Tip 1: Build Your Roadside Emergency Kit Now
Most drivers think about this after they need it. Don't be that driver. Keep a dedicated emergency kit in your trunk year-round. Here's what it should contain:
The Essentials (Year-Round)
- Jumper cables or a portable jump starter: A lithium-ion jump starter the size of a thick paperback can start most passenger vehicles. It's far more useful than cables if you're stranded alone.
- Reflective triangles or road flares: Minimum of 3 triangles. Place them at 50, 100, and 200 feet behind your stopped vehicle.
- Flashlight: A quality LED flashlight with extra batteries. Your phone flashlight drains the battery you'll need to call for help.
- Basic tool kit: Pliers, screwdrivers, adjustable wrench — enough to handle minor mechanical issues.
- Tire pressure gauge and portable air compressor: Slow leaks happen. A 12V compressor can get you to a service station.
- Duct tape and zip ties: Remarkably useful for temporary fixes.
- Water (at least 2 liters): Vital in Utah summer heat, which regularly exceeds 100°F.
- First aid kit: Bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain reliever, any prescription medications you regularly need.
- Phone charger cable + car adapter: A dead phone during a breakdown is a crisis within a crisis.
- Cash ($40–$60): Some services or impound lot transactions require cash.
Winter Additions (October–April)
- Wool blanket or emergency mylar blanket
- Warm gloves, hat, and an extra layer
- Small folding shovel (for digging out from snow)
- Bag of sand or kitty litter (traction under wheels)
- Ice scraper and snow brush
- Hand warmers (chemical activation type)
Tip 2: Know Your Roadside Assistance Coverage Before You Need It
Many drivers don't know what roadside coverage they have until they're stranded. Check these now, while you're sitting comfortably:
Auto Insurance Roadside Coverage
Most comprehensive auto insurance policies offer optional roadside assistance coverage for $5–$15/month. This typically covers towing (up to a set distance), jump starts, lockout service, and flat tire changes. Call your insurer and ask exactly what's covered and what the process is for making a claim.
AAA Membership
AAA Classic membership ($70–$80/year) covers up to 5 miles of free towing, with additional miles billed at a discounted rate. AAA Plus ($100–$110/year) covers up to 100 miles. In Utah, AAA has a network of approved towing providers. Service can be requested via the AAA app.
Credit Card Benefits
Certain premium credit cards (Visa Signature, some Chase Sapphire products, certain Amex cards) include complimentary roadside assistance. Call the number on the back of your card or check your benefits guide.
Vehicle Manufacturer Apps
Many modern vehicles include connected services — Ford Pass, BMW Assist, OnStar (GM), Toyota Safety Connect — that can dispatch roadside assistance directly from your dashboard or app.
Tip 3: Learn the Basic Self-Help Skills
Not every breakdown requires a tow. These skills handle the most common roadside situations:
Changing a Flat Tire
If you don't know how to change a flat, practice in your driveway on a Sunday afternoon. The ability to swap a flat tire on the side of the road — safely, without injury — can turn a two-hour wait into a 20-minute fix. Know where your jack, lug wrench, and spare are located in your specific vehicle.
Jump Starting a Car
Dead battery is the #1 roadside call. With jumper cables, connect positive to positive, negative to negative (and the negative on your car to an unpainted metal surface, not the battery terminal). Let the working car run for 3–5 minutes before attempting to start the dead car.
Checking and Adding Fluids
Know where your coolant reservoir, power steering fluid, and windshield washer fluid are. Overheating is preventable if you check your coolant level regularly. Carrying a small bottle of coolant can prevent a much larger problem.
Tip 4: Use the Right Communication Channels
When to Call 911
Call 911 if: there are injuries, your vehicle is in a dangerous position that can't be made safe, you're being approached by a threatening person, or there's a vehicle fire. Emergency services will dispatch police and fire as needed.
Utah Highway Patrol: *11
On Utah roads, dialing *11 on your mobile phone reaches UHP dispatch directly. Use this for non-injury breakdowns on state and federal highways. UHP can arrange a tow through their dispatch network and send a trooper for a welfare check.
UDOT Traveler Information: 511
For road conditions, construction updates, and incident information on Utah roads, call 511 or visit udottraffic.utah.gov.
Tip 5: Keep Your Vehicle Maintained
Most roadside emergencies are preventable. Regular maintenance catches problems before they strand you:
- Tire pressure: Check monthly and before long trips. Underinflated tires are the #1 cause of blowouts.
- Battery: Car batteries typically last 3–5 years. If yours is over 4 years old, have it tested. Cold Utah winters are hard on batteries.
- Coolant system: Flush and replace per manufacturer schedule. Utah summers stress cooling systems.
- Belts and hoses: A snapped serpentine belt strands you immediately. Inspect for cracking and fraying.
- Fuel: Don't let the tank drop below ¼ in winter — fuel lines can freeze, and you may need to run the heater while waiting for help.
Tip 6: Know Your Location Tools
When you call for roadside assistance, the single most useful thing you can communicate is your precise location. Know how to do this:
- Milepost markers: Green signs every mile on Utah interstates. "I-15 northbound, milepost 304" is exact.
- Google Maps / Apple Maps pin: Long-press your location to get GPS coordinates, then read them to the dispatcher.
- What3words: A free app that assigns a unique 3-word address to every 10x10 meter square on Earth. Useful in rural areas with no landmarks.
Tip 7: Vet Your Tow Company in Advance
The worst time to research a towing company is when you're stranded and panicking. Take five minutes now to save a trusted local tow company's number in your phone.
Our National Tow Connect directory lists verified, local towing operators with contact information, service areas, and customer reviews. Find one that covers your regular travel routes and save their number today — you'll thank yourself later.
If you operate a towing or roadside assistance company in the Salt Lake Valley, consider listing your business to reach drivers who need you most.
Tip 8: Stay Calm and Stay Safe
The stress of a roadside breakdown amplifies bad decisions. When things go sideways:
- Stop the vehicle safely — shoulder, parking lot, or wherever traffic is minimal
- Turn on hazards immediately
- Take a breath before doing anything else
- Assess the situation: Is anyone injured? Is the car in danger of being hit?
- Get people out of the car and away from traffic
- Make calls in this order: 911 (if emergency), UHP *11, your insurance/AAA, then a private tow company
Calm, systematic action is the difference between a manageable inconvenience and a dangerous situation that gets worse.