> **Quick Answer:** Call your roadside assistance provider first, whether that's AAA, your insurance company's hotline, or a plan through your car manufacturer. No coverage? Call a local tow company directly. Before you dial anyone, try one jump-start attempt if someone nearby can help. A dead battery is the most common cause, and a jump takes five minutes. If the car still won't start, you need a tow.
## Who Do I Call When My Car Won't Start in a Parking Lot?
Call your roadside assistance provider first. AAA, GEICO, State Farm, Progressive, and most auto manufacturers (Ford, GM, Toyota, etc.) all offer roadside assistance that covers jump-starts, lockouts, and tows. If you have any of those, open the app or call the number on your membership card before you do anything else.
No coverage? Call a local tow company directly. Search "tow truck near me" and call the top result. Rates vary by city, but most local tows run $75 to $125 for the first few miles. Avoid third-party dispatch services that promise a low price and then add fees. Call the actual truck operator.
If you are in a retail parking lot like a Walmart or Target, the store's customer service desk can sometimes call for help or let you stay inside while you wait. You are not on a highway shoulder. You have time and options.
## What Should I Check Before Calling Anyone?
Check three things before you make a call: battery, key fob, and gear selector. A dead battery is responsible for the majority of no-start situations. If you turn the key and hear a rapid clicking sound, or nothing at all, that is almost certainly the battery. If you hear one single click and silence, [that single click points to a different problem](https://towwiththeflow.com/car-wont-start-clicks-once-and-nothing-else/) worth reading up on before you assume it is the battery.
Check your key fob battery if your car uses a push-button start. A weak fob can prevent the ignition from recognizing the key. Hold the fob directly against the start button and try again.
Make sure the car is fully in Park. An automatic transmission with a worn neutral safety switch will refuse to crank if the selector is even slightly off. Push the gear lever firmly into Park and try once more.
## Can Someone in the Parking Lot Jump-Start Me, or Do I Need a Tow?
If the battery is dead, a jump-start from another driver is the fastest fix available. Ask a nearby driver for help. Most people will say yes. Connect red to dead positive, red to good positive, black to good negative, black to an unpainted metal ground on your car (not the dead battery terminal). Let the good car run for two minutes, then crank yours.
If the jump works, drive straight to an auto parts store like AutoZone or O'Reilly. They will test your battery and alternator for free. A battery that needed a jump in a parking lot is often days from failing completely.
If the jump does not work, stop there. A car that will not start after a good jump has a problem beyond the battery: a bad alternator, a failed starter motor, a security system lockout, or something mechanical. At that point you need a tow to a mechanic, not more jumping. [If you have been dealing with a n
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o-start situation connected to running out of gas recently, that is a separate issue entirely.](https://towwiththeflow.com/car-wont-start-after-running-out-of-gas-what-is-wrong/)
## How Much Will a Tow Cost From a Parking Lot?
A local tow from a parking lot to a nearby shop typically costs $75 to $150, depending on your city and the distance. Parking lots are easy access for tow trucks, so you will not pay a difficulty fee the way you might for a ditch recovery.
If you have roadside assistance through your insurance, the tow may be fully covered or cost you only a small co-pay. [GEICO's roadside assistance, for example, pays up to a set reimbursement limit per tow](https://towwiththeflow.com/geico-roadside-assistance-towing-reimbursement-limit/), and State Farm works similarly. Check your policy before you assume it is free. [State Farm roadside assistance covers towing but the dollar limit matters](https://towwiththeflow.com/does-state-farm-roadside-assistance-cover-towing-cost/), especially if the shop is more than a few miles away.
If you are paying out of pocket, get a price confirmed before the truck hooks up. Ask for the hook-up fee and the per-mile rate separately. Some companies quote a flat rate for short hauls, which is usually the better deal in a local situation.
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## Common Questions
**Q: My car won't start and I have no roadside assistance, what's the cheapest option?**
A: Ask someone in the parking lot for a jump-start first. It costs nothing. If that does not work, call a local independent tow company rather than a national dispatch service. Local operators almost always charge less than dispatched services that take a cut.
**Q: Is it safe to wait alone in a parking lot at night for a tow truck?**
A: Stay inside your locked car with the doors locked while you wait. Most parking lots have some lighting and foot traffic. Give the tow company your exact location including the lot name, closest store entrance, and your car's make, color, and plate so the driver can find you quickly.
**Q: What if the parking lot is about to close and my car won't start?**
A: Tell the tow company immediately that the lot has a closing time. Many operators will prioritize the call. Also tell the lot attendant or security guard. Most commercial lots will not tow an obviously disabled vehicle overnight if you have communicated the situation.
**Q: Will a jump-start damage my car's computer or electronics?**
A: Not if you connect the cables correctly. Reversed polarity (getting positive and negative backwards) can fry fuses and damage the ECU. Follow the correct order: red to dead positive, red to good positive, black to good negative, black to bare metal ground on the dead car. Do it right and there is no risk.
**Q: Can I call 911 if my car won't start in a parking lot?**
A: Only if there is a genuine emergency, like a medical situation or safety threat. A no-start in a parking lot is a roadside assistance call, not a 911 call. Dispatchers need that line clear for real emergencies.
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*Need roadside help? Visit [Tow With The Flow](https://towwiththeflow.com/car-wont-start-in-parking-lot-who-do-i-call/) for real answers when your car breaks down.*
Car Won't Start in Parking Lot: Who Do I Call Right Now
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