Highway guides · Location help

What should I do if I break down on the interstate?

Get as far off the road as you can, to the right shoulder if possible. Turn on your hazard lights. Then call for help with your highway, direction and nearest mile marker.

Step by step

Signal and pull off. Right shoulder if you can. Past a curve or hill, if the car will still roll, so drivers see you.
Hazards on. At night, leave the parking lights on too.
Stay in or get out. Many state patrols advise staying in the car with your seatbelt on if you are on a narrow shoulder. If you get out, use the side away from traffic and stand well off the road, behind a barrier if there is one.
Call. 911 if you are in a travel lane, anyone is hurt, or you feel unsafe. Otherwise roadside assistance or your state patrol's non-emergency number.
Say where you are. Highway, direction, mile marker, last exit.

Finding your mile marker

Look for the small green sign on the shoulder. If none is in sight, the MileCheck app shows the nearest one from your phone's GPS, with the highway and direction. It works without cell signal because the markers are built into the app. Calling still needs a signal.

While you wait

Drivers in most states must move over or slow down for stopped emergency and tow vehicles. See move over laws. Don't walk along the interstate to find help.

See your mile marker as you drive

MileCheck shows your nearest mile marker, the highway and your direction. Premium adds live state DOT feeds for the road ahead and the map, with a 2-week free trial. It runs on CarPlay and Android Auto.

iOS App Store Google Play

Questions, answered

Should I put out flares or triangles?

If you have them and can set them out without stepping into traffic. Place them behind the car, toward oncoming traffic.

What if my phone has no signal?

Our no-signal page covers satellite texting, call boxes and other options.