A man has called out the ‘sick world we live in’ after his Pontiac Trans Am broke down, and he was forced to call for a tow truck to recover his car. TikTok user @dr.slatt47 recounted the story in a short video on his channel following the incident.
In the video, the driver said he had to pay nearly $400 to have his car towed to his home after spending over 15 minutes on the phone with a tow truck company. What made his experience worse was that he claimed the tow truck was only 8 minutes away.
The video caused a fair amount of debate among the viewers on his account. Some were simply surprised by how much he had to pay to get the tow truck to him. Others wondered if he had actually been caught up in a scam.
Some simply recommended getting AAA roadside assistance instead of calling other tow truck companies. Whatever the case, the TikTok user was still incredibly unhappy at what had transpired.
The TikTok User Recounted the Trans Am’s Breakdown
@dr.slatt47Sick world we live in♬ original sound – Torrell Tafa
According to the creator, the car had broken down, and he spent about 15 minutes trying to reach a towing company. After giving them all the information about the car and his location, the company told him he would have to pay $360 to have his muscle car rescued.
As we can see in the video, this left the TikTok user stunned. “That’s insane. They’re 8 minutes away,” he said in the video. While he didn’t reveal the actual distance of the tow itself or whether there were any extra fees in what he paid, the frustration was clear to see. “I just want to leave, bro,” he added, indicating his desire to just get home.
The price of the tow led some viewers to wonder if he had actually been scammed. If the truck was just eight minutes away, $360 is a lot, and is expensive in general for a tow. On average, drivers can expect to pay in the low hundreds for a tow from a local company, perhaps less if it is just over a short distance. There are, however, some cases in which even a short tow can be quite expensive.
Tow Truck Prices Can Be Higher Than You Think
If your car broke down at night, or even needed a flatbed, the price can shoot up. Extra fees can also be quickly racked up after a tow company has sent a truck. Over the years, some have heavily criticized the tow truck industry for its high prices, leaving many motorists stunned by the cost. But there are instances in which the price can be kept at a reasonable level.
Roadside assistance can be requested from AAA, and memberships range from $45 to $75 per year. That could save you a huge amount of money compared to a local towing company. Plus, you get extra benefits like money off at hotels and restaurants. Some viewers of the TikTok video simply recommended calling AAA next time, even if the creator didn’t have a membership. So there are ways to avoid being charged a huge amount by towing companies.