Roadside guides you can use.
Short driver-focused walkthroughs of the breakdown jobs every Richmond 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 when your car slides on ice or floods out
Richmond's freeze-thaw winters ice streets fast, and Shockoe Bottom still floods in a summer downpour. 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 Virginia?
Yes, but only in specific situations under Virginia law. Here's when an operator can refuse, and your rights in the Richmond metro.
How to verify a Richmond tow company is legitimate
Virginia doesn't issue a single state towing license either, so there's no one-number lookup. Here's what to actually check, and it takes 5 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
The I-95/I-64 downtown overlap, the Downtown Expressway, the Powhite Parkway, and other busy Richmond-area corridors are among the most dangerous places to stand. Stay in the vehicle with seatbelts on and call for a tow.
- 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. Tell the dispatcher your make and model when you call.
- The road is icy or water is up to the door sills
Water-damaged electrical systems start unpredictable fires, and Shockoe Bottom can flood from an ordinary summer storm just as easily as freeze-thaw ice can strand a car on Church Hill's steep streets in winter. Do not try to start a car that stalled in water. Either way, flatbed it out and get it checked before you drive it again.
What towing laws and safety resources are available?
Code of Virginia, Title 46.2, Chapter 12 (Towing, Storage, and Trespassing Vehicles)
The Virginia law that sets nonconsensual towing rules, signage requirements, lien rights, and the statewide fee ceiling, plus the authority each locality uses to set its own lower caps.
511 Virginia / VDOT511 Virginia
Virginia's official real-time traffic and incident information service, covering I-95, I-64, I-295, SR-288, and every corridor in the Richmond metro.
Virginia Department of TransportationVDOT Safety Service Patrol
Free roadside help on I-95, I-64, and I-295 in the Richmond area - tire changes, fuel, jump starts, and moving a disabled vehicle out of the travel lane. Not a call-out service; it does not tow vehicles away.
Virginia Department of Motor VehiclesVirginia DMV
Virginia's Department of Motor Vehicles - vehicle titling, lien and storage-notification rules, and crash-data resources that intersect with towing and impound law.
City of RichmondCity of Richmond - Towed Vehicles
The city's live towed-vehicle lookup tool and guidance on how to find a car towed from Richmond streets.
Still stranded? Call dispatch.
If the guide didn't get you moving, we can. Live 24/7 dispatch, flat-rate quote, average arrival 30-45 minutes.