https://towwiththeflow.com/tags/tow-after-accident/Recent content in Tow After Accident on Tow With The FlowHugoen-usTue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://towwiththeflow.com/airbag-deployed-car-still-drivable-or-need-tow/Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://towwiththeflow.com/airbag-deployed-car-still-drivable-or-need-tow/<pre tabindex="0"><code> &gt; **Quick Answer:** If your airbag deployed, assume the car needs a tow until you confirm otherwise. Deployment means a serious impact occurred. The car may steer and run, but critical safety systems are disabled and sensors may be damaged. Do not drive it if the windshield is cracked badly, any wheel is misaligned, fluid is leaking, or you feel any handling pull. When in doubt, call a tow. ## What To Do 1. **Get out of traffic first.** If the car moves, pull it to the shoulder or a parking lot. Turn on your hazard lights. Do not stand between your car and moving traffic. If you are on a freeway, [your priority is getting clear of moving lanes fast](/car-broke-down-on-freeway-what-to-do/). 2. **Check yourself and any passengers.** Airbag deployment can cause burns, abrasions, or temporary vision issues from the deployment gas. If anyone is injured, call 911 before anything else. 3. **Walk around the entire car before you touch anything.** Look for: bent wheels or tires, fluid puddles under the car (coolant, oil, brake fluid), a frame that looks visually twisted, or a hood that won&#39;t latch down. Any of these means you are not driving it. 4. **Check the windshield and glass.** A badly cracked windshield is a legal and safety issue. In most states, driving with a shattered windshield is a moving violation. If yours is compromised, add it to the no-drive list. 5. **Try the steering wheel with the car in park.** Start the car if it will start. With your foot on the brake, gently turn the wheel left and right. If it pulls, grinds, or feels loose, stop. Steering or suspension damage after an impact is common and completely invisible from the outside. 6. **Look at every warning light on the dashboard.** After airbag deployment, you will see at minimum the SRS (supplemental restraint system) light. That one you already know about. Watch for brake system warnings, ABS lights, and power steering alerts. Multiple warnings together signal that sensors or modules took damage in the crash. 7. **Decide clearly: drive or tow.** The car is okay to move a short distance (like to a nearby shop) only if all of the following are true: no fluid leaks, wheels are straight and tires are intact, steering feels normal, no brake or structural damage is visible, and you are traveling less than a few miles at low speed. If any condition is not met, call a tow truck. **One specific tip:** Even if the car seems fine, do not get on a highway with a post-deployment vehicle. The airbags will not deploy again. If you hit something a second time, even at lower speed, you have no supplemental protection.  *Photo: Pexels* ## What It Might Cost Towing after an accident typically runs $75 to $175 for a local haul. If your insurance covers the accident, [towing is often included, but check whether your deductible applies](/insurance-covers-towing-after-accident-deductible/). If you are in a high-cost metro or need a longer haul, that number goes up. Get the car to a shop first and sort the bill second. Airbag replacement itself is a separate issue. Plan on $1,000 to $2,000 per bag for parts and labor, plus the cost of the crash sensor module and clock spring. This is not a DIY repair.  *Photo: Pexels* ## Stay Safe - Do not touch a deployed airbag with bare hands right after deployment. The material and residue from the inflator can irritate skin and eyes. - If you smell something burning after deployment, get out. The propellant charge creates heat and a small amount of smoke. That is normal, but burning plastic or electrical smells are not. - Keep other people away from the car until you have confirmed no fuel leak. - If a fluid leak is near the exhaust, do not start the car again. - If police respond to the scene, let them document the damage before you move the vehicle. - At night or in a bad location, stay inside the car with your seatbelt on and doors locked until help arrives. [Waiting safely on a dark roadway has its own risks.](/car-died-on-highway-shoulder-safe-to-wait-for-tow/) --- *Need roadside help? Visit [Tow With The Flow](https://towwiththeflow.com/airbag-deployed-car-still-drivable-or-need-tow/) for real answers when your car breaks down.* </code></pre>