Insurance Tips Against Road Vultures

Name for illegal tow trucks is Road Vultures They search South Africa's highways for accidents and prey on accident victims.

Road vulture is the name given to wild and mostly illegal tow trucks that travel up and down South Africa's highways in search of accidents.

Once at the scene of an accident, these road vultures take advantage of the driver's shock and disorientation to tow their car, usually against their will or better judgment, to their own repair shops.

The cost to release the car is exceptionally high and drivers may face problems with their insurance companies later on if these road vultures manage to get their hands on the vehicle.

"It is important that South African motorists know their rights - as well as how to deal with these people in the event of an accident," said the Managing Director at Alexander Forbes Insurance, Gari Dombo.

Dombo said that insurance cases are often delayed for a long time as owners are "held ransom" by road vultures who refuse to release the cars until exorbitant storage fees are paid.

Drivers are advised to call their insurer as soon as an accident occurs, which will then appoint a reputable tow company to pull the vehicle to a reputable panel beater. According to Dombo, "some insurers will not pay for towing and storage if it is not arranged through their own accident helpline."

"Getting the right advice from the right people is especially important when you are shaken up after an accident and being pressurized by vultures," said Dombo.

Having the right telephone numbers accessible at all times so that contacting the insurance company easily after an accident, is probably the best thing to do against road vultures.