Roadside help guides

Answers to common questions from drivers. Every fact comes with a link to where we got it.

Tires

Can you drive on a flat tire?Only far enough to get out of danger. Driving on a flat tire can ruin the tire from the inside and bend the wheel. Here is what to do instead.
How long can you drive on a spare tire?On a small donut spare, stay under 50 mph and under 50 miles. A full-size spare can go farther. Here is how to tell which one you have and what to check.
Nail in your tire: can you drive on it, and can it be fixed?Found a nail in your tire? Leave it in, check the air, and look at where it went in. A nail in the tread can usually be repaired. One in the sidewall cannot.
Tire plug vs patch: how long does a plug last?A plug alone is a short-term fix. The lasting tire repair is a plug and a patch together, done from inside the tire. Here is the difference and what to ask.
Tire pressure light on? What it means and what to doA solid tire pressure light means a tire is low on air. A blinking one means the system has a fault. Here is why it comes on in the cold and what to do.

How to jump start a car, in the right orderRed to the dead battery first. The last black clamp goes on bare metal, not the dead battery. Here are the jump start steps in order, and what to do after.
Why won't my car start? Listen to what it doesClicking, a slow crank or dead silence each point to a different problem. Use what you hear to tell a dead battery from a bad alternator or starter.

Keys locked in the car? Here is what to doLocked your keys in the car? Check every door, try your car maker's app, then call for help. If a child or pet is inside, call 911 first.
Ran out of gas? Here is what to doGet off the road, turn on your flashers, and have fuel brought to you. Here is what to do when you run out of gas, and whether it hurts your car.

Flat tire on the highway: what to do and who to callGet to the right shoulder, turn on your flashers, and stay buckled in unless it is unsafe. Here is what to do with a flat on the highway and who to call.
Roadside and towing scams: how not to get overchargedNever take a tow you did not call for, and never pay a stranger up front by phone. Here are the roadside scams officials warn about and how to avoid them.