A breakdown feels like an emergency, even when nobody is hurt. Stay calm, get to a safe spot if you can reach one, and then make one phone call. Here is the order we would follow, and what we need from you when you call us.
What should I do first when my car breaks down?
Turn on your hazard lights and move the car as far out of the traffic lane as you can do safely. If anyone is hurt or you are in danger, call 911 before anything else.
If everyone is okay, work through this list:
- Put the car in park and set the parking brake.
- Keep the hazard lights on. At night, turn on the interior light too so other drivers can see the car.
- Look for cross streets, an exit sign or a landmark, and write down where you are.
- Share your location with someone you trust.
- Check that your phone has enough charge to last through the wait.
If you are on a city street or in a parking lot, stand well away from the lane while you wait. If you have passengers, keep everyone together and away from traffic.
Then decide who to call. The next two sections help with that.
What if I break down on a freeway shoulder?
Stay buckled in with your hazard lights on, or move well away from traffic. Either way, do not stand between cars or between your car and the lane.
Cars pass close to a shoulder, so it is not a place to look under the hood or work on a tire. Note the nearest exit or landmark, make your call, and wait for help.
If your car stops in a traffic lane and you cannot move it, keep your seat belt on, keep the hazard lights running and call 911, because you are in the path of traffic.
Who do I call on a freeway versus a city street?
On a freeway, call 511 and say “Freeway Assist.” That asks for the Bay Area Freeway Service Patrol, which is free. According to 511.org, the patrol covers freeways only and runs during peak travel hours. It can change a flat, jump a battery or give you a gallon of fuel.
For a city street, a parking lot, work, home or the roadside, call or text us at (415) 712-4161. Axl Roadside is mobile, so we come to your vehicle. Our hours are 7am to 8pm, seven days a week.
If your breakdown falls outside our hours, 911 is for danger, and on a freeway 511 is your call during the patrol’s peak hours.
Do I need a tow?
Not always. Many breakdowns do not need a tow at all. We do not tow, but we can handle a lot of the common ones right where your car is:
- A dead battery: a jump start, battery testing, or battery replacement.
- A flat tire: flat tire repair when the puncture can be plugged, or installing your spare.
- Locked out: car lockout service.
- An empty tank: fuel delivery.
If your car truly needs a tow, we tell you. Here is how to tell whether your car needs a tow. If you are not sure what is wrong, tell us what you are seeing when you call.
What if someone stops to help and I did not call them?
You do not have to accept help you did not ask for. If someone stops and it does not feel right, you can politely decline through a closed window. If you have already called for help, say so.
Wait for the help you called for, and keep your doors locked until it arrives.
What do I tell you when I call?
Have these four things ready:
- Your name
- Your location: address, cross streets, exit or landmark
- Your vehicle’s year, make and model
- A short description of the problem, such as “won’t start,” “flat tire,” “locked out” or “out of gas”
We do not list prices on the website. When you call, we tell you the cost for your situation.
Where do you work?
We come to you in Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Redwood City, Atherton, Woodside and Portola Valley.
What can I do now, before a breakdown happens?
Save (415) 712-4161 in your phone, keep a charger in the car, and know your vehicle’s year, make and model. It is a small step now that makes the call easier later.
Car trouble in Mountain View or a nearby city? Call or text Axl Roadside at (415) 712-4161, 7am to 8pm, seven days a week. More at axlroadside.com.
