Roadside guides you can use.
Short driver-focused walkthroughs of the breakdown jobs every Philadelphia driver should know. Each guide comes with step-by-step instructions and a clear line on when to stop and call a tow.
What roadside fixes can you handle yourself?
Change a flat tire on the side of the road
The difference between a 20-minute shoulder stop and an hour on the phone with a tow company is knowing where the spare and jack live before you need them.
What to do if you slide on ice or hit a flooded viaduct
Philadelphia winters glaze bridges and ramps before flat streets, and a heavy rain fills a viaduct underpass faster than it looks. First step: stop making it worse.
Prepare your vehicle for a tow
A few minutes of prep before the tow truck arrives saves time, avoids damage, and makes the whole call go faster.
Car will not start - what to check first
Before calling for a tow, check five things first. Most of the time the car is fine and you just need a boost, a fuse, or a key that talks to the transponder.
Flatbed vs wheel-lift towing: which is safer?
Both are legitimate tow methods, but the wrong one can wreck your car. Here's which method belongs on which vehicle, and when to refuse a wheel-lift.
Can a tow truck refuse to take my car in Philadelphia?
Yes, but only in specific situations, and which rules apply depends entirely on who ordered the tow. Here is when an operator can refuse, and what you are owed either way.
How to verify a Philadelphia tow company is legitimate
Pennsylvania licenses one kind of tow company and not the other, which trips people up. Here is what you can actually check, and it takes five minutes.
Compare a towing route before you call.
Use the towing cost calculator to organize pickup, destination, and distance details.
When should you stop and call a tow truck?
Six signs that the problem is past DIY. Turn the system off and pick up the phone - running a system with these issues turns cheap repairs into expensive replacements.
- You are on the shoulder of a busy corridor
I-95, I-76, I-676 Vine and Roosevelt Blvd are among the most dangerous places in this metro to stand, especially on a ramp or an interchange with no usable shoulder. Stay in the vehicle with seatbelts on and hazards flashing, and let an operator position a truck with warning lights as a buffer before anyone gets out.
- The vehicle was in any collision
Even light collisions can damage suspension, brakes, or the steering rack in ways you cannot see. Drive it after an accident only if law enforcement clears the scene and the vehicle is visibly intact.
- Ignition or dashboard is smoking
Electrical fires can progress from smoke to flames in under a minute. Pull over if you can, turn the engine off, get out, and call 911 plus a tow.
- Smoke or steam from under the hood
Overheating or a serious oil/coolant leak. Continuing to drive can cause a seized engine, a repair that costs far more than a tow. Pull over safely and call for a tow.
- Vehicle is AWD, 4WD, or electric and the drive wheels will not spin freely
Dragging an AWD or EV on a wheel lift destroys the drivetrain. Always flatbed - no exceptions. Leave your make and model when you call.
- The road is icy or you are stuck at a low-water crossing
Philadelphia ice glazes bridges, ramps and overpasses before flat residential streets, and a viaduct underpass fills faster and deeper than it looks in a heavy rain. Philadelphia designates 110 miles of snow-emergency routes, and the January 1996 blizzard dropped 30.7 inches, so this is a seasonal certainty rather than a rare event. Wait for a winch-out rather than trying to drive out of either one.
What towing laws and safety resources are available?
73 P.S. §1971 - Towing and Towing Storage Facility Standards Act
The Pennsylvania statute that governs towing and storage facilities: posted fees and hours, release during posted hours, itemized written charges, and the 16-mile limit without owner or law-enforcement authorization.
City of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Code 9-605 - Towing
The city ordinance on towing: operator license and per-truck certificate, the stolen-check before towing an absent owner's disabled car, private-property tows only by a licensed company with written owner permission, and the ban on solicitation.
Pennsylvania General AssemblyPA Title 75 §§7301-7308 - Abandoned vehicles
The Vehicle Code chapter on abandoned vehicles and the PennDOT salvor process: police investigate a reported-abandoned vehicle within 5 business days, remove it within 10, and the owner has 30 days after mailed notice to reclaim it.
Philadelphia Parking AuthorityPhiladelphia Parking Authority - Towing
PPA's official towing page: boot and tow rules, published fees, confirmed lot addresses, and how a snow-emergency tow is handled.
Philadelphia Parking AuthorityFind My Towed Car
The lookup tool for a vehicle towed in Philadelphia. If your car is missing, check here or call 888-591-3636 before reporting it stolen. Snow-emergency tows: (215) 686-SNOW.
City of Philadelphia Streets DepartmentPhiladelphia snow-emergency routes
The city's 110 miles of designated snow-emergency routes. On a declared snow emergency, parking is banned on those routes and violators are ticketed and towed.
Pennsylvania Public Utility CommissionPennsylvania Public Utility Commission
The state body that issues a Certificate of Public Convenience for towing companies. A private-property tow in Pennsylvania also requires PennDOT registration.
Still stranded? Call the line.
If the guide didn't get you moving, we can. The line takes calls 24/7.