What To Do When Your Car Breaks Down on the Highway

A breakdown on I-94, I-43 or Highway 45 can be frightening, especially in heavy traffic. The good news: if you stay calm and follow a few simple steps, you can keep yourself safe and get back on the road quickly.

1. Get out of the travel lane

If your vehicle is still moving, signal early and ease onto the right shoulder or, better yet, the next exit or wide area. The further you are from live traffic, the safer you'll be while you wait.

2. Make yourself visible

Turn on your hazard lights immediately. If you have reflective triangles or flares, set them up behind your vehicle. At night, leave your parking lights on so other drivers can see you well in advance.

3. Stay buckled and stay inside (usually)

On a high-speed highway, the safest place is often inside your vehicle with your seatbelt on—especially if you're close to moving traffic. If you must exit, do so on the side away from traffic and stand well off the road behind a barrier when possible.

4. Call for professional help

Call a 24-hour towing company and describe your exact location—mile markers, exits and cross streets all help. A flatbed tow keeps all four wheels off the ground and protects your drivetrain, which matters for AWD vehicles and EVs.

5. Know who to call before it happens

Save a trusted local tow company in your phone now, before you ever need it. Top Speed Towing & Recovery answers 24/7 across the Milwaukee metro, and we can usually give you an honest ETA the moment you call.