Your car just died on I-25, I-70, I-270, or C-470 and traffic is flying past you. Here is what to do in the next five minutes.
> **Quick Answer:** Pull as far right as possible, turn on your hazards, and stay in your car with your seatbelt on. Call Colorado State Patrol at 303-239-4501 if you need immediate help, or call a Denver tow company directly. Expect a tow truck in 30 to 60 minutes depending on traffic and location. A local tow in Denver runs $75 to $175 for most breakdowns within city limits.
## What To Do
1. **Get off the travel lane completely.** Steer to the right shoulder as far as you can go. If you cannot make the shoulder, get to the next exit. A car on the fog line is still a target.
2. **Hazard lights on immediately.** Do this before you even think about calling anyone.
3. **Stay inside the vehicle with your seatbelt buckled.** Highway shoulders are genuinely dangerous. Drivers drift toward stopped cars. Unless there is fire or smoke pouring out, stay put. If you do have to exit, get over the guardrail and away from traffic.
4. **Call Colorado State Patrol: 303-239-4501.** They can dispatch a CDOT Courtesy Patrol truck on many Denver-area highways at no charge. These trucks carry gas, jumper cables, and can help with minor issues. They also set up traffic control if you are in a dangerous spot.
5. **Call a tow truck if you need one.** CSP can dispatch one, or you can call directly. Give the dispatcher your exact location using a mile marker, the nearest exit name, or drop a pin and read the GPS coordinates. Mention which lane you are nearest to and the direction you are traveling.
6. **Check your roadside assistance coverage before you pay out of pocket.** If you have AAA, check your app. If your auto insurance includes roadside, call that number on your card. Some policies cover towing with no out-of-pocket cost. If you need to pay directly, [tow truck companies in Denver accept credit cards](/tow-truck-near-me-accepting-credit-card/), so do not panic if you have no cash.
7. **Pop your hood and tie something light-colored to your antenna or door handle.** This signals other drivers that you are broken down, not just parked illegally.
8. **Do not accept help from unmarked vehicles.** On Denver highways, unlicensed towers sometimes cruise for stranded drivers and charge predatory rates. Use a company you called yourself or one dispatched by CSP.
*Photo: Pexels*
## Specific Denver Highways and What to Know
**I-70 through the mountains:** If you break down west of C-470 heading toward the tunnel, cell service drops in spots. Get your call in before you lose signal. Tow times from Eisenhower Tunnel or Glenwood Canyon can run 90 minutes or more and cost significantly more than a city tow. See [long-distance towing costs in Denver](/towing-cost-in-denver-colorado-long-distance/) before you commit to a shop up there.
**I-25 through downtown:** High traffic volume means CDOT Courtesy Patrol runs frequently during peak hours. Response is often faster here than on the outer loops.
**I-270 and E-470:** These corridors can be quiet at night. Do not assume a tow is coming in 20 minutes. Call and confirm an ETA.
## What It Might Cost
A standard local tow inside Denver city limits runs $75 to $150 for the hook-up fee plus $3 to $5 per mile to the shop. For most breakdowns on I-25 or I-70 within the metro, you are looking at $100 to $175 total. [Get a detailed Denver tow cost breakdown here](/how-much-does-a-tow-truck-cost-in-denver-colorado-2/) so you know what is reasonable before you agree to anything.
If you are unsure whether to wait on the shoulder, read this: [is it safe to wait for a tow on a highway shoulder](/car-died-on-highway-shoulder-safe-to-wait-for-tow/). The short answer depends on visibility, shoulder width, and traffic speed.
*Photo: Pexels*
## Stay Safe
- Keep your seatbelt on even while sitting still on the shoulder
- Do not stand behind or in front of the car
- If a car drifts toward you, move away from the vehicle, not toward traffic
- At night, use your phone flashlight or a flare if you have one
- If you have kids in the car, [there are specific steps to follow](/car-broke-down-with-kids-in-car-safety-steps/) to keep everyone safe and calm
- Do not run the engine in a tunnel or enclosed area if you smell something burning
---
*Need roadside help? Visit [Tow With The Flow](https://towwiththeflow.com/car-broke-down-on-highway-in-denver-who-to-call/) for real answers when your car breaks down.*
Car Broke Down on Highway in Denver: Who to Call Right Now
Photo: Pexels