Volvo announces owners now have free ‘Tow for Life’
By onAnnouncements | Business Practices | Market Trends
Volvo on Tuesday announced it would offer complementary “Tow for Life” to all owners, regardless of the vehicle’s model year.
The OEM said the service “works alongside” Volvo’s new Accident Advisor platform that recommends certified body shops to consumers after Volvo detects a crash via telematics. Accident Advisor also is available on older Volvos, though the customer must call Volvo to request assistance.
“With no cost, we will arrange to have your car towed to the nearest authorized Volvo retailer within a 25-mile radius,” Volvo describes the Tow for Life program.
All Volvo owners are eligible, a spokesman confirmed. It doesn’t matter if the motorist bought the Volvo new from a dealer or used from a guy on Craigslist.
Volvo’s Roadside Assistance program already promises to tow a vehicle to a certified body shop or Volvo dealer for the length of the vehicle warranty. (Four years, according to the service’s website.) Tow for Life would kick after that time is up — still within the collision sweet spot.
The average vehicle fixed in 2018 was 5.9 years old, and 35.5 percent of repairable vehicles were 7 years of age or older, CCC’s 2019 “Crash Course” states. 20.8 percent of all repairs were non-driveable, based on CCC’s estimates.
“Tow for Life ensures that in the event of a breakdown, help is on hand no matter the age of the vehicle,” Volvo USA customer service head Scott Doering said in a statement. It’s a commitment to all our customers that cars will be taken to experts who use genuine Volvo parts and repair methods. This will get the customer back on the road faster and provide assurance that the repair was done right.”
Volvo’s news release describes Tow for Life as sending the owner to a “local Volvo retailer covered under the program.”
“Depending on the needs, Tow for Life does include towing to Certified Body Shop,” Volvo product, technology and brand communications spokesman Jim Nichols wrote in a news release.
Jalopnik reported Tuesday that the customer must pay for services at the tow destination to have the tow comped.
Volvo owners can request Tow for Life help through On-Call (Volvo’s work-your-car-remotely app) or by calling 1-800-550-5658.
More information:
“Volvo Car USA Launches Complimentary Tow for Life”
Volvo, June 4, 2019
Volvo Roadside Assistance website
Featured image: Volvo on June 4, 2019, announced free “Tow for Life” to any dealership within 25 miles after Roadside Assistance expires. (Provided by Volvo)