A car breakdown is stressful anywhere, but it becomes especially dangerous on a busy Minneapolis freeway, downtown street, airport ramp or winter night. The first few minutes matter more than anything else. Your goal is to make yourself visible, stay out of moving traffic and give the towing dispatcher enough information to send the right help.
Use this seven-step safety guide when your vehicle stalls, will not start or develops a problem that makes it unsafe to drive. If you need immediate help, call MSP Towing & Recovery at 612-391-7272. Dispatch is available 24/7 throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul, MSP Airport and nearby Twin Cities communities.
1. Move away from traffic if the vehicle can still roll
Turn on your hazard lights and move to the right shoulder, a parking lot or another well-lit location if the vehicle can be moved safely. Avoid stopping in a traffic lane, around a blind curve or immediately after the crest of a hill. If you are on I-35W, I-94, Highway 62, Highway 55 or another high-speed road, create as much distance from moving traffic as the location allows.
Do not continue driving when the engine is overheating, oil-pressure warning is on, a wheel is damaged or the vehicle is making severe grinding or knocking sounds. A short drive can turn a manageable repair into major damage.
2. Make the vehicle easy to see
Keep the hazard lights on. At night, leave parking lights on if the electrical system permits. If you carry reflective triangles, place them only when you can do so without walking near live traffic. Never stand behind the vehicle on a freeway shoulder, and never use a road flare near leaking fuel.
3. Choose the safest place to wait
On a high-speed roadway, it is often safer to remain inside with your seat belt fastened if the vehicle is well off the road. If you smell fuel, see smoke, spot flames or believe the vehicle could be struck, exit from the side away from traffic and move behind a barrier or far from the roadway. Call 911 first when there is a crash, injury, fire, immediate traffic hazard or unsafe confrontation.
4. Pinpoint your exact location
A precise location helps the driver reach you without delay. Share the road name, direction of travel, nearest exit, cross street, landmark or business. In a parking ramp, provide the ramp name, level, stall number and entrance with the best vehicle access. At MSP Airport, include the terminal, parking facility and level. A map pin from your phone can be especially helpful when street signs are not visible.
5. Explain the vehicle and the problem clearly
Tell dispatch the vehicle year, make, model, color and drivetrain if known. Mention low ground clearance, all-wheel drive, locked wheels, collision damage, missing keys, a trailer or a parking-ramp height restriction. This information helps determine whether the situation needs emergency towing, flatbed equipment or a roadside service.
6. Know when roadside assistance may be enough
Not every breakdown requires a tow. A dead 12-volt battery may only need a professional jump start. A usable spare tire and safe working area may make a flat-tire change possible. Lockouts and an empty fuel tank can often be handled through 24/7 roadside assistance.
Towing is the safer choice when the vehicle has crash damage, severe overheating, steering or brake trouble, an unusable tire, fluid loss, electrical failure or a no-start condition that does not respond to roadside service.
7. Prepare for the tow truck without taking risks
Keep your phone available and answer calls from the driver or dispatcher. Gather the keys and remove essential personal items if it is safe to do so. Decide where the vehicle should go—a repair shop, dealership, tire store or another authorized destination. Do not crawl under the vehicle, attempt a repair beside traffic or accept help from an unverified operator who arrives without being dispatched.
Planning for Minneapolis and Twin Cities conditions
Cold weather can weaken batteries, reduce tire pressure and make a shoulder or parking lot slippery. Summer heat can expose cooling-system and tire problems. Keep a charged phone, warm layer, flashlight, reflective triangles, drinking water and basic vehicle information in the car. Review the areas covered on our Twin Cities service-area page before an emergency so the number is already saved.
Frequently asked questions
Should I call 911 or a tow truck first?
Call 911 first for injuries, fire, a crash blocking traffic, a vehicle in a dangerous lane or any immediate threat to safety. Call a towing company for a disabled vehicle once people are safe and emergency instructions have been followed.
Can a tow truck enter a Minneapolis parking ramp?
It depends on the ramp height, turns, access rules and vehicle position. Tell dispatch the ramp name, entrance, level and posted clearance so the correct equipment and approach can be considered.
How long will it take for help to arrive?
Arrival time changes with traffic, weather, distance, road closures and current call volume. Give dispatch your exact location and situation for the most accurate estimate, and keep your phone available for updates.
Need towing or roadside help now?
MSP Towing & Recovery provides 24/7 towing and roadside assistance across Minneapolis, St. Paul, MSP Airport and nearby communities. Call 612-391-7272 and share your location, vehicle details and the problem you are experiencing.
Reviewed by: MSP Towing & Recovery operations team
Last updated: July 18, 2026
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