How it works
Roadside assistance vs. towing: which do you need?
Short answer
Roadside assistance makes a vehicle drivable again where it sits — a boost, fuel, a spare tire, or entry. Towing moves a vehicle that cannot or should not be driven. If the fault is mechanical, structural, or safety-related, it is a tow; if it is a consumable or an access problem, it is roadside.
Emergencies come first. If there is a crash, injury, fire, or you are stopped somewhere unsafe in live traffic, call 911 before requesting roadside assistance.
Signs you need roadside assistance
- The battery is flat but the vehicle is otherwise fine.
- The tank is empty.
- A tire is flat and there is a usable spare.
- The keys are locked inside.
Signs you need a tow
- The engine overheated, or there is steam or a burning smell.
- The vehicle will not move, will not shift, or the transmission is slipping.
- Brakes or steering feel wrong.
- There is collision damage, a fluid leak, or a warning telling you to stop driving.
- A tire is destroyed and there is no usable spare.
Why the distinction matters
Sending the wrong service costs time you do not have when you are stranded. A roadside driver arriving at a vehicle with a seized engine cannot help, and you start again from zero.
It also matters for safety. Continuing to drive a vehicle that needed a tow is how a repair bill becomes an incident.
What Roūte covers
Roūte currently provides light roadside services — jump starts, emergency fuel delivery, flat tire assistance with a usable spare, and vehicle lockout assistance. Roūte does not currently tow. If your vehicle needs transporting, the driver will tell you that rather than attempting work that will not resolve the problem.
Frequently asked questions
Need roadside help in Orlando right now?
Request assistance, see the estimate before dispatch, and track your driver to the vehicle.