Quinn Hardy’s parked car recently became part of a multi-vehicle collision, where the biggest surprise was a fact he learned about tow trucks in the immediate aftermath. So, the Los Angeles creator immediately took to his Instagram and TikTok to share that unsolicited tow trucks are something everyone had to worry about. The post went on to get over 1.2 million views, even with its chaotic caption: “SLIPPERS COMING OFF ITS GETTING REAL.”
In the aftermath of the crash, Hardy told his viewers that insurance was exchanged and police were called. “But when the guy went to get his car towed, apparently there’s tow trucks that are listening in to police scanners so they can hear when car accidents happen, so they can show up unsolicited, and take your car, impound it, so they can charge you money to release it. It’s predatory towing. I didn’t even know that was a thing,” Hardy alleged.
Hardy claimed that on that first day, four different tow trucks showed up without being called. On the day he uploaded the post, he said that the last car owner came to finish out the reports. Soon after she got there, “one of the predatory tow trucks shows up again and starts talking to the girl and trying to convince her to like, tow her car.” With his slippers on and armed with new knowledge, Hardy noted that he went out to help the woman.
He claimed that the tow truck driver got really defensive.
“So I go out there, and I’m like, ‘Hey, did you call this guy?’ and she goes, ‘No,’” Hardy told his viewers. Then he claimed, “And I go, ‘All right, time to go. Get a move on.’ He starts to, like, chirping me. He’s like, ‘What are you talking to me for. What are you talking to me for? And I look at her, and I’m like, ‘He’s a scammer.’ And he goes, ‘Are you calling me a f—ing crook? Are you calling me a crook?’ And I just went, ‘Yeah.’”
According to Hardy, the tow truck driver allegedly threatened Hardy afterward. So Hardy took off his slippers to highlight that he was prepared to defend himself. The driver eventually left once the actual tow truck requested by the vehicle’s owner arrived. Hardy’s then offered a piece of advice to his viewers: “So in conclusion, if you ever get in a car accident, just know that if you didn’t call a tow truck and a tow truck shows up, don’t let it take your car. Tell them to leave.”
The post is purely Hardy’s perspective, and thus cannot be verified. However, the phenomenon he described is real and is also known as predatory, rogue, or bandit towing. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reports that these companies use deceptive or coercive practices to target motorists during high-stress moments.
Between the beginning of 2022 and the end of 2024, the NICB observed an 89% increase in predatory towing claims across the country. The organization warns that these operators often monitor police scanners to arrive at crash scenes before drivers can make informed decisions. Once a vehicle is hooked, owners are often hit with thousands of dollars in vague, hidden fees.
In response to his post, one Instagram user alleged, “F–ing tow truck took my f—ing car after i got t-boned before i even turned around from talking to the fire fighters. I didn’t get to take photos or get my breakfast out of the car. 700 fucking dollars after being there for A SINGLE DAY without my consent. Luckily the other guys insurance covered everything. But f–k me i was out 800 bucks and a car for like 2 weeks. Tow truck nearly ruined my life more than the car accident.”
On TikTok, a commenter claimed, “One of the insurance adjusters I follow had a situation similar to this. A young girl got into her first car accident. Tow truck driver showed up and towed her car. She thought the police had called it for her. The yard then held her car hostage forever changing fees and stuff.” To highlight how expensive it can get, a regular tow recently cost $255.
Both platforms featured users who claimed that they heard different names for the tow truck. An Instagrammer wrote, “I had a friend who was a tow truck driver and his brother was one of those. They call them vultures lol.” On TikTok, a user wrote, “They’re called ‘wreck chasers’ and they’re annoying.”
To protect yourself, the NICB recommends staying alert and verifying the tow company before agreeing to any service. The department advised that you should always ask questions and remember that you have the right to seek a licensed tow through your insurance or local law enforcement.
Published: Oct 10, 2026 05:21 am