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Free resources

Roadside guides you can use.

Short driver-focused walkthroughs of the breakdown jobs every New Orleans driver should know. Each guide comes with step-by-step instructions and a clear line on when to stop and call a tow.

Close-up of jumper cables connected between two car batteries with the donor vehicle running in a New Orleans driveway
Basics · Featured · 4 min watch

Jump-start a dead battery safely

Jumper cables are simple until you hook them wrong. Do it right and you'll avoid sparks, ruined electronics, and a tow you didn't need.

Watch guide
All guides

What roadside fixes can you handle yourself?

Driver using a lug wrench to loosen wheel bolts on a parked vehicle in a safe pullout area near New Orleans
7 min watch
Safety

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.
Vehicle stuck in standing water near the Carrollton Ave underpass in New Orleans after a summer thunderstorm
5 min watch
Troubleshooting

What to do when your car floods out or gets stuck in mud

New Orleans's drainage pumps can't outrun an ordinary summer storm, and half the city sits at or below sea level. First step: stop making it worse.
Driver walking around their vehicle making notes before a scheduled tow on a Mid-City New Orleans residential street
4 min watch
Prevention

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.
Driver checking dashboard warning lights on a parked car in a New Orleans driveway
6 min watch
Troubleshooting

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.
Side-by-side comparison of a flatbed tow truck and a wheel-lift tow truck loading vehicles in a New Orleans service yard
5 min read
Basics

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.
New Orleans tow operator and customer discussing service options on an I-10 shoulder
6 min read
Safety

Can a tow truck refuse to take my car in Louisiana?

Yes, but only in specific situations under Louisiana law. Here's when an operator can refuse, and your rights in the New Orleans metro.
Customer checking a tow operator's credentials on a smartphone in a New Orleans parking lot
5 min read
Basics

How to verify a New Orleans tow company is legitimate

Louisiana doesn't issue a single state towing license either, so there's no one-number lookup. Here's what to actually check, and it takes 5 minutes.
Planning tool

Compare a towing route before you call.

Use the towing cost calculator to organize pickup, destination, and distance details.

Red flags

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-10, the Westbank Expressway, the Crescent City Connection, and other busy New Orleans-area corridors are among the most dangerous places to stand. Stay in the vehicle with seatbelts on and call for a tow.

  • 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. Tell the dispatcher your make and model when you call.

  • Water or mud is up to the door sills

    Water-damaged electrical systems start unpredictable fires, and New Orleans's drainage pumps can fall behind a normal summer storm just as easily as a hurricane. Do not try to start the car. Flatbed it out and get it to a shop for a proper assessment.

Further reading

What towing laws and safety resources are available?

Louisiana State Legislature

Louisiana Towing and Storage Act (La. R.S. 32:1736, Private Property Towing)

The Louisiana law that sets nonconsensual towing rules, signage requirements, and hands rate authority to the LPSC.

 511la.org / DOTD

511la.org

Louisiana's official real-time traffic and incident information service, covering I-10, the Causeway, and every corridor in the New Orleans metro.

 Louisiana DOTD

DOTD Motorist Assistance Patrol (MAP)

Free, fixed-route roadside help on I-10, I-610, and other New Orleans-metro corridors - tire changes, fuel, jump starts. Not a call-out service; it repositions disabled vehicles, it does not tow them away.

 City of New Orleans

City of New Orleans - Find My Towed Vehicle

The city's official guidance on towing fees, both pound locations and hours, and how to confirm whether your vehicle was towed.

 Louisiana Public Service Commission

Louisiana Public Service Commission - Towing Rate Schedule

The current statewide maximum rates for nonconsensual towing and storage, and where to file a complaint about an overcharge.
Serving the New Orleans metro

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If the guide didn't get you moving, we can. Live 24/7 dispatch, flat-rate quote, average arrival 30-45 minutes.

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