Roadside guides you can use.
Short driver-focused walkthroughs of the breakdown jobs every Springfield 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 low-water crossing
Springfield ice storms glaze bridges and roads fast, and the Ozarks' gravel roads and low-water crossings flood fast too. 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 Springfield?
Yes, but only in specific cases under Missouri law and Springfield's city towing contract. Here's when an operator can refuse, and your rights across the metro.
How to verify a Springfield tow company is legitimate
Missouri doesn't issue a single state towing license either, so there's no one-number lookup. Here's what to actually check, and it takes 5 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 corridor
I-44, US-65, the Kansas Expressway diverging diamond, and other busy Springfield-area corridors are among the most dangerous places to stand, especially near a complex interchange with little room to work safely. Stay in the vehicle with seatbelts on and call for a tow.
- 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. Tell the dispatcher your make and model when you call.
- The road is icy or you are stuck at a low-water crossing
Springfield ice storms glaze I-44, US-65, and the Kansas Expressway interchange before flat residential streets do, and the Ozarks' gravel roads and low-water crossings in Christian and Greene counties make flash-flood high water a real seasonal risk. Water-damaged electrical systems start unpredictable fires. Do not try to start a car that stalled in water. Either way, flatbed it out and get it checked before you drive it again.
What towing laws and safety resources are available?
Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 304 (Traffic Regulations - towing, abandoned vehicles)
The Missouri law that sets abandoned-vehicle removal authority, notice-and-title timelines, private-property towing rules, and operating requirements for towing companies.
Missouri Department of TransportationMoDOT Traveler Information Map
Missouri's official real-time traffic and road-conditions tool - live cameras, incidents, flooding, and work zones for I-44, US-65, and every corridor in the Springfield metro.
Missouri Department of TransportationMoDOT Motorist Assist / Emergency Response Program
MoDOT's freeway courtesy-patrol program, based at the Transportation Management Center of the Ozarks in Springfield. A scheduled patrol, not a call-out service; it does not tow vehicles away.
City of SpringfieldCity of Springfield - Obtain My Impounded Vehicle
The city's official page for retrieving a vehicle towed by Springfield police - required documents, SPD lobby hours, and how to pay Henry's Towing directly.
Missouri Department of RevenueMissouri Department of Revenue
Vehicle titling and registration resources that intersect with towing, abandoned-vehicle title transfer, and impound law.
Still stranded? Call dispatch.
If the guide didn't get you moving, we can. Live 24/7 dispatch, flat-rate quote, average arrival 30-45 minutes.