Ultimate Guide to Towing and Towing Services

You likely know that if your car breaks down, you can call a tow truck to get the car brought home or to a local mechanic. However, there are some situations where people try to take chances and drive home or assume it isn't as big of a problem as it is. Here are some situations when you should consider calling a tow truck.

You Have a Flat or Blown Tire

As soon as you have a flat tire, it is important that you pull over as soon as you can do so safely. The longer you drive with a flat tire, the more at risk you put yourself and people in your car. Trying to drive on a flat tire can bend the wheel, which means a lot more pricey repair. With a blown tire, it is more urgent that you slow down and get to the side of the road. In either case, you will need to call a tow truck if you don't have a spare or are not sure how to change the tire. Do not leave it up to chance and try to drive home, even if you think you can make it.

The Vehicle Sounds or Smells Funny

There are many different noises or smells your car might give off when you are driving that act like warning signs. Typically, sounds that become escalated while driving or are brand new are signaling a problem with the vehicle. Not all sounds are calling for emergency situations, but if there is loud squealing in addition to vibrating or other worrisome signs from your car, it is probably best to pull over now and get towed to a mechanic. The same thing goes for weird odours that seem to come out of nowhere, especially if it smells like gas.

Your Vehicle Is Overheating

Overheating is a dangerous situation to be in, and you should not try to make it home, even if you're close. You could do permanent damage to the engine, or your car could break down when you aren't in an area where pulling over is easier. If you have the chance to pull over and call a tow truck while overheating, do so. If you try to drive too far, you might end up in the middle lane in the middle of traffic and not have enough time to get over before the car dies or worse happens.

You're Almost Out of Gas

Many people wait until they are completely out of gas before calling for help, but like the overheating issue, you might run out when it is difficult to find a safe place to pull your car over. When you run out of gas completely, the engine shuts off and the car begins stopping. This might happen when you are on a busy freeway or right in the middle of an intersection. For safety purposes, pull over and have a tow truck bring you some gas when you know you are extremely low.

Keep this information in mind, and if you find yourself in any of these situations, contact a local towing service.