Stuck on the Highway: A Safe Roadside Checklist

Disclaimer: TowCars.com is a nationwide towing information and referral service. We don’t tow, dispatch, or store vehicles, and we aren’t responsible for the work, prices, or conduct of any towing company. If you send us a request, we pass it to independent providers who set their own prices and terms. See our disclosure.

A breakdown on a highway is one of the most dangerous places to be stuck. Traffic moves fast and drivers may not notice a stopped car until late. This checklist puts your safety first and gets help on the way. If anyone is hurt or you are in immediate danger, call 911 first.

1. Get out of traffic if you can

• Turn on your hazard lights as soon as you sense trouble.
• If the car still moves, steer to the right shoulder, an exit or a wide pull-off. Getting off the highway entirely is safest.
• Avoid stopping on curves, hills, bridges or in a center median unless you have no choice.
• Turn the wheels away from traffic and set the parking brake.

2. Decide: stay in the car or get out?

There is no single rule for every situation. If you are stopped far onto a wide shoulder, staying inside with your seat belt on may be safer than standing near traffic. If the car is in a travel lane, smoking, or likely to be hit, and you can get out safely on the side away from traffic, move well away from the car and behind a guardrail or barrier if there is one. Never stand between your car and moving traffic, and never try to cross a highway on foot.

3. Make yourself visible

• Keep hazard lights on, day and night.
• If it is safe to do so and you carry them, place reflective triangles or flares behind the car.
• At night, turn on interior lights so passing drivers can see the car is occupied.
• Raise the hood only if you can do it without stepping into traffic.

4. Figure out exactly where you are

Help arrives faster when you can describe your location precisely. Note the highway name or number, the direction you were traveling, the last exit or mile marker you passed and any landmarks. Your phone’s map app can share coordinates. Many states also run free highway service patrols on busy routes; check your state department of transportation’s official site to see whether one covers your area.

5. Call for the right kind of help

• Emergency (injuries, fire, car in a live lane): 911.
• Non-emergency police help: the state or local non-emergency number, or 911 if you can’t find it and feel unsafe.
• Roadside assistance: check whether your insurance, car manufacturer or credit card includes it.
• A tow: request quotes and ask for the total price before dispatch.

When you request a tow, give the provider your location, the year, make and model, whether the car rolls and steers, whether it is AWD or electric, and where you want it taken. Our flatbed towing page explains when a flatbed is needed.

6. While you wait

• Keep your seat belt on if you are inside the car.
• Don’t accept a tow from a truck you didn’t call without confirming who sent it; see how to avoid towing scams.
• Keep your phone charged and stay reachable for the driver.
• Remove valuables you will need, such as medication, documents and keys.

7. When the tow arrives

Confirm the company name matches the one you arranged, confirm the price and destination, and ask how you can pay. Take photos of your car before it is loaded. Ask for a receipt. Our payment guide covers card acceptance and what to ask.

Keep a basic roadside kit

A small kit makes any breakdown easier: a phone charger, flashlight, reflective triangles, a reflective vest, water, a blanket in cold weather, basic first-aid supplies and jumper cables or a portable jump starter. Check your spare tire pressure now and then.

Get a tow quote

TowCars is a free referral service. We are not a tow company; we pass your request to independent providers who serve the area and set their own prices. If you are in danger, call 911 first.

Frequently asked questions