When Should You Call For a Tow Truck

Every car owner deals with vehicle maintenance that requires the expertise of a certified mechanic. There are circumstances when you can’t safely drive your car to a shop. In these cases, calling O’Dell Towing and Roadside is your best or only option.

Our tow trucks are built to carry and deliver inoperable vehicles of varying sizes to owner’s homes or auto shops for repair. We have rollback tow trucks, those with a long flatbed that can be lowered for use as a ramp and a wheel-lift tow truck that use a similar method for those smaller spaces.

In certain circumstances, tow trucks are necessary, particularly if you’re in need of roadside assistance. Here are 5 situations in which calling a tow truck is your best option.

1. Out of Gas

Though we all try to avoid it, sometimes you run out of gas. You don’t plan quite right, fail to notice the dashboard light , or perhaps the light or gauge is broken. Pulling over on the side of a roadway and leaving the car to go buy gasoline can be dangerous, especially if you’re far from a gas station.

As embarrassing as it may feel, calling us to bring you some fuel is necessary. Our tow truck drivers know how to safely take care of your out-of-fuel car.

2. In an Accident

If you’re ever in a collision and serious car damage ensues, call 911 and O’Dell Towing and Roadside. Even if you are not injured, do not try to drive away in a crumbling vehicle. Your car may no longer have operable brakes or fully-functioning systems that prevent the car from leaking oil, fuel, and other potentially flammable liquids or from cooling the engine properly.

3. Flat Tire

A flat tire can occur from poor tire maintenance, such as ignoring low tire pressure warnings and worn-out treads, or puncture from a sharp object. Many people know how to change a tire if they have a spare on-hand. However, should a tire give out on a busy highway, it may be safest to call O’Dell Towing and Roadside to safely and knowledgeably replace a flat tire for you. Our trucks are equipped with LED emergency signal beacons to help signal other motorists of the potential danger and carry the tools and equipment to perform the job faster than the typical tire iron your car comes with to help get you back on the road faster and safer.

4. Overheating and Other Breakdowns

A car can overheat from many different malfunctions within the car. Should you be driving and your engine overheats, it could lead to the car shutting down and coming to a complete stop. If this occurs while far away from your home or an auto shop, pulling over and calling a tow truck is the safest option.

Both well-maintained and neglected cars are prone to breakdowns. Those that happen suddenly and unexpectedly may have hard-to-find causes. These kinds of breakdowns tend to happen when you least expect it, like when driving for long stretches or running errands. A tow truck is the quickest option to get your car to a place where it can be properly inspected.

5. Car Won’t Start

A car that won’t start isn’t always a result of a dead battery. It’s a particularly irritating circumstance when you find yourself stuck after a trip to school, work, or the store. Should you be away from home when this occurs, you’ll want to call O’Dell Towing and Roadside to jump start your battery or to take your car to our automotive shop, to one of your choosing, or back to your house to await repair.

What to Do When Calling O’Dell Towing and Roadside

When calling us to rescue you and your out-of-commission car, make sure you pull safely to the side of the road first if you can. It is also smart to call your insurance company to report the issue. Some companies will reimburse the cost of the tow. Keep your receipt for personal cataloging and for your insurance company.

Our tow trucks can be immense lifesavers, no matter how inconvenient the circumstance that brought us. Our repair shop can repair your car, but not on the side of a busy highway so add our phone number to your phone or wherever you keep your car’s insurance contact in the vehicle. 501-278-4400