When you call for a tow, begin with four things: where you are, what you are driving, what happened, and whether you are safe. You do not need to know the name of the broken part. A clear description of what you see is usually more helpful.
Start with your safety
If anyone is hurt, there is a fire or fuel spill, or the vehicle is blocking a moving lane, call 911 first. Do not walk into traffic to read a sign or inspect damage. Give the dispatcher the best information you can from a safe place.
Explain exactly where you are
A street address works well in a neighborhood or parking lot. Highways need a little more detail. Give the full highway name, your direction of travel, the nearest exit, and whether you are on the main lanes, frontage road, shoulder, ramp, or managed lane.
“I-35E northbound, just past Walnut Hill, on the right shoulder” is much more useful than “near Walnut Hill.” DFW has many parallel roads and large interchanges, so this one sentence can prevent the tow truck from ending up on the wrong side.
If you are in a garage, gated lot, airport area, loading dock, or construction site, mention the entrance and any height or access limits.
Describe the whole vehicle
Give the year, make, model, and color. Mention four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive if you know it. Do not forget a trailer, cargo, dual rear wheels, lift kit, low bodywork, roof equipment, or anything else that changes the vehicle’s size.
For a work truck or semi, share the unit number, trailer type, and whether it is loaded. An approximate weight is helpful when you have it, but do not guess if you do not.
Say what the vehicle can and cannot do
Simple observations help the towing company plan:
- Does the engine start?
- Can the vehicle shift into neutral?
- Will it steer and roll?
- Are all the wheels and tires in place?
- Is a wheel locked or pushed out of position?
- Is the vehicle on pavement, in mud, against a barrier, or down a slope?
- Do you see leaking fluid, heavy damage, or deployed airbags?
It is better to say “the right front wheel will not turn” than to guess that a certain suspension part broke.
Have a destination in mind
Tell the dispatcher where you want the vehicle taken. If it is a repair shop, make sure the shop is open or has an after-hours drop area. Larger trucks, buses, and motorhomes should also confirm that the destination has enough room and can accept the vehicle.
Keep your phone nearby
Use a number you can answer. The driver may need help confirming your location. If police move the vehicle, you leave the scene, or anything changes, call the provider right away. Before anyone hooks up the vehicle, confirm the company name and the destination.
Not sure how to describe the service you need? Our towing services page explains the most common types in plain language.