Prepare your vehicle for a tow
Preparing for a few minutes before the matched tow truck gets there reduces delays, helps prevent damage, and speeds up the call.
What you'll learn
- Items to remove from your car before flatbed loading
- Disconnect the battery? Usually no, sometimes yes
- How taking vehicle photos in advance helps protect you
- What transport mode is and when your EV needs it
Step by step
- Clear cabin valuables, registration, and loose items
- Take and save photos of all four sides before loading
- Switch off the car’s alarm or deactivate its motion sensor.
- EVs: use transport mode as your owner’s manual directs
- Show the driver any existing damage and make a note of it.
- Don’t drain the tank unless the driver asks you to.
Before loading, your photos protect you and the driver. We also photograph every load as standard procedure, while yours provide a second record.
Rather have a pro handle it?
At any hour, callers are matched with licensed local operators for towing and roadside help across the Houston metro.
Keep learning.
Jump-start a dead battery safely
Jumper cables seem easy until the connections are wrong. Connect them correctly to prevent sparks, damaged electronics, and an unnecessary tow.
Change a flat tire on the side of the road
Knowing the spare and jack locations ahead of time can mean a 20-minute shoulder stop instead of spending an hour calling a tow company.
What to do when stuck in mud or high water
During heavy rain, low-lying streets, bayou crossings, and unpaved lots can quickly fill with mud and standing water. Start by not worsening the situation.