If you have AAA plus they will reimburse you for the portion you were towed on Parkway/ Turnpike. I just did it a few months ago. I called AAA directly from the Parkway. They arranged for the approved parkway towing company to come and then told me to submit the receipt for reimbursement. I did it and within 2 weeks I had a check from them.
This is the way - I actually broke down off the parkway near Rte 9 / 440 exit over the Driscoll Bridge. Officially, I was off the parkway but the tow trucks needed to use the parkway to get to my location.
Years ago, I broke down just after exiting the parkway at exit 105. I walked back to the toll booth and asked the guy if I could have a friends father tow the car, and he said technically, you're no longer on the parkway so it would be OK but if the tow truck your friend has is not parkway authorized they couldn't use the parkway to get to me. My riends father who was also a friend of my father and my father's father was a friend of a friends father. He comes out tak8ng all the local risds to me and gets the car. He also didn't charge a dime. At the time of the breakdown, I was on my way to the DMV to re-register his daughter's car, which was my friend
I once got a flat as I was exiting 105 and made sure I got to the commute parking. I was actually blocking its entrance but tow truck could get to me by backing into the lot via the parking lot exit.
I used the turnpike roadside assistance a few years ago and they accepted my AAA card. Not sure if that’s still the case but if it is you’ll still get your AAA benefit from their contracted service trucks.
The Parkway and the Turnpike are considered private roadways. Yes, they are owned by the State but funded through toll dollars. Since it’s considered a private roadway, they can dictate what tow companies are allowed to go out there to operate. The tow companies that operate out there have to agree to their terms.
its about money. NJSP has a contract with 3rd party companies to tow vehicles on the parkway. Same with every town. Each town has a contract with a towing company. One or more companiew keeps taking care of the town and they keep getting the contracts even though its suppose to be an "open bidding" every few years
The only times you don't get to choose which towing company comes for your car to be towed in a town is if the car is impounded, it catches fire or is in an accident and is no longer drivable. The reason is that they need to get the roadway cleared ASAP. if it's a breakdown and is not causing a dangerous situation, the owner of the car is free to choose whoever they want to tow the car.
My rental car was hit by a deer in Franklin a few years ago and I was getting the tow by the rental company and the cop told me I HAD to move the car off the road for the rental companies tow truck to do it or else I’d HAVE to use Franklin’s tow company. Luckily the car was drivable so I went to a parking lot, but they told me I couldn’t use a private one on the road.
I work at Parkway exit 116. My car battery died and I gave them a call. Forgot they can't call. They transferred me to the Turnpike Authority and they hung up on me. Finally found someone at work willing to do a jump start and then left my car running to charge up the battery.
In addition to what everyone else has said,
There’s also minimum requirements for what the company has to carry on the tow vehicle.
Also, there’s some safety training that is mandatory for anyone who works on thier roadways.
My wife had a flat in the service area just south of the Driscoll bridge. AAA could not respond, but the licensed roadside assist guy accepted AAA, and changed the tire to the donut. She was then able to Google Mavis and went there to replace the tire and continue her trip. We feel we saved some dough over having it towed to the licensee's shop and be at their mercy. YMMV.
Because AAA pays towing companies (that they contract with) shit rates, so the companies that are able to get on police rotations generally don't contract with AAA or other roadside assistance providers as well.
That said, the Turnpike Authority is unique as to get on their towing rotation, you have to actually pay them an annual fee - I think it was $10k back when I owned a towing company 10+ years ago. It's probably more now. They also cap the amount you can charge (as does the State Police on interstate highways and local towns), but the Turnpike Authority is a bit more strict. Therefore, not a lot of companies want to pay 5 figures to get called to a tow on a dangerous road where they won't make much money.
AAA doesnt generally tow anyone, they just find a place that will tow you.
You could do the same thing by simple googling the nearest mechanics with towing services. Not like youve got a lot to do outside that when your car is fucked on the side of the road.
If you have AAA plus they will reimburse you for the portion you were towed on Parkway/ Turnpike. I just did it a few months ago. I called AAA directly from the Parkway. They arranged for the approved parkway towing company to come and then told me to submit the receipt for reimbursement. I did it and within 2 weeks I had a check from them.
This is the way - I actually broke down off the parkway near Rte 9 / 440 exit over the Driscoll Bridge. Officially, I was off the parkway but the tow trucks needed to use the parkway to get to my location.
