What to Do When Your Car Breaks Down on a Georgia Highway

Nobody merges onto I-575 thinking, today feels like a great day to meet a tow truck driver. And yet here we are. One minute you are singing along to the radio, the next your dashboard lights up like a holiday display and the car starts making a noise that sounds expensive.

Take a breath. Yes, a towing company is about to give you advice on staying safe until the tow truck shows up. We contain multitudes. Here is exactly what to do, in order.

Step 1: Get Off the Road as Safely as You Can

The moment you notice trouble, whether it is a warning light, smoke, a loud clunk or a sudden loss of power, switch on your hazards and ease toward the right shoulder. An exit ramp, a wide shoulder or a parking lot is even better. Cars rarely break down in convenient places, so take the safest spot you can reach, not the perfect one.

1. Turn on your hazard lights right away.
2. Signal and move steadily to the right shoulder. Avoid sudden braking.
3. Avoid stopping on a curve, a hill crest or a bridge if you can keep rolling.
4. Pull as far right as possible and turn your wheels away from traffic.
5. Put the car in park and set the parking brake.

Step 2: Make Yourself Visible

This is the one time in life when you want to be the most noticeable car on the road. Keep your hazards on the entire time. At night or in rain, switch on your interior dome light too.

If you carry reflective triangles and it is safe to step out, place them well behind your car so drivers have time to react. If it is not safe, skip the triangles. They are cheaper than you are.

Step 3: Stay in the Car or Get Out?

In most cases, the safest place to wait is inside your car with your seat belt on and the doors locked. Stepping out on the traffic side of a highway is one of the most dangerous things you can do.

Get out only if the car is smoking, on fire or stopped in a live traffic lane. If you do, exit on the passenger side, move well away from the road and stand behind a guardrail if there is one. Do not stand behind or in front of your vehicle.

Step 4: Call for Help and Be Specific

If anyone is hurt or your car is blocking traffic, call 911 first. Otherwise, call a towing company you trust. Telling a dispatcher you are near the big tree narrows it down to most of Georgia, so have these details ready:

• The highway and direction, for example I-575 northbound
• The nearest exit number, mile marker or landmark
• Your vehicle’s make, model and color
• What happened: flat tire, overheating, will not start, or something else

Want to know what traffic looks like around you while you wait? Georgia 511 shows live traffic and incidents across the state.

Georgia’s Move Over Law: Your Invisible Bodyguard

Georgia’s Move Over Law requires drivers to move over one lane for emergency vehicles, tow trucks and roadside workers stopped with flashing lights, or to slow down if moving over is not possible or safe. Breaking it can mean fines and points on your license. Here is a plain-English overview of the law.

When you are the one stranded, that law is quietly working for you and for the operator who comes to help. When you are the one driving past, return the favor. We love our reflective vests, but we would rather not test how reflective they really are.

Can It Be Fixed on the Spot, or Does It Need a Tow?

Plenty of breakdowns never need a tow truck at all. Here is how the most common problems usually play out, with our typical prices in Canton and Cherokee County:

Prices are estimates. We always confirm the exact price on the phone before we dispatch. See all of our towing and roadside prices.

The 10-Minute Breakdown Kit

Ten minutes at the store now saves you an hour of regret on the shoulder later. Toss these in your trunk:

• Phone charger or a small power bank
• Reflective triangles or flares
• Flashlight with fresh batteries
• Water, a blanket and a basic first aid kit
• Your insurance card and our number: (470) 227-8963

Frequently Asked Questions