Roadside guides you can use.
Short driver-focused walkthroughs of the breakdown jobs every Twin Cities 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 low spot
Twin Cities winters glaze bridges and ramps before flat streets, and a heavy spring rain fills a low underpass 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 the Twin Cities?
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 verify a Twin Cities tow company is legitimate
Minnesota has no statewide tow-operator license, which trips people up. 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 freeway
I-35W, I-94, I-494 and the MN-62 Crosstown are among the most dangerous places in this metro to stand, especially on a ramp or an interchange 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 you are stuck in a flooded low spot
Twin Cities ice glazes bridges, ramps and overpasses before flat residential streets, and a low river-road underpass fills faster and deeper than it looks in a heavy rain. Winter here is long, 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 Minneapolis - Impound Lot & Vehicle Search
Find a city-towed vehicle by plate or VIN, and see the impound tow fee, daily storage and lot hours. The lot is at 50 Van White Memorial Blvd; the impound line is (612) 673-5777.
City of St. PaulCity of St. Paul - Ticketing & Towing
The regular Police impound lot at 830 Barge Channel Rd (651-266-5642) is open daily 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; a snow-emergency tow goes to 1129 Cathlin St (651-502-7480). The page lists the snow-emergency tow total and daily storage.
City of MinneapolisMinneapolis Snow Emergencies
The three-day plowing sequence and where to park during each phase, plus alerts: text MPLSALERTS to 77295, sign up for Smart911, or call 612-348-SNOW (7669).
City of St. PaulSt. Paul Snow Emergencies
The Night Plow phase from 9 p.m. and the Day Plow phase from 8 a.m., with enforcement for up to 96 hours. Alerts go out in English, Spanish, Hmong and Somali: text "StPaul Snow" to 468311 or call 651-266-7569 (PLOW).
Minnesota Department of TransportationMnDOT FIRST - Freeway Incident Response Safety Team
The state crews who patrol about 220 miles of Twin Cities freeway roughly 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays. They push disabled vehicles out of live lanes, jump batteries, change tires, provide a small amount of free gas, and call a tow. They do not tow.
Minnesota Department of Public SafetyMinnesota DVS - Title & Registration
The Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services office for vehicle titles, registration and the paperwork you need to reclaim, retitle or dispose of a vehicle.
Minnesota Revisor of StatutesMinnesota Statutes Chapter 168B - Abandoned Vehicles
The state law that governs abandoned vehicles, impound waiting periods (168B.04), notice within five business days (168B.06), private-property reasonable charges (168B.035) and the sale timeline (168B.051).
Minnesota Revisor of StatutesMinnesota Statutes 514.18 to 514.22 - Towing & Storage Liens
The lien law behind a storer's claim: certified-mail notice to secured creditors 45 days before a sale, and a public lien-sale auction between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. with published notice for three successive weeks.
Still stranded? Call the line.
If the guide didn't get you moving, we can. The line takes calls day and night.