Your car just died on the 405, the 10, or the 101 in bumper-to-bumper LA traffic. You are in one of the most dangerous and complicated breakdown situations in the country. Here is what to do, step by step, right now.
> **Quick Answer:** Get your hazards on immediately and move the car as far right as possible. If you can reach the shoulder, stay in the car with your seatbelt on and call for a tow. On LA freeways, Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) trucks patrol major corridors and will stop to push you to safety for free. Call 511 or dial 911 if you are in a live lane. Do not stand behind your car.
## What To Do
1. **Turn on your hazard lights the second the car starts losing power.** Do not wait until you stop. Every second of warning light counts at 65 mph.
2. **Steer hard to the right.** Even if the engine is dead, you still have one or two power-steering strokes left. Use them. Get onto the shoulder. If you are on a stretch with no shoulder (common on the 110 and parts of downtown freeways), get as close to the right lane line as possible and stop there.
3. **Do not get out of the car on a live lane.** If you are stuck in traffic and cars are moving around you, stay buckled in. Flash your lights, keep hazards going, and call 911. Tell the dispatcher your location, the freeway, the direction (northbound, southbound), and the nearest cross street or off-ramp sign you can see.
4. **Call 511 or 911 to request Freeway Service Patrol.** Caltrans runs FSP trucks on most LA-area freeways during peak hours, typically 6 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. on weekdays. They will push or tow your car to the nearest safe off-ramp at no charge. This is the fastest option during rush hour and it is free.
5. **If FSP is not available or it is off-peak hours, call a tow truck directly.** Do not sit and wait on a live shoulder for longer than necessary. Response times on LA freeways during congestion can run 45 to 90 minutes for a private tow. Call as soon as you are stopped. Check [what tow trucks charge in Los Angeles](/towing-cost-per-mile-los-angeles/) so you are not blindsided when the driver arrives.
6. **After you call, get out of the car on the passenger side if you are on a shoulder with space.** Move up the embankment or behind the guardrail. Put distance between yourself and your car. A car sitting on the shoulder gets rear-ended more than people expect, especially at night.
7. **Set out reflective triangles or flares if you have them.** Place one 10 feet behind your car, one 100 feet back, and one 300 feet back. This is especially important at night or in foggy marine layer conditions, which are common on the 10 near Santa Monica.
8. **Tell the tow driver exactly which shop you want.** In LA, a tow truck driver may push you toward a shop with a kickback arrangement. You have the right to choose your own destination. Know where you want to go before the driver arrives.
*Photo: Pexels*
## What It Might Cost
Freeway Service Patrol is free if you catch them during patrol hours. For a private tow in Los Angeles, expect a hook-up fee of $75 to $150 plus $5 to $10 per mile. A tow from the 405 near LAX to a shop in Culver City might run $120 to $180. A longer haul from the 210 in Pasadena into the Valley could hit $250 or more. Rush hour does not typically add a surcharge from private towers, but it does slow response times. If you have roadside assistance through your insurance, call them first, but be aware that [towing costs during LA rush hour](/towing-cost-los-angeles-rush-hour-traffic/) can exceed standard coverage limits.
If the breakdown was caused by a specific mechanical failure like a dying fuel pump or failing alternator, know that the repair estimate starts the moment the tow ends. Get the car to a shop you trust, not just the nearest one off the freeway exit. See [what to do if your fuel pump dies on a highway](/fuel-pump-died-on-highway-need-tow-truck-now/) for next steps specific to that failure.
*Photo: Pexels*
## Stay Safe
- Stay buckled inside the car if you are in a live lane or on a narrow shoulder
- Never stand behind your vehicle, even to look at a flat tire
- Keep your phone charged. A dead phone on an LA freeway is a serious problem
- At night, wear something bright or reflective if you have to exit the car
- If another driver hits your stopped car, get clear of the area and call 911 immediately
- Do not accept help from random strangers who pull over uninvited. Wait for FSP or your tow
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Car Broke Down on Freeway in Los Angeles: What to Do Right Now
Photo: Pexels