The short test
Ask two questions. Can the problem be fixed right where the car is, with a tool or part a driver can bring? And once it's fixed, is the car safe to drive? If both answers are yes, roadside help can do it. If either is no, you probably need a tow.
A third question helps when you aren't sure: would a mechanic need to put the car on a lift? If so, it's a tow, since that's work a roadside driver can't do at the curb.
Problems a roadside driver can fix
These are quick and local, and the car drives away afterward:
- A dead battery that needs a jump start, or a replacement battery installed on site.
- A flat tire with a good spare in the car.
- A small puncture in the tread, which can be repaired, or a screw or nail that can be removed.
- Keys locked inside the car, including in the trunk.
- A locking lug nut with no key.
- A flat tire with no spare, when a replacement tire can be brought and installed.
Problems that need a tow
These need a shop, a lift or parts, so the car has to go to them:
- An overheated engine, with steam, a high temperature gauge or lost coolant.
- A car that turns over but won't start, or won't turn over when the battery is known to be good.
- Failed transmission, grinding noises or a car that won't shift.
- Brakes that feel soft or have failed, or steering that doesn't respond.
- Smoke, a burning smell or an oil-pressure warning light.
- Damage from a crash, a bent axle or a wheel that's cracked or came off.
- A car that's stuck in mud, a ditch or a drop-off.
The gray area
Some problems start out looking easy. If a jump gets the car running but it dies again when the cables come off, or the battery light came on while you were driving, the battery may not be the problem. That points to the alternator, and a new battery won't fix it. A car with two bad tires, or a flat plus a damaged wheel, may be beyond a spare change.
When in doubt, ask whether you'd be comfortable driving it down I-35 afterward. If the answer is no, tow it.
What TRA does and doesn't
TRA doesn't tow, and we don't do mechanical repair. We do the first list. A jump start is $49–$75, a flat tire change is from $75 and a lockout is from $50, each plus a $19 dispatch fee charged once per job. If what you describe sounds like the second list, the honest answer is that you need a tow company, and it's better to know before anyone is sent.
Common questions
No. TRA doesn't tow. We handle jump starts, tire services, battery replacement, lockouts and wheel lock removal, where the car can drive away afterward.
If the engine turns over slowly, or you hear rapid clicking and the lights dim, the battery is the likely cause. If the lights are bright and the engine won't turn, it may be the starter, and a jump won't help.
Some policies include towing, and some roadside memberships do. Check your coverage before you pay for one.