Roadside guides you can use.
Short driver-focused walkthroughs of the breakdown jobs every Memphis 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
Memphis ice storms glaze bridges and roads fast, and the Mississippi's flood history makes high water a real seasonal risk. 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 Memphis?
Yes, but only in specific situations under Tennessee law and Memphis's own Wrecker Rules. Here's when an operator can refuse, and your rights across the metro.
How to verify a Memphis tow company is legitimate
Tennessee 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 Hernando de Soto Bridge (I-40), the Memphis & Arkansas Bridge (I-55), Lamar Ave/US-78, I-240, and other busy Memphis-area corridors are among the most dangerous places to stand, especially mid-span on either river bridge, where there's little or no real shoulder. 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
Memphis ice storms glaze the two river bridges and overpasses before flat residential streets do, and the Mississippi River's flood history means high water is a real seasonal risk in low-lying spots like Frayser. Water-damaged electrical systems start unpredictable fires. 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?
Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 16 (Unclaimed or Abandoned Vehicles)
The Tennessee law that sets abandoned-vehicle authority, notice-and-reclaim timelines, garagekeeper lien rights, and the written-authorization requirement for towing or storing a vehicle.
Tennessee Department of TransportationTDOT SmartWay
Tennessee's official real-time traffic and incident system - live cameras, incidents, and construction activity for I-40, I-55, I-240, I-269, and every corridor in the Memphis metro.
Tennessee Department of TransportationTDOT HELP Program
Free roadside help on covered Memphis-area interstates - tire changes, fuel, jump starts, and clearing a stalled vehicle from the travel lane. Not a call-out service; it does not tow vehicles away.
Memphis Police DepartmentMemphis Police Department - Vehicle Storage
MPD's official page for the city's Vehicle Storage Lot - fees, hours, required documents, and how to confirm whether a police, Sheriff, or HCD tow brought your vehicle in.
Tennessee Department of RevenueTennessee Department of Revenue
Vehicle titling and registration resources that intersect with towing, abandoned-vehicle sale, and impound law.
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.