Car Broke Down on Freeway: What to Do Right Now: What Drivers Should Know

> **Quick Answer:** Get as far right as possible and stop completely off the travel lanes. Turn on your hazard lights immediately. Stay in the car with your seatbelt on if you cannot get fully off the road. Call 911 if you feel unsafe, then call a tow truck or roadside assistance. Do not stand between your car and moving traffic for any reason.

## What To Do

1. **Steer hard right and get off the road.** The moment you sense something is wrong, signal right and move toward the shoulder. Your goal is to clear every travel lane. If there is an exit ramp ahead, take it. A parking lot or surface street is always safer than a highway shoulder.

2. **Turn on your hazard lights now.** Do this before you even stop moving. Other drivers need maximum warning time at freeway speeds.

3. **Stop as far right as possible.** Pull past the white fog line, ideally with your tires on the dirt or grass. The farther from traffic, the better. If you can only reach a narrow shoulder, keep going slowly on the flat tire, dragging axle, or whatever the problem is. Destroying a wheel is cheaper than getting hit.

4. **Stay inside the vehicle with your seatbelt fastened.** This one surprises people. A car on the shoulder gets rear-ended by distracted drivers more often than you think. The vehicle around you is more protection than standing in the grass. If your car is smoking or there is fire risk, get out and move well away from the roadway, behind a barrier if one exists. For guidance on whether smoke means you need to bail immediately, read [Car Smoking Under Hood: Safe to Drive or Tow](/car-smoking-under-hood-safe-to-drive-or-tow/).

5. **Call for help.** Dial 911 if you feel in immediate danger or if you are blocking a lane. For a standard breakdown on the shoulder, call your roadside assistance provider or a tow truck directly. Have your location ready: mile marker, nearest exit number, direction of travel, and highway number.

6. **Signal to other drivers.** If you have road flares or reflective triangles, place them 100 to 300 feet behind your car. Do this quickly and get back inside. If you have nothing, leave the trunk or hood open as a visual signal.

7. **Do not attempt repairs in a live traffic lane.** Changing a tire inches from 70 mph traffic is not worth it. Wait for help or move the vehicle to a safer location first.

8. **Tell the tow truck where you are going before they hook up.** Decide on a shop before the truck arrives. If you have no preference, ask the driver for the nearest reputable shop. Towing cost goes up with distance, and changing your mind after hookup can cost you extra. If you are dealing with something like a [transmission slipping](/car-transmission-slipping-need-tow-truck-now/), you need a shop, not a quick fix on the shoulder.

![mechanic car repair](/images/car-broke-down-on-freeway-what-to-do/mid.jpg)
*Photo: Pexels*

## What It Might Cost

A freeway tow to the nearest shop typically runs $75 to $175 for a short haul under 10 miles. Longer tows from remote highway locations climb to $250 or more. If you are in a high-traffic metro like Los Angeles, expect higher base rates plus potential rush-hour surcharges. For a specific look at freeway tow pricing, see [Towing Cost From Highway to Nearest Exit](/towing-cost-from-highway-to-nearest-exit/).

Check your insurance before you pay out of pocket. Many policies include roadside assistance that covers the tow with no deductible. [Whether your insurance deductible applies to towing costs](/car-insurance-deductible-applies-to-towing-cost/) depends on how your coverage is structured, so it is worth a two-minute call to your insurer while you wait.


![tow truck road](/images/car-broke-down-on-freeway-what-to-do/bottom.jpg)
*Photo: Pexels*

## Stay Safe

- Keep your seatbelt on while inside the car, even when parked.
- Never walk along a freeway shoulder to reach an exit or callbox. Stay with the vehicle.
- At night, turn on interior dome lights so you are visible inside the car.
- If someone stops who is not a marked emergency vehicle, crack the window and ask them to call 911 rather than accepting a ride from a stranger.
- Keep children and pets inside the vehicle until help arrives.
- If the car catches fire, get everyone out immediately, move at least 100 feet away, and do not go back for belongings.

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