Roadside assistance and towing: What to do before help arrives
Prepare safely, give the dispatcher useful details, and identify the right towing needs for your vehicle.
Protect people before the vehicle
If the vehicle can be moved safely, leave the travel lane, stop as far from traffic as conditions allow, turn on hazards, and set the parking brake. If stranded in a lane, at a blind curve, near fire, or in immediate danger, call 911 and follow dispatcher instructions.
Send a location the dispatcher can use
Pair a map pin with visible details.
- Road, direction, exit, cross street, or mile marker
- Lane, shoulder, parking area, or off-road position
- Vehicle color, year, make, model, and plate
- Primary need and whether the vehicle rolls and steers
- Injuries, smoke, leaks, visibility, children, pets, or mobility needs
- Garage height, gate, grade, mud, snow, or other access limits
Match equipment to the vehicle
All-wheel drive, low clearance, electric vehicles, motorcycles, damaged steering, locked wheels, or a vehicle stuck in park may require different equipment. Share modifications and collision damage, and use the towing instructions in the owner’s manual.
Prepare without entering traffic
Have the key available, remove essential medicine and irreplaceable items only when safe, confirm the destination, and photograph existing damage from a safe place. Verify the company before hookup. Never stand between vehicles, under a raised vehicle, or beside a moving winch cable.
Know when roadside trouble is an emergency
Call 911 for injury, fire, smoke, suspected fuel or high-voltage damage, a vehicle blocking a live lane, or immediate danger. Never push a vehicle through moving traffic or retrieve items from the roadway.
Sources reviewed
Editorial guidance was checked against the following authoritative resources. Always follow current manufacturer instructions and local requirements for the specific job.