Being stranded on the side of the road is stressful, and knowing whether you need a tow truck or just roadside assistance can save you time and money. Here's a guide to help Lynnwood and Snohomish County drivers make the right call.
Call a tow truck when your vehicle cannot safely be driven. This includes engine failure, transmission problems, accident damage that affects driveability, severe overheating with coolant leaks, or multiple flat tires. In these situations, attempting to drive could cause further damage or create a safety hazard.
You probably don't need a tow for simpler issues. A dead battery can often be solved with a jump start. A single flat tire with a usable spare just needs a tire change. Locked out of your car? A locksmith or roadside service can help. Out of gas? Many services will bring fuel to you.
Pro tip for Washington drivers: WSDOT's Incident Response Team provides FREE assistance on state highways including I-5 and SR-99. They help with minor mechanical issues, flat tires, and can safely move your vehicle out of traffic. Just call 911 and ask for WSDOT assistance.
Key Points
- Call a tow for: engine failure, accident damage, transmission failure, overheating with coolant leak, multiple flat tires
- Don't need a tow for: dead battery (jump start), single flat with spare, lockout, out of gas
- WSDOT provides FREE assistance on state highways - call 911
- Every minute a lane is blocked creates 4-10 minutes of additional congestion
- Move to safety first, then assess your situation
Local Resources
| Resource | Phone | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| WSDOT Incident Response | 911 | Free highway assistance |
| Washington State Patrol | 911 | Highway incidents |
| Lynnwood Police (non-emergency) | (425) 744-6900 | Local roads |