Help guide
Ran out of gas? Here is what to do
Updated October 8, 2026
Coast to a safe spot while the car is still rolling, turn on your flashers, and have fuel brought to you. Do not walk down a highway with a gas can.
Call (307) 365-2527When the engine starts to sputter
- Signal and head right. You have a few seconds of rolling left. Use them to reach the shoulder, an exit or a parking lot.
- Know that steering and brakes get heavy. When the engine stops, the power assist goes with it. Both still work. They just take more muscle.
- Flashers on, parking brake set.
- Stay with the car. On a highway, stay buckled in unless you could not get off the road.
Who to call when you run out of gas
- 911 if you are stopped in a lane or cannot get clear of traffic.
- Your roadside plan. Many insurance and car club plans cover fuel delivery. Some charge for the fuel itself.
- A fuel delivery service. We can check for a local pro to bring you fuel. Tell us whether you need gas or diesel.
Fuel delivery brings enough to reach a station, not a fill-up. AAA says its own fuel calls bring about one to two gallons.
How far can you go once the gas light comes on?
AAA, citing NAPA, says the light usually leaves a cushion of about 30 to 50 miles. It varies a lot by car, and it shrinks in stop-and-go traffic and cold weather. Treat the light as a reason to stop at the next station.
Is running out of gas bad for your car?
Once will usually not hurt anything. Doing it often can.
- The fuel pump runs hot. In most cars the pump sits inside the tank, and the gasoline around it keeps it cool. Low fuel means less cooling.
- Dirt gets pulled in. Bits that settle at the bottom of the tank can get drawn into the fuel filter when the tank runs dry.
AAA's rule of thumb is to keep at least a quarter of a tank.
It will not start after I added gas
Give it a moment. The fuel has to get from the tank to the engine, so it may take a couple of tries.
Diesel engines are a special case. Running a diesel dry lets air into the fuel system, and some need to be primed before they will start again. The steps are in the owner's manual.
Still nothing? The trouble may not be fuel. See why your car will not start.
Where these facts come from
Checked on October 8, 2026.
Related help
- Fuel deliveryGas or diesel brought to you when the tank runs dry.
- 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.
- 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.