Chico Towing & Transport

We've made every effort to make this FAQ section complete, useful, and informative. Our Company has been active in the industry since 1945. We also participate in extensive training programs and work with our state and national towing associations to keep abreast of towing techniques, safety and regulations. Should you find your question is not readily answered, please give us a call.

24hr Dispatch Available Every Day
Bremerton Phone 360.479.7500
Complete Phone List

We try to reach all our customers withing 30 to 45 minutes. This is typically a reasonable expectation. However, during peak times it make 30 minutes or more extra. In adverse weather conditions, we always try to reach people exposed to the elements before those safely indoors.

Your vehicle's owner's manual should list the proper towing procedures. However, our drivers and dispatchers are familiar with towing procedures for most vehicles (and have reference material close at hand). Most all wheel drive vehicles need to be towed with all 4 wheels off the ground. We often do this with a flatbed (rollback) truck. This can also be done with a standard tow truck and our dolly system that lifts both sets of wheels off the ground.

We have the proper equipment to safely tow most recreational vehicles. Call us with your inquiry. If we aren't able to tow it with our equipment, we'll gladly help you arrange the service with another provider.

In certain cases we are able to directly bill insurance. However, many insurance policies require you to pay for the service and submit for reimbursement. (Historically coverage that is directly attached to your vehicle insurance is the most comprehensive and easiest to work with.) If you need assistance, call us and we'll walk you through the process for you particular insurance.

We will ask you to come to our office, show photo identification matching the registered owner information of the vehicle, and pay the towing and storage charges. (We are able to obtain registered owner information on vehicles, so we rarely need to see your vehicle ownership paperwork.)

If you bill of sale is notarized, it is adequate for redemption of your vehicle. Otherwise, you will need to register the vehicle in your name prior to redemption.

The law does allow for owners to designate an individual to redeem their vehicles. However, the authorization must be in writing and we must be able to verify their identity (i.e. fax a copy of photo identification or send a notarized letter).

The monthly auctions are open to the public. Anyone with a valid state identification can obtain a bidder number for our auctions.

Vehicles sell for a variety of amounts based on their condition and their market value. Based on the uncertainty of the overall vehicle condition, they often sell for as little as 1/2 of their book value. There is no minimum bid on the vehicles. The sell for as little as $20 and for more than $1,000.

More auction information can be found on our website on the auction page.

If you have proper signs posted, and the vehicle is not authorized to park in your lot, you can have the vehicle towed away at the owner's risk and expense (impounded). Or, if the vehicle has been left in your business lot for more than 24 hours, it can be impounded at your request. See also abandoned or junk vehicle FAQ below for exceptions where there may be a fee. To authorize an impound, call us to initiate the tow and complete the following form to authorize the tow: Autorization to Impound. (You may either download the form or request one from our driver.)

You can request immediate removal (impoundment) of a vehicle improperly parked at your residence. No signage is required for this type of tow from your residence (except apartment buildings). We will promptly remove the vehicle if you've authorized it with the following form: Autorization to Impound If the vehicle is junk and of no value, we will ask you to pay for this service. Otherwise, the owner of the vehicle will be held responsible for the towing charges.

"Junk vehicle" means a vehicle certified under RCW 46.55.230 as meeting at least three of the following requirements:

• Is three years old or older;
• Is extensively damaged, such damage including but not limited to any of the following: A broken window or windshield, or missing wheels, tires, motor, or transmission;
• Is apparently inoperable;
• Has an approximate fair market value equal only to the approximate value of the scrap in it.

To get paid for an impound, we have to collect from the vehicle owner, sell the vehicle at auction, or collect from the property owner. Many registered owners of vehicles don't care about their credit and the effect an abandoned vehicle may have on their driver's license. (This is virtually always true where hulk vehicles are concerned.) And hulk vehicles don't have any value at public auction (in fact, there is a cost for us to dispose of them). Therefore, we charge to tow, process and dispose of hulk vehicles.