What to Do While You're Waiting for a Tow Truck
So your car just died and you called for a tow. Now you're sitting there wondering how long this is gonna take and what you're supposed to do in the meantime.
Waiting for a tow truck doesn't have to be that bad. There are things you can do to stay safe, make the time go faster, and help everything go smoother when we get there.
First Things First - Make Sure You're Safe
Before you worry about anything else, you gotta make sure you're not in danger.
If your car died in the middle of traffic, try to get it to the side of the road if you can. Even if you have to put it in neutral and push it a few feet, getting out of the lane matters.
Turn your hazard lights on right away. Other drivers need to see you sitting there so they don't slam into you.
If you're on a highway or busy road, stay in your car with your seatbelt on. I know it feels weird to just sit there, but getting out and walking around near fast traffic is way more dangerous than staying put.
A guy told me once that he got out to check his engine on the highway shoulder and a truck's mirror almost took his head off as it passed. He said he felt the wind from it. That's how close cars get when they're going 65 miles per hour.
If you're in a parking lot or quiet street where there's no traffic, you can get out and move around. Just use your brain about it.
Let People Know What's Happening
Call or text someone to tell them you broke down and you're waiting for a tow.
If you were supposed to be somewhere, let them know you're gonna be late. Your boss, your friend, whoever's expecting you - just shoot them a quick message.
I remember this guy who broke down on his way to pick up his kids from school. He was so focused on dealing with the car situation that he forgot to call the school. His kids were sitting there wondering where he was and the school office was trying to reach him. Don't be that person.
If you've got someone who worries about you - a spouse, a parent, whatever - tell them what's up so they don't freak out when you don't answer your phone later because you're riding in the tow truck.
Figure Out Where You Want Your Car Towed
While you're waiting, think about where you want your car to go.
Do you have a mechanic you trust? Call them and see if they can take a look at your car today or tomorrow. Get their address ready to give to the tow truck driver.
Don't have a mechanic? You can take it to a dealership if it's still under warranty. Or ask the tow truck driver when they get there - they usually know which shops in the area are good.
Some people just want their car towed home so they can deal with it later. That's fine too. Just make sure you know the address you want us to take it to.
Having this figured out before the truck shows up saves time. Our driver won't have to sit there waiting while you make phone calls and look up addresses.
Grab Your Stuff From the Car
While you're sitting there, take a look around your car and grab anything you might need.
Your phone charger, your water bottle, any food or drinks you had. If you've got work stuff in there like a laptop or important papers, take those with you.
Check the back seat and the trunk too. I've towed cars where people left their groceries in the trunk and didn't remember until later. By the time they got their car back, everything was spoiled.
One lady left her purse in the glove compartment when we towed her car to the shop. She didn't realize it until she tried to buy lunch an hour later and had no wallet. Had to go all the way back to the shop to get it.
Just grab your important stuff now while you're thinking about it.
Check Your Insurance and Roadside Assistance
Some car insurance includes roadside assistance or towing coverage. Some people have AAA or another roadside service.
If you've got coverage like that, call them first before you call a regular tow company. They might cover part or all of the cost.
If you already called us and then remember you have coverage, that's okay. Just let us know when we get there. We can work with your insurance company or roadside service to handle the billing.
Have your insurance card ready either way. You might need the information.
Stay Warm or Cool Depending on the Weather
If it's hot outside and your car's not running, you can't use the AC. If it's cold, you can't use the heat.
On a hot day, roll your windows down. Drink water if you have any. If you're somewhere safe, you can get out and stand in the shade.
Last summer we picked up someone whose car died in a parking lot on a 95 degree day. They'd been sitting in there with the windows up trying to tough it out. They were sweating like crazy and felt sick. Don't do that. Get some air moving.
On a cold day, bundle up with whatever you've got. Put on a jacket, wrap a blanket around you if you have one in the car. A lot of people keep emergency blankets in their trunk and forget about them.
If it's really cold or really hot and you're not feeling okay, call us back and tell us. We can sometimes get someone to you faster if it's a health and safety thing.
Don't Try to Fix Your Car Yourself Unless You Really Know What You're Doing
I get it. You want to get back on the road and not deal with a tow.
But if you already called for a tow truck, there's probably a reason. Your car's not gonna magically start working because you stared at the engine for ten minutes.
Some things are simple. If you just ran out of gas, you know what the problem is. If your tire's flat, you can see it. But if your engine just quit or your transmission stopped working or you don't know what's wrong, don't mess with it.
I've seen people make things worse by poking around under the hood when they don't know what they're doing. Then we get there and not only does the original problem still exist, but now there's new damage too.
If you do know cars and you want to take a quick look, that's fine. Just be careful and don't spend the whole time we're driving to you trying to fix something that probably needs a real mechanic anyway.
Watch for the Tow Truck
When we tell you we're 20 minutes away, start keeping an eye out for us.
