German-law context: This page relates to German law and German automotive claims practice. It provides operational information, not individual legal advice.
Document the incident, vehicle condition, route, service provider, dates, release barriers and the decision that ended storage.
Towing versus recovery
Towing moves a vehicle; recovery can involve additional technical effort to remove it from a difficult or unsafe position. The invoice should distinguish the operations.
Storage period
Record arrival, inspection, insurer or assessor access, customer instruction, release and collection. Continued storage needs a current reason.
Commercial communication
Rates, daily charges and responsibilities should be transparent to the customer and commissioning party.
Mitigation and escalation
If a total-loss vehicle remains uncollected or approval is delayed, the case needs an escalation path. Silent storage days are commercially and legally risky.
Frequently asked questions
Are all storage days recoverable?
Not automatically. Necessity, rate and avoidable delay are assessed case by case.
Who commissioned the towing service?
The file should show the customer, police, insurer, assistance provider or workshop instruction.
What evidence matters?
Location, times, vehicle condition, route, rate agreement and release chronology.
Can SchadenNetzwerk assign a towing provider?
Yes. With the proper customer instruction, the provider can be commissioned from the digital claims file.
Frank Roll, MSc, MBA
Automotive claims management specialist working at the interface between dealerships, insurers, automotive damage assessors and legal professionals since 1998. Author of Schadenmanagement im Autohaus and developer of the R-SOS management consulting system.
Last reviewed: July 2026 · The specialist book is currently available in German.