Get out of traffic first, if it's safe to move. Check on everyone else involved second. Call 911 if anyone's hurt or the road is blocked. Then call (408) 763-3633 for the tow once the scene is under control. That's the order that matters most in the first five minutes after a crash.
If the vehicles are drivable and it's safe to do so, move them out of the travel lane, onto the shoulder or into a nearby lot, before doing anything else. California's move-it law, Vehicle Code Section 20002.1, requires drivers in a minor crash to move their vehicles out of the travel lane when it's possible to do so safely, specifically to prevent a second collision on top of the first. Turn hazards on immediately. If you can't move the vehicle, or moving it isn't safe, stay in the car with your seatbelt on, or get well clear of traffic on foot, and wait for help rather than standing in or near the road to inspect damage.
Call 911 if anyone is injured, if the vehicles are blocking a lane and can't be moved, or if the other driver leaves the scene, refuses to share information, or seems impaired. An officer's report matters for insurance and, in a hit-and-run, for finding the other driver at all. Once the scene is handled, whether that means police arrived and released the vehicles or the crash was minor enough not to need them, call (408) 763-3633 to arrange the tow itself.
Photos help more than memory does. Get pictures of both vehicles from a few angles, the positions they ended up in, license plates, and any visible damage, before either car gets moved or towed away. Exchange name, phone number, insurance company, and policy number with the other driver, and if a witness is willing to stick around, get their contact information too. None of this has to happen if you're hurt or the scene isn't safe; getting checked out and getting out of traffic both come first. But if you're able to do it safely, a few minutes of documentation at the scene is worth far more than trying to reconstruct details later from memory.
In some crashes, officers order the tow directly rather than leaving it to you, under California Vehicle Code Section 22651, which covers vehicle removal when a car is blocking traffic, part of an investigation, or can't legally continue being driven. When that happens, the car goes to a tow yard, sometimes with a hold attached that prevents release until law enforcement authorizes it. Holds are more common in hit-and-run investigations, DUI arrests, or crashes where the vehicle itself is evidence. A hold isn't the tow yard's choice or the operator's; it comes from the police agency handling the case, and the yard can't release the car early no matter how badly you need it back.
Comprehensive and collision coverage often includes towing to a repair shop after a covered accident, though what counts as "covered" and which shop qualifies depends on your specific policy. Get a copy of the tow receipt and the storage invoice if the car sits in a yard for any length of time. Most insurers want that paperwork to process reimbursement, and storage fees add up daily, so the sooner the claim moves, the less you're likely to pay out of pocket before it's resolved. If you're not sure what your policy covers, call your insurer's claims line directly and ask before assuming either way. Policies vary enough that a confident guess is still just a guess.
Once any police hold is lifted, releasing a vehicle from a tow yard typically requires proof of ownership or registration, a valid ID, and payment of the towing and storage fees, unless your insurer is handling that directly as part of a claim. Call the yard before showing up, since hours and accepted payment methods vary, and a wasted trip doesn't help anyone. If your insurance is covering the recovery, ask them to coordinate directly with the yard so you're not stuck paying up front and waiting on reimbursement later.
Crashes happen at intersections and on back roads just as often as on the highway, and coverage doesn't stop at the on-ramp. Morgan Hill, Gilroy, San Martin, Coyote, South San Jose, the 101 corridor, Monterey Road: all of it is covered.
Accident recovery prices the same way any tow does, a hook-up fee plus a per-mile rate, though a vehicle that's badly damaged or needs a flatbed because it can't roll safely will generally cost more than a straightforward tow. If the car goes to a storage yard under a police hold, storage fees accrue separately, daily, on top of the tow itself, which is another reason to get any hold resolved as quickly as the investigation allows. See the towing cost guide for more on how the base pricing works, and the flatbed towing page for when a damaged vehicle needs one.
Just been in a crash? Call (408) 763-3633 once the scene is safe and police, if they were needed, have released the vehicle.
Often, yes, especially if there's no police hold involved and you're paying for or directing the tow yourself. If police ordered the tow, the vehicle typically goes to a contracted storage yard first, and you can arrange transport to your preferred shop afterward.
A hold is a restriction that keeps a tow yard from releasing your vehicle until the investigating agency authorizes it, common in hit-and-run cases, DUI arrests, or when the car itself is evidence. There's no fixed timeline. It depends entirely on the case, and the tow yard has no ability to speed it up.
Sometimes, depending on your policy and the circumstances of the hold. Storage fees accrue daily regardless of whose fault the hold is, so ask your insurer directly and don't assume they're automatically covered just because the tow itself was.
You may still need to arrange and sometimes pay for the tow yourself up front, then seek reimbursement through the claims process, particularly if the other driver's insurer is slow to respond. Keep every receipt either way, including the tow and any storage fees.
It's not always legally required for very minor damage, but it's usually worth having, especially if fault is disputed or the other driver is uncooperative. Most insurers ask for a report number when there's any question about how the crash happened.
Call (408) 763-3633 for accident recovery towing once the scene is safe. A licensed, insured local operator will handle the vehicle from there.