Tow trucks are big and usually pretty easy to spot. But sometimes drivers have trouble finding people because the location wasn't clear or because the person's not paying attention.
If you're in a parking lot, tell us what part you're in and what your car looks like. "I'm in a red Honda near the back by the dumpsters" is way more helpful than "I'm at the grocery store."
If you're on a highway, tell us which direction you were going and what mile marker you're near if you can see one. "Northbound near mile marker 47" helps us find you faster than "on Route 9 somewhere."
When you see the truck coming, you can flash your hazards or wave so they know it's you. Especially if there are other cars around.
Have Your Keys Ready
Our driver's gonna need your keys to move your car or to get it in neutral if it needs to be pushed or loaded a certain way.
Don't wait until the truck's all hooked up and ready to go to realize your keys are buried in your bag or in your pocket under three layers of winter clothes.
Just have them in your hand when we get there. Makes everything go faster.
Be Ready to Answer Some Questions
When our driver shows up, they're gonna ask you a few things.
What happened to your car? When did it stop working? Where do you want it towed to?
If you know any details about what went wrong, tell them. "The engine just shut off" or "I heard a loud noise and then it wouldn't move" or "It started smoking under the hood." Stuff like that helps them know the best way to load your car.
They might ask if the wheels turn or if the car's stuck in park. They might ask about all-wheel drive or special features. Just answer as best you can.
You don't need to know everything about cars. Just tell them what you do know.
Decide If You're Riding With Us or Getting Another Ride
You can ride in the tow truck with our driver if you want. We've got room for one or two people usually.
Or you can call someone to come pick you up. Or get an Uber or Lyft.
Some people would rather ride with us so they can see where their car goes and talk to the mechanic when we drop it off. Other people want to just go home or go to work and deal with the car later.
Either way is fine. Just figure out what you want to do before we're loaded up and ready to leave.
If someone's coming to get you, let them know it might take us 15-20 minutes to load your car once we arrive. They don't need to rush over if we're not done yet.
Don't Leave Your Car Until the Tow Truck Arrives
I know sitting there waiting is boring. But don't wander off.
If you leave to go to a nearby store or restaurant and we show up, we can't do anything until you get back. Then you're making us wait and slowing down how fast we can get to the next person who needs help.
Plus, if you're on a highway or somewhere not safe, leaving your car there unattended is asking for problems. Someone could hit it. Police might get involved. Just stay with your car until we arrive.
If you really need to use the bathroom or something, that's different. Just try to be quick about it.
Keep Your Phone Charged If You Can
Your phone's your lifeline when you're stuck somewhere.
If you've got a car charger and your car still has some battery left, plug your phone in. If you've got a portable battery pack, use that.
You need your phone to talk to us, to call someone for a ride, to let people know what's happening. Don't let it die.
Stay Calm - We're On Our Way
The worst part of waiting for a tow is the not knowing. You don't know how long it'll really take. You don't know if something else is gonna go wrong. You just want someone to show up and help you.
We get that. That's why we try to give you real time estimates and why we keep you updated if something changes.
When we say we'll be there in 25 minutes, we mean it. We're not gonna leave you hanging for an hour wondering if anyone's actually coming.
Take some deep breaths. Text your friends. Listen to music if your phone's got battery. The time goes faster if you're not just sitting there stressing.
What Happens When We Get There
Our driver will pull up, probably ask you a couple quick questions, then get to work loading your car.
Loading usually takes between 5 and 15 minutes depending on the situation. Flatbed tows are usually faster. Wheel lift tows are pretty quick too. If your car's in a really tight spot or a weird angle, it might take a little longer.
You can watch if you want or just wait in the truck. Up to you.
Once your car's loaded and secured, we're ready to go. Our driver will drive you and your car to wherever you told us to take it.
The drive depends on how far away the shop or your house is. Could be five minutes, could be thirty. Our driver might chat with you or might just focus on driving. They've done this a million times so they know what they're doing.
When we get to where we're going, they'll unload your car safe and make sure everything looks good. If you're at a mechanic, you can go talk to them about what's wrong. If you're at your house, your car's home and you can figure out next steps from there.
After the Tow
Once your car's dropped off, you're done with us unless you need something else.
If your car's at a shop, they'll call you with an estimate once they figure out what's wrong. That might be later today or tomorrow depending on how busy they are.
If you had your car towed home, you can leave it there and call a mobile mechanic or have it towed again to a shop when you're ready.
Keep the receipt from the tow in case you need it for insurance or for your records.
The Bottom Line
Waiting for a tow isn't fun, but it doesn't have to be awful.
Stay safe. Let people know what's going on. Figure out where you want your car to go. Grab your stuff. Have your keys ready.
And remember - we're coming. You're not stuck there forever. In less time than it takes to watch a TV show, someone's gonna pull up, load your car, and get you on your way to getting things fixed.
That's way better than sitting on the side of the road all day trying to figure it out yourself.