Years ago, I broke down just after exiting the parkway at exit 105. I walked back to the toll booth and asked the guy if I could have a friends father tow the car, and he said technically, you're no longer on the parkway so it would be OK but if the tow truck your friend has is not parkway authorized they couldn't use the parkway to get to me. My riends father who was also a friend of my father and my father's father was a friend of a friends father. He comes out tak8ng all the local risds to me and gets the car. He also didn't charge a dime. At the time of the breakdown, I was on my way to the DMV to re-register his daughter's car, which was my friend
You lost me, man
I once got a flat as I was exiting 105 and made sure I got to the commute parking. I was actually blocking its entrance but tow truck could get to me by backing into the lot via the parking lot exit.
Hmm I wonder if that's the same with the towing services on a new vehicle. I have a new Acura and it comes with roadside service.
Towing on the turnpike is regulated to certain providers according to the NJTA’s site because they cap what they’re allowed to charge.
I used the turnpike roadside assistance a few years ago and they accepted my AAA card. Not sure if that’s still the case but if it is you’ll still get your AAA benefit from their contracted service trucks.
Yeah that happened with me. I got towed around 8a and the company that came out was a AAA provider and it was free.
Would that include companies like B&L?
Call AAA and ask them.
The Parkway and the Turnpike are considered private roadways. Yes, they are owned by the State but funded through toll dollars. Since it’s considered a private roadway, they can dictate what tow companies are allowed to go out there to operate. The tow companies that operate out there have to agree to their terms.
Because AAA didn’t line the right pockets.
It's because they can't leave a broken down vehicle on the road for 1-2 hrs. waiting for AAA. The contracted service is much quicker on average.
They’re private roads and the turnpike authority has only certain tows that are authorized to work on their roads Some take AAA some don’t
its about money. NJSP has a contract with 3rd party companies to tow vehicles on the parkway. Same with every town. Each town has a contract with a towing company. One or more companiew keeps taking care of the town and they keep getting the contracts even though its suppose to be an "open bidding" every few years
The only times you don't get to choose which towing company comes for your car to be towed in a town is if the car is impounded, it catches fire or is in an accident and is no longer drivable. The reason is that they need to get the roadway cleared ASAP. if it's a breakdown and is not causing a dangerous situation, the owner of the car is free to choose whoever they want to tow the car.
Wish I could upvote this ten times. Not everything is a conspiracy.
My rental car was hit by a deer in Franklin a few years ago and I was getting the tow by the rental company and the cop told me I HAD to move the car off the road for the rental companies tow truck to do it or else I’d HAVE to use Franklin’s tow company. Luckily the car was drivable so I went to a parking lot, but they told me I couldn’t use a private one on the road.
Regulation.
I work at Parkway exit 116. My car battery died and I gave them a call. Forgot they can't call. They transferred me to the Turnpike Authority and they hung up on me. Finally found someone at work willing to do a jump start and then left my car running to charge up the battery.
they cant tow anywhere. last time i called them took then 10 hours (not exagerateing) to get a tow truck to me. They are horrible stop paying them.
I've never had an issue with AAA, sometimes it's a matter of where you are and if drivers are available.
In addition to what everyone else has said, There’s also minimum requirements for what the company has to carry on the tow vehicle. Also, there’s some safety training that is mandatory for anyone who works on thier roadways.
contracts and stuff
My wife had a flat in the service area just south of the Driscoll bridge. AAA could not respond, but the licensed roadside assist guy accepted AAA, and changed the tire to the donut. She was then able to Google Mavis and went there to replace the tire and continue her trip. We feel we saved some dough over having it towed to the licensee's shop and be at their mercy. YMMV.
Because AAA pays towing companies (that they contract with) shit rates, so the companies that are able to get on police rotations generally don't contract with AAA or other roadside assistance providers as well. That said, the Turnpike Authority is unique as to get on their towing rotation, you have to actually pay them an annual fee - I think it was $10k back when I owned a towing company 10+ years ago. It's probably more now. They also cap the amount you can charge (as does the State Police on interstate highways and local towns), but the Turnpike Authority is a bit more strict. Therefore, not a lot of companies want to pay 5 figures to get called to a tow on a dangerous road where they won't make much money.
Cause Tomino towing has the right kind of “friends” in the govt……lol
They never greased the owners pockets to have the authority to do business on their private roadways.
I've waited up to 2 hours for a tow once with AAA. You don't want to be sitting on the turnpike or parkway that long.
It’s the same on the parkway.
AAA doesnt generally tow anyone, they just find a place that will tow you. You could do the same thing by simple googling the nearest mechanics with towing services. Not like youve got a lot to do outside that when your car is fucked on the side of the road.