> **Quick Answer:** Call a tow truck or roadside assistance service first. A standard tow company can handle most mud situations, but deep or off-road mud may need a recovery specialist with a winch. If you have AAA, your insurer's roadside line, or a roadside add-on through GEICO or Progressive, call them before paying out of pocket. Getting pulled out of mud typically runs $75 to $200 depending on how stuck you are.
## Who Do I Actually Call When My Car Is Stuck in Mud?
Call a tow truck or your roadside assistance provider. If you have coverage through AAA, your auto insurance, or a standalone roadside plan, that call comes first since a mud pull-out is usually a covered service. If you have none of that, search for a local tow company and specifically ask if they have winch recovery capability, because a standard wheel-lift truck can not pull a buried vehicle.
When you call, tell the dispatcher exactly how stuck you are. "Tires spinning but mostly on the surface" and "buried to the frame in a flooded shoulder" are completely different jobs that require different equipment. Be honest so they send the right truck.
## Is It Safe to Stay in My Car or Should I Get Out?
Stay in your car unless the ground is actively sinking, water is rising around you, or you are on a road where traffic is a danger. A mud-stuck vehicle on a rural shoulder is generally stable. A vehicle sliding toward a ditch edge, near a creek, or on soft shoulder during heavy rain is a different story.
If you stay in the car, turn on your hazard lights immediately. If you get out, move well away from traffic, up an embankment or behind a guardrail if one is available. Never stand directly behind or in front of a stuck vehicle. If someone attempts a tow, bystanders need to be at least 1.5 times the length of the recovery strap away from the vehicle in case the strap snaps under tension.
## Can Someone Pull Me Out Instead of Calling a Tow Truck?
Yes, if someone has a proper tow strap or recovery strap and a vehicle with enough torque, a pull-out can work for a lightly stuck car. A standard ratchet strap is not rated for vehicle recovery and can snap violently. You need a dedicated kinetic recovery rope or a heavy-duty tow strap rated for the weight of your vehicle.
Attach only to a proper recovery point. On most trucks and SUVs this is a tow hook or a rated D-ring mount. On passenger cars, the small threaded tow eye in the bumper can work for a gentle straight pull but is not built for hard yanking angles. If the car does not move easily after a steady pull, stop and call a winch-equipped tow truck. Forcing it risks snapping a strap, tearing a bumper, or pulling the rescuer's vehicle into the mud too.
## What Will It Cost to Get Pulled Out of Mud?
A basic mud pull-out with a standard tow truck runs about $75 to $150 in most areas. If the truck needs to use a winch, or if you are significantly off the road surface, expect $150 to $300 or more. Recovery jobs in remote areas where the tow truck itself has to go off-road can push higher still.
If you have roadside assistance through your insurer, check your policy limits before assuming it is fully covered. Some plans cap winch recovery or treat it as a tow rather than a simple service call. For a deeper look at what insurance actually covers in these situations, see [what your insurance pays for a tow when the car is not driveable](/does-insurance-cover-towing-if-car-is-not-driveable/). If you are paying out of pocket, [knowing whether you can negotiate the price after the fact
*Photo: Pexels*
](/can-you-negotiate-tow-truck-price-after-breakdown/) is worth reading before you sign anything.
## What Do I Do While I Wait for the Tow Truck?
Hazard lights on, engine off if the vehicle is not in danger of sinking further. Do not keep spinning your tires. Every spin pushes you deeper into the mud and makes the recovery harder and more expensive.
If you are on a paved road shoulder and mud pulled you off the edge, watch the angle of your vehicle. If it continues to shift, get out and wait at a safe distance. Call 911 if you are in a location where the car is a hazard to other drivers, such as partly blocking a lane on a two-lane highway at night. For general guidance on how long it is reasonable to wait and what to do in the meantime, the article on [how long you can wait on the side of a highway for a tow](/how-long-can-you-wait-on-side-of-highway-for-tow/) covers that well.
If the mud situation came from a weather event like heavy rain, check the 511 state road conditions line or your state DOT's traffic app for road closures in your area before the tow arrives so the driver knows the best route in.
---
*Photo: Pexels*
## Common Questions
**Q: Will AAA come pull my car out of mud on the side of the road?**
A: Yes, AAA will respond to a mud recovery call. Whether it is fully covered depends on your membership tier. Classic covers one tow per incident up to a set mileage limit. Plus and Premier tiers cover longer distances. A winch-out may be counted as a tow. Call the dispatch line and ask before they arrive so there are no surprises on the bill.
**Q: What if my car is stuck in mud in a ditch, not just on the shoulder?**
A: A ditch recovery is more involved than a flat-surface pull-out. You need a winch-equipped truck, and the angle of the vehicle affects the difficulty. Expect to pay on the higher end of recovery costs. Read up on [who pays for the tow when your car is stuck in a ditch on a highway](/car-stuck-in-ditch-on-highway-who-pays-for-tow/) if another vehicle caused the situation.
**Q: Can I use my floor mats to get traction and drive out myself?**
A: Sometimes, for a lightly stuck vehicle on the edge of a muddy shoulder. Place the mats just in front of the drive wheels, deflate your tires slightly to increase the contact patch, and apply slow steady throttle rather than spinning. This works best when the frame is still clear of the ground. If you are buried past the axles, skip this step.
**Q: Does my auto insurance cover a mud pull-out?**
A: Only if you have roadside assistance or comprehensive coverage with a towing add-on. Liability-only policies do not cover this. Check your declarations page or call your insurer's roadside line directly. [Progressive's towing coverage](/progressive-insurance-towing-coverage-how-much-will-they-pay/) and [State Farm's roadside assistance limits](/state-farm-roadside-assistance-towing-coverage-limit/) vary, so knowing your specific policy details matters before the truck arrives.
**Q: Should I call 911 if my car is stuck in mud?**
A: Call 911 only if you or a passenger is injured, if the vehicle is blocking traffic and creating a collision hazard, or if conditions are worsening rapidly, like rising water. For a stable vehicle stuck on the shoulder, a tow company or roadside assistance line is the right call. 911 dispatchers will redirect non-emergency vehicle recoveries to local towing anyway.
---
*Need roadside help? Visit [Tow With The Flow](https://towwiththeflow.com/car-stuck-in-mud-on-side-of-road-who-to-call/) for real answers when your car breaks down.*
Car Stuck in Mud on Side of Road: Who to Call Right Now
Photo: Pexels