> **Quick Answer:** If your spare is already flat, you cannot drive the car. Period. Get off the road as far as possible, turn on your hazards, and call for a tow. Request a flatbed if the flat spare is on a drive axle or if the car is all-wheel drive. A wheel-lift tow works if the flat is on a non-driven wheel and the other tires are solid.
## What Do I Do Right Now If I'm Stuck With Two Flat Tires?
Stop the car and do not move it further. Driving on a flat spare, even a few hundred feet, can destroy the wheel rim and potentially the brake rotor, turning a $150 tow into a $600 repair.
Get as far off the road as you safely can before you stop completely. If you feel the rim grinding, you are already doing damage. Turn on your hazard lights immediately. If you are on a highway shoulder, get everyone out of the car and behind the guardrail or up an embankment, well away from traffic. A car on a highway shoulder is a serious hazard, and standing next to it is worse. For more on managing that wait safely, read [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/).
Once everyone is clear, call for a tow. Do not attempt to flag down another driver for a tire swap. You have no spare to swap in, and stopping random traffic creates its own danger.
## Does the Tow Truck Need to Be a Flatbed, or Will Any Truck Work?
It depends on where the flat spare is and what kind of drivetrain your car has.
Flatbed is the safest option in every case. The car rides entirely on the bed, no wheels touch the road, and there is zero risk of rim or drivetrain damage during transport. Request one if at all possible.
That said, a wheel-lift tow can work under specific conditions. If the flat spare is on a front non-driven wheel and your car is rear-wheel drive, a wheel-lift truck can lift the front end and tow from the rear. If the flat is on a rear wheel and your car is front-wheel drive, the reverse applies. The key rule: the flat tire must be on the lifted end.
If you drive an all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive vehicle, insist on a flatbed. Wheel-lift towing an AWD car with any tire flat or deflated can damage the transfer case and differentials. That repair starts around $1,000 and goes up fast.
## How Do I Tell the Tow Company What I Need?
Be specific when you call. Tell the dispatcher exactly this: the year, make, model, and drivetrain type of your car, which tire position has the flat spare (front left, rear right, etc.), and your exact location. On a highway, use the nearest mile marker or exit number. "I'm on I-40 westbound just past exit 178" is far more useful to a driver than a cross-street description.
Also tell them the condition of the rim. If you drove on the flat even briefly, say so. The driver may need a different type of wheel cradle or extra straps to load the car safely without the flat tire spinning freely on the rim.
If you have roadside assistance through your insurer or AAA, call them instead of shopping around, but ask the same question directly: "Can you send a flatbed?" Most plans cover flatbeds. Knowing what your policy actually covers before the
*Photo: Pexels*
next emergency is worth reading up on. Check [State Farm roadside assistance vs AAA](/state-farm-roadside-assistance-vs-aaa-which-is-better/) for a direct comparison.
## Will My Insurance Cover This Tow?
Most likely yes, if you have roadside assistance or comprehensive coverage. A tow due to a flat tire is a standard roadside assistance event for virtually every major insurer and club.
Call your insurance app or member line first. The tow is usually dispatched through their network, and you pay nothing or a small co-pay. If you call a tow company directly without going through insurance, you will pay out of pocket and then attempt reimbursement, which is slower and not guaranteed. Going through insurance is almost always the better move when time is not critical.
One catch: some policies have a mileage cap on covered tows. If the nearest tire shop is 30 miles away, verify your covered distance before the truck rolls. [GEICO's roadside assistance towing distance limits](/geico-roadside-assistance-towing-distance-limit/) are a good example of how these caps work across major insurers.
*Photo: Pexels*
## Common Questions
**Q: Can I drive slowly on a completely flat spare to reach the next exit?**
A: No. Even at 5 mph, a flat spare on a rim will fold and lose control, damage the rotor, and potentially cause a crash. The rim can dig into the pavement and lock the wheel. Stop and call a tow.
**Q: What if I have a run-flat tire that went flat? Can I still drive on that?**
A: Run-flats are designed to travel up to 50 miles at 50 mph after pressure loss, but only if they have not been driven on while flat for any distance already. If the sidewall is visibly collapsed or you drove on it flat without knowing, treat it as a standard flat and tow it. See [run flat tire blowout: can I drive to the shop?](/run-flat-tire-blowout-can-i-drive-to-shop/) for the full breakdown.
**Q: My spare is only slightly flat. Can I air it up and drive?**
A: If you have a portable compressor or a can of Fix-a-Flat and the spare holds air to at least 60 PSI (standard compact spare pressure), you can limp to the nearest tire shop at low speed. Check the spare's sidewall for the max cold inflation pressure, it is molded right into the rubber. Do not use Fix-a-Flat on a full-size alloy wheel you plan to keep, it coats the inside of the rim.
**Q: How much will the tow cost out of pocket if I have no roadside coverage?**
A: A local tow of 5 to 10 miles typically runs $75 to $150. A flatbed in a metro area usually adds $20 to $50 over a basic wheel-lift rate. After-hours and weekend calls push that higher.
**Q: Is it safe to stay in my car while waiting for the tow on a highway?**
A: If you are on a busy highway shoulder, no. Get out and stand behind the guardrail, away from the car on the traffic side. If you are on a low-traffic road at night with no guardrail and the area feels unsafe, staying belted inside the car may be the better call. Use judgment based on traffic speed and visibility.
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*Need roadside help? Visit [Tow With The Flow](https://towwiththeflow.com/flat-tire-on-spare-already-how-to-get-towed-safely/) for real answers when your car breaks down.*
Flat Tire on Spare Already: How to Get Towed Safely
Photo: Pexels