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🚗 Towing & Roadside · All 5 boroughs
Need a tow in NYC? Get matched with a licensed local towing company
Breaking down on the BQE or a side street in Queens is stressful. Get yourself safe first, then get a tow. If your car is missing, check whether it was towed before calling anyone.
- Free to use — no obligation
- Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island
- You choose whether to hire anyone
Heads-up: we’re a referral service, not the company that does the work. We pass your request to independent local providers.
What to do right now
- Get yourself safe. Pull as far right as you can, turn on your hazard lights, and on a highway stay buckled in or behind the barrier, not in the travel lanes.
- If anyone is hurt, or the car is blocking traffic in a dangerous spot, call 911.
- Note your exact location: the highway, the exit or nearest cross street, and the direction you’re heading.
- Have your plate number, the car’s make and model, and where you want it taken ready.
- Before the tow starts, ask for the total price and get the company’s name.
⚠️ Safety first
- Never stand between your car and the tow truck or in a travel lane.
- Only let a tow driver hook your car after you’ve agreed who they are, where it’s going and what it costs.
- Don’t leave valuables or documents in the car.
Common causes
- Dead battery or no-start
- Flat tire with no usable spare
- Overheating or engine failure
- Locked out with keys inside
- Stuck in snow or a ditch
- Not drivable after a minor crash
What to ask before you hire
- What is your NYC DCWP tow truck company license number? (NYC requires one, and you can check it on the DCWP site.)
- What is the total price: hook-up, mileage, and any after-hours or storage charges?
- Where exactly will my car be taken, and when can I pick it up?
- Do you take credit cards, and will I get a written receipt?
- Can you jump-start or change a tire on site instead of towing?
Towing & Roadside by borough
Jump to: Brooklyn · Queens · Manhattan · Bronx · Staten Island
Towing & Roadside in Brooklyn
In Brooklyn, give the closest exit on the BQE, Belt Parkway or Prospect Expressway, or the nearest cross street on avenues like Flatbush or Ocean Parkway. That helps the truck find you fast.
Get matched with a Brooklyn pro →Towing & Roadside in Queens
Queens breakdowns often happen on the Van Wyck, LIE, Grand Central or Cross Island. Name the exit number. Near the airports, say whether you’re on airport property, since different rules can apply.
Get matched with a Queens pro →Towing & Roadside in Manhattan
Manhattan streets are tight and parking rules are strict. Turn your hazards on, stay with the car if you safely can, and tell the tow company if you’re on the FDR or West Side Highway.
Get matched with a Manhattan pro →Towing & Roadside in Bronx
Major Bronx routes like the Cross Bronx, Major Deegan and Bruckner are busy. On a highway shoulder, stay inside your car with your seatbelt on unless it’s unsafe, and call 911 if you’re in a live lane.
Get matched with a Bronx pro →Towing & Roadside in Staten Island
On Staten Island, give your spot on the Staten Island Expressway or West Shore Expressway, or the nearest cross street. Distances are longer here, so ask about mileage charges up front.
Get matched with a Staten Island pro →Questions
My car is missing. Was it towed?
For an NYPD tow, use the City’s Find Towed Vehicle page or call 311 with your plate number. The NYC Department of Finance explains where to pick it up.
Does a tow company in NYC need a license?
Yes. NYC’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection licenses tow truck companies and drivers. Ask for the license number and check it on the DCWP site.
Can you tell me the price now?
We don’t set prices. The towing company quotes you directly. Always get the total before the hook-up.
Is this the police or a city service?
No. We’re a private, free referral service that connects you with an independent towing company.
How this works
- Tell us what’s wrong: the form takes about a minute.
- We pass your request to an independent local company that handles this kind of job in your area.
- They contact you to talk through the problem and the price. You decide whether to hire them.
The referral is free. We may be paid by the provider or a referral network. We don’t check or guarantee licenses, insurance, prices or quality. Please verify any company before you hire it. More on how it works.