehicle be taken directly to a body shop or your home instead of a storage lot — ask before the truck leaves the scene.
The same abandoned-vehicle timeline applies to accident tows as any other impound. If a damaged vehicle isn’t claimed, retrieved, or transferred to insurance/salvage within the standard window, it can be classified abandoned. See our full abandoned vehicle law guide for the exact timeline.
Not usually at the scene — that’s the police department’s call via rotation, or your own choice if the officer allows it. Insurance gets involved afterward for the bill and any vehicle relocation.
Call the towing company directly to arrange a secondary tow to your preferred body shop or location — this is common and usually just involves an additional short-haul fee.
Call (269) 925-9573 to ask about our current rotation status with local departments, or request us directly at the scene if conditions allow.
Call (269) 925-9573 — we work directly with drivers and insurance across Berrien & Van Buren County.
Call (269) 925-9573