> **Quick Answer:** If your fuel pump just died on the highway, you cannot drive it. The engine will stall and will not restart no matter how long you wait. Get the car fully off the road onto the shoulder, turn on your hazard lights, stay in the car if traffic is close, and call a tow truck. This is a flatbed job. Do not let anyone talk you into a wheel-lift if your car is all-wheel drive or has low ground clearance.
## What to Do
1. **Coast as far right as possible.** The moment you feel the engine losing power and the accelerator stops responding, stop pressing the gas and steer hard to the right. Use whatever momentum you have to reach the shoulder or an exit ramp. A dead fuel pump gives you no second chances once the engine cuts out.
2. **Get fully off the travel lane.** "On the shoulder" means as far from the white line as you can go. Hug the guardrail or the grass. Drivers drifting at highway speed routinely hit cars that are only halfway onto the shoulder.
3. **Hazard lights on immediately.** Do this before you even stop rolling. If you have road flares or reflective triangles in the trunk, deploy them 50 to 100 feet behind the car once traffic allows you to exit safely. See [Car Died on Highway Shoulder: Is It Safe to Wait for a Tow?](/car-died-on-highway-shoulder-safe-to-wait-for-tow/) for more on positioning and when to exit the vehicle.
4. **Stay inside if traffic is fast.** If you are on an interstate with vehicles passing at 70+ mph, staying in the car with your seatbelt on is safer than standing on the shoulder. Exit through the passenger side door if you must get out.
5. **Call a tow truck.** Call 911 if you are in a dangerous position (blocking a lane, on a bridge, in a tunnel) and they will dispatch help. Otherwise call a tow company directly or your roadside assistance provider. If you do not have roadside assistance, [roadside assistance without a membership](/roadside-assistance-without-insurance-membership-cost/) is still available pay-per-use through companies like Agero, Urgently, or just a local tow company found on Google Maps.
6. **Tell the dispatcher you need a flatbed.** A failed fuel pump means the car will not roll under its own power and cannot be driven even a foot. Specify the year, make, model, drivetrain (front-wheel, rear-wheel, all-wheel), and your exact location including the highway number, direction of travel, and the nearest mile marker or exit sign.
7. **Confirm the destination before the truck arrives.** Decide now where you want it towed: a dealer, a trusted independent shop, or your home. Changing the drop-off location after the truck hooks up can cost you extra. If you are not sure which shop to use, call a couple of shops from the shoulder and ask if they can diagnose a fuel pump the same day.
8. **Do not try to restart repeatedly.** Cranking a car with a dead fuel pump does nothing except drain your battery. One or two tries to confirm it is dead is fine. After that, stop.
*Photo: Pexels*
## What It Might Cost
A highway tow in most U.S. cities runs $75 to $125 for the hook-up fee plus $3 to $7 per mile after the first few miles. A 10-mile tow typically lands between $110 and $175. Flatbed rates are sometimes $10 to $20 higher than wheel-lift. If you are stranded far from a shop, long-distance towing gets expensive fast. Check [Car Broke Down on Freeway: What to Do Right Now](/car-broke-down-on-freeway-what-to-do/) for a breakdown of what to expect at the scene.
Fuel pump replacement itself is a separate cost: $400 to $900 for most cars once you add parts and labor. In-tank pumps require dropping the fuel tank, which is the bulk of the labor cost.
*Photo: Pexels*
## Stay Safe
- Do not stand behind the car or between the car and traffic while waiting.
- Keep your phone charged. If the battery is low, stop streaming and silence non-essential notifications.
- If it is dark, keep the interior dome light off so your eyes adjust to oncoming traffic and drivers can see your hazards more clearly.
- If someone stops and offers to help, you can ask them to call a tow truck on your behalf, but do not let strangers attempt to push or move your vehicle.
- On a busy freeway after dark, consider calling 911 even if you are safely on the shoulder. Dispatched highway patrol will position their cruiser behind your car with lights running, which significantly reduces the chance of a distracted driver hitting you. For high-traffic freeway situations, [Car Broke Down on Freeway in Los Angeles: What to Do Right Now](/car-broke-down-on-freeway-in-los-angeles-what-to-do/) covers how police-assisted waits typically work.
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Fuel Pump Died on Highway: What to Do Right Now
Photo: Pexels