> **Quick Answer:** Get off the travel lanes immediately, even if that means driving slowly on the rim to the nearest exit or wide shoulder. Turn on your hazards the moment you feel the flat. Once stopped safely, stay in your car or behind the guardrail. Call roadside assistance or a tow truck. Without a spare, your only real options are a tow, a tire delivery service, or run-flat assistance if your car has run-flat tires.
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## Is It Safe to Keep Driving on a Flat Tire to Get Off the Highway?
Drive only as far as you absolutely must to reach a safe stopping point, then stop. Staying in a live traffic lane is more dangerous than the rim damage you will cause by crawling 200 feet to the shoulder or the next exit. Keep your speed under 20 mph, hazards on, and steer smoothly. If you are near an exit ramp, take it. A shoulder near an interchange with a concrete barrier behind you is far safer than an open highway shoulder where traffic passes at 70 mph.
Do not attempt to drive miles on a flat rim. The tire will shred, the rim will dig into the pavement, you will lose steering control, and you can cause a secondary accident.
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## What Are My Actual Options When I Have No Spare?
Without a spare, you have three realistic options: a tow to a tire shop, a mobile tire service, or run-flat capability if your vehicle came equipped with run-flat tires from the factory.
- **Tow truck to a tire shop.** This is the most common solution. A flatbed or wheel-lift truck loads your car and drops it at the nearest shop that stocks your size. Cost typically runs $75 to $150 for a local tow, though [rates vary by city](/how-much-does-a-tow-truck-cost-with-no-insurance/).
- **Mobile tire service.** Some markets have services that will drive a replacement tire to your location and mount it on the spot. Search "mobile tire service" plus your city. Response times vary widely, and they may not stock uncommon sizes.
- **Run-flat tires.** If your car came with run-flats (common on BMW, Mini, and some Cadillac models), you can drive up to 50 miles at no more than 50 mph on a deflated run-flat to reach a shop. Check your owner's manual and look for the RFT or SSR marking on the tire sidewall. Even run-flats are not designed for highway speeds once flat.
Many newer vehicles no longer include a spare at all. If your trunk has a foam tire inflator kit instead of a spare, those kits can temporarily seal a small puncture in the tread. They will not work on a blowout, a sidewall tear, or any damage near the bead.
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## How Do I Stay Safe While I Wait on the Highway Shoulder?
Get as far off the road as possible, then make yourself visible. Here is the order of operations:
1. Pull past the fog line onto the full shoulder. If there is an emergency pull-off or gore area ahead, use it.
2. Turn hazard lights on immediately and leave them on.
3. If you have road flares or reflective triangles, place them at 50, 100, and 300 feet behind your vehicle.
4. If you can exit the vehicle safely away from traffic (passenger side on a right shoulder), do it and stand behind the guardrail. If traffic is too close or there is no barrier, stay buckled inside the car.
5. Call 911 if you feel unsafe. State highway patrols prioritize stranded motorists in active lanes or on narrow shoulders.
If you are on a high-speed stretch like I-10 through west Texas or I-80 across Nevada with no shoulder and no exit for miles, call 911 first. Do not stand outside.
For more detail on how long it is safe to wait and what to expect from highway traffic, see [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/).
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## Who Should I Call to Get a Tow or Tire Help?
Call in this order based on what you have.
1. **Your roadside assistance plan
*Photo: Pexels*
first.** Check your insurance app, your AAA card, or your vehicle's built-in concierge button (OnStar, BMW Assist, etc.). Many auto insurance policies include roadside assistance as an add-on. GEICO, Progressive, and State Farm all offer it. [Progressive's towing coverage](/progressive-insurance-towing-coverage-how-much-will-they-pay/) and [State Farm's roadside limits](/state-farm-roadside-assistance-towing-coverage-limit/) both have per-incident caps worth knowing before you assume you're fully covered.
2. **AAA.** If you are a member, AAA dispatches directly and covers a flat tire service or tow depending on your membership tier.
3. **A local tow company.** Search your location on Google Maps for the nearest tow truck. Tell them you have a flat with no spare and need a flatbed or wheel-lift to a tire shop. Confirm the rate before they hook up your car.
4. **911 or 511.** If you are in a genuinely dangerous position, such as a narrow bridge or active lane, call 911. State DOT courtesy patrol trucks also patrol major interstates in many states and will stop to assist.
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## What Will a Tow Actually Cost Without Insurance or Roadside Assistance?
Out of pocket, expect $75 to $125 for a short local tow of 5 to 10 miles, plus any after-hours surcharge if it is late at night or a weekend. Longer tows charge per mile, usually $3 to $7 per mile beyond the first 5. A tow from an interstate to a tire shop 15 miles away could run $150 to $200 without coverage.
If you end up getting towed and then need a tire replaced, a standard passenger tire mounted and balanced at a shop runs $100 to $250 depending on the size and brand. Budget tire shops like Discount Tire or Walmart Auto often have same-day availability for common sizes.
If this situation made you realize your roadside coverage is thin, it is worth comparing [whether an AAA membership is worth it](/aaa-membership-worth-it-single-tow-cost-comparison/) against what your insurer charges for the add-on.
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*Photo: Pexels*
## Common Questions
**Q: Can I use fix-a-flat or a tire inflator kit on a highway flat?**
A: Only if the damage is a small puncture in the tread, not a blowout or sidewall cut. The foam sealant in those kits cannot seal a tear. Even when it works, it is a temporary fix good for maybe 50 to 100 miles at reduced speed to reach a shop.
**Q: What if my car has run-flat tires but the TPMS light came on miles ago?**
A: Run-flats have a window of about 50 miles at 50 mph or less after complete pressure loss. If you have been driving on a low run-flat at highway speed for a while, get off immediately and have it inspected before driving further. Overheated run-flats can fail suddenly.
**Q: Will my car insurance cover the tow if I have no roadside add-on?**
A: Standard liability or collision coverage does not cover towing from a flat tire. You need a specific roadside assistance rider, or a separate plan like AAA. Some credit cards (Visa Signature, certain Chase cards) include roadside dispatch as a cardholder benefit.
**Q: Is it better to wait for a tow or walk to the nearest exit for help?**
A: Stay with your vehicle. Walking along an interstate shoulder is statistically more dangerous than waiting in or near your car. The exception is if your car is on fire or in an immediately dangerous position with no guardrail protection.
**Q: What if the tow truck driver says I need to decide on a shop right now?**
A: You have the right to choose any shop you want. If you have no preference, ask the driver which shops near you are open and stock common tire sizes. You can also call ahead to confirm availability before the driver starts the tow.
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*Need roadside help? Visit [Tow With The Flow](https://towwiththeflow.com/flat-tire-on-highway-no-spare-what-to-do/) for real answers when your car breaks down.*
Flat Tire on Highway No Spare: What to Do Right Now
Photo: Pexels