Roadside guides you can use.
Short driver-focused walkthroughs of the breakdown jobs every Boston 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 if you slide on ice or hit a flooded street
Boston winters glaze bridges and ramps before flat streets, and a coastal storm or a king tide floods low waterfront streets faster than it looks. 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 Boston?
Yes, but only in specific situations, and which rules apply depends entirely on who ordered the tow. Here is when an operator can refuse, and what you are owed either way.
How to check a Boston tow bill is legitimate
Massachusetts caps what a non-consensual tow can charge and sets rules a private-property tow must follow. Here is what you can actually check, and it takes five 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
I-93, the O'Neill Tunnel, the Mass Pike, Route 128 and the bridge approaches are among the most dangerous places in this metro to stand, especially on a ramp or in a tunnel with no usable shoulder. Stay in the vehicle with seatbelts on and hazards flashing, and let an operator position a truck with warning lights as a buffer before anyone gets out.
- 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. Leave your make and model when you call.
- The road is icy or a low waterfront street is flooding
Boston ice glazes bridges, ramps and overpasses before flat residential streets, and a king tide or coastal storm floods low streets in the Seaport, East Boston and along Morrissey Boulevard faster and deeper than it looks. Boston takes heavy snow every winter, so this is a seasonal certainty rather than a rare event. Wait for a winch-out rather than trying to drive out of either one.
What towing laws and safety resources are available?
City of Boston - How to Get Your Towed Vehicle Back
The city's official page: the tow lot at 200 Frontage Road, the $90 tow fee and $3-per-hour storage up to $15 a day, accepted payment methods, and the documents needed to redeem a vehicle.
City of BostonFind Your Towed Vehicle - City of Boston
The city's lookup for a vehicle towed inside Boston. Enter at least three characters of the plate; the database covers the past 15 days, so check it early.
City of BostonCity of Boston - Street Sweeping
Street cleaning runs April 1 to November 30, extended through December 31 in the North End, South End and Beacon Hill. A street-sweeping tow is run by a private company at $108 plus $35 per day.
City of BostonCity of Boston - Snow Emergency Parking
When a snow emergency is declared, parking is banned on both sides of posted "Tow Zone No Parking During Snow Emergency" arteries, and vehicles left there are ticketed and towed.
Massachusetts Department of Public UtilitiesMassachusetts DPU - Rates for the Towing of Motor Vehicles (220 CMR 272.00)
The state maximum rates for a non-consensual tow: up to $132 for a tow within five miles, up to $4.40 per mile beyond, and storage up to $35 per 24 hours at a lighted fenced lot or $17.50 otherwise, with no gate or after-hours fee.
Massachusetts Department of Public UtilitiesMassachusetts DPU - Involuntary and Trespass Towing Rates and Regulations
The Department of Public Utilities overview of the rules and maximum charges for involuntary and private-property trespass tows across Massachusetts.
Massachusetts General CourtM.G.L. c. 266 s. 120D - Private-Property Towing
The statute behind a private-property tow: "No parking" signs at all entrances and exits, written notice to the local police chief before removal, the DPU rate cap, and release with no charge if the company fails any provision.
MBTAMBTA - Parking Rules and Policies
The MBTA Transit Police enforce parking at transit lots under 703 CMR 2.00. Parking after 2:00 AM at lots without 24-hour parking, or a vehicle left over 30 days, may be towed.
MassportMassport - Logan Airport Parking Tickets and Violations
A vehicle towed on Logan Airport property goes to the Central Parking Office at the Central Parking Garage, Level 2, retrievable around the clock. Vehicles left over 70 days are treated as abandoned. Parking office 617-561-1673.
City of CambridgeCity of Cambridge Police - Towed Vehicles
A Cambridge tow goes to the city's own lot at the DPU-capped rate, not the Boston lot. The police are at 125 Sixth Street and towed vehicles are listed at cambridgema.gov.
Still stranded? Call the line.
If the guide didn't get you moving, we can. The line takes calls any hour.