On-Hook Policy Feature Checklist
What to confirm in a on-hook policy — what's standard, what's often limited, and what to add if needed — plus the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current tow or on-hook policy and check the box next to each feature you can confirm it includes — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor.
Tick each feature you can confirm your policy includes — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Confirm? | Policy feature | What to confirm | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-Hook / In-Tow Coverage | Covers customers' vehicles damaged while hooked, loaded, or being towed — your auto policy excludes them. | Standard | |
| Limit Fits Your Biggest Tow | Confirm the limit covers the most valuable vehicle or equipment you haul, not an average car. | Standard | |
| Every Tow Unit Covered | Most carriers require on-hook on every tow unit at the same limit. | Standard | |
| Basis: Direct vs. Legal Liability | Legal liability pays only if you are at fault — direct pays regardless. | Often limited | |
| Multiple Vehicles per Occurrence | A car carrier crash can damage several vehicles — confirm the per-occurrence limit. | Often limited | |
| Heavy-Duty & Specialty Recoveries | Trucks, buses, and equipment may need higher limits or are excluded. | Often limited | |
| Upset, Overturn & Water Recovery | Confirm winching, rollovers, and recoveries from water are not excluded. | Often limited | |
| Storage Lot (Garagekeepers) | Vehicles at your lot are not on-hook — they need garagekeepers or storage coverage. | If needed | |
| Keys & Personal Property | Items left in towed vehicles are usually excluded. | If needed | |
| Interstate Transport | Confirm vehicles hauled across state lines are covered. | If needed |
The gap most often missed in this coverage
The gap most often missed with on-hook coverage is the limit. Many tow companies carry a limit sized for a passenger car, but a single heavy recovery can be worth far more — one disabled concrete pump truck that came loose on the interstate was valued at more than $340,000. Coverage also stops when the vehicle reaches your lot, where garagekeepers takes over. Confirm a limit that fits your biggest tow, cover every unit, and photograph every vehicle before hooking.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your on-hook coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: On-Hook / In-Tow Insurance · On-Hook Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What should a on-hook policy include?
Standard features to confirm in a on-hook policy include On-Hook / In-Tow Coverage, Limit Fits Your Biggest Tow, Every Tow Unit Covered. This checklist also flags the features that are often limited or sublimited and the ones to add if needed, with a plain-English note on each.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my on-hook coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.