Straight Answers
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE IN NYC, ANSWERED IN ONE PARAGRAPH EACHWho To Call, How Long It Takes, What It Costs, What We Can And Cannot Do
The questions drivers type into their phone from the side of the road, answered without the sales pitch. If you are stranded right now, call (718) 600-1581 and skip the reading.
Who do I call for roadside assistance in NYC if I have no membership?
Call (718) 600-1581. You do not need AAA, an insurance add-on or any plan. A New York dispatcher answers, quotes a flat price for the job, and sends a technician from the nearest base in your borough. See the prices.
My car won't start. Do I need a jump or a tow?
Clicking, dimming lights or silence when you turn the key is a battery, and a jump start fixes it. A strong crank that never catches is fuel or spark and a jump will not help; we tell you that on the spot rather than charge for a jump that will not work. Jump start service.
I locked my keys in my car. Who do I call?
A roadside lockout service, not the dealer and not 911, unless a child or pet is inside, in which case call 911 first. We open every make without damage, including push-button cars with the fob inside. Car lockout service.
How long does roadside assistance take in Brooklyn?
It depends on where in Brooklyn and what time it is, so the dispatcher gives you a real estimate for your cross street when you call instead of a number we cannot keep. Our Brooklyn page explains where our trucks start from. Brooklyn.
How long does roadside assistance take in Queens?
Queens is the most spread out borough, so the honest answer is a per-call estimate from the dispatcher. Trucks start from Forest Hills and cover Astoria to the Rockaways. Queens.
Can you come to a parking garage?
Yes, if the garage lets us in and the clearance fits a service vehicle. Jump starts, lockouts and tire changes are done in garages every day. Tell the dispatcher the garage name and level.
Can you come to my driveway or a work lot?
Yes. Roadside is the name, but most battery and lockout calls happen in driveways, lots and in front of apartment buildings.
Can you stop on the BQE, LIE or FDR?
On NYC limited-access highways, disabled vehicles on the roadway itself are handled under NYPD's highway tow programs, and stopping a second vehicle on a shoulder is often unsafe or not allowed. We meet you at the first exit or service road the dispatcher names, and we tell you that before you wait. Highways and parkways.
What about the bridges and tunnels?
Bridge and tunnel operators clear their own spans. Once you are off the span, we take it from there at the first safe spot. Our bridges page lists each crossing and where that spot usually is. Bridges and tunnels.
Is there an extra charge at night or on holidays?
No. The price is the same at 3 a.m. on a holiday as on a weekday afternoon. Pricing.
How do I pay?
Card on site, or online when you book through the site, which also takes a fixed amount off. The price is confirmed before anyone is dispatched.
Do you replace batteries on the spot?
Yes. Technicians carry common group sizes. You hear the battery price before we roll, and the old one is taken away. Battery replacement.
I ran out of gas. How much fuel do you bring?
Enough to reach a station, delivered to the car. The fuel itself and the delivery are both in the quote you hear on the phone. Fuel delivery.
I have a flat and no spare. Can you help?
If there is a spare, we change it. If there is no spare, we tell you honestly that it needs a plug at a shop or a tow, and we do not charge you for a tire change we cannot do. Flat tire change.
Do you help electric and hybrid cars?
Yes for the 12-volt battery, which is what fails and leaves an EV dark, for lockouts and for flat tires. We do not charge the high-voltage pack on the roadside.
Can you jump a box truck or a work van?
Yes. Commercial batteries and 24-volt systems are a separate service with the right equipment. Truck battery jump start.
Will a jump start hurt my car's electronics?
Not when it is done with a regulated booster on the correct terminals. That is what the technician carries. It is the improvised cable jump from a stranger's car that causes the damage people worry about.
The car started after the jump. Can I just drive?
Drive it for at least 20 minutes so the alternator recharges the battery. If it dies again that day, the battery is not holding a charge and needs replacing.
Do you cover Nassau County?
Yes, the towns on the Queens border and east along the Southern State and Northern State corridors. Nassau County.
Do you cover Staten Island?
Yes, the whole island, from the North Shore to Tottenville. Staten Island.
Is roadside assistance cheaper than AAA?
For a driver who needs help once or twice a year, paying a flat price for the call is usually cheaper than a yearly membership. If you break down monthly, a membership may win. We charge only on the day you use us.
Can someone else call for me?
Yes. A family member, a building super or a co-worker can call and give your location. The technician calls the number on the job when they arrive.
What should I do while I wait?
Get out on the side away from traffic if you are on a road, stand behind a barrier if there is one, hazards on, and keep your phone charged. On a highway shoulder, stay out of the car.
What if you can't fix it on the spot?
You are told that as soon as the technician knows, and you are not charged for work that was not done. We help you decide on a tow or a shop.
Are your technicians employees?
They are our dispatched technicians, sent and tracked by our own dispatch, with the price agreed before they leave. We are hiring drivers too. Careers.
Can I book for later instead of right now?
Yes. The booking page takes a date and time, which is useful for a battery replacement at your building or a car that has been sitting. Book online.
What if the price changes when the technician gets there?
It does not. If the job turns out to be something different, the technician calls dispatch and you hear the new quote before any work starts, and you can say no.
Do you tow?
Our core services are the roadside fixes: jump start, lockout, flat tire, fuel, battery. When a tow is the right answer we say so and help you arrange it rather than sell you a fix that will not hold.
What areas of Manhattan do you cover?
All of it, from Inwood to the Battery, including garages, which is where most Manhattan calls happen. Manhattan.
What areas of The Bronx do you cover?
Every neighborhood, including the Hutchinson and Bronx River parkway corridors where stopping is restricted and we meet you at the exit. The Bronx.