Towing · Columbus, OH
24/7 Emergency Towing Across Columbus and Central Ohio
When a car quits on the freeway or in a dark lot, one call reaches a person who can send a flatbed and tell you exactly what the job will cost.
- Open 24/7, 365 days
- Flatbed-only fleet
- Price quoted before dispatch
- Licensed & insured
Emergency towing is for the moments that can't wait until morning: a transmission that let go on I-70 at rush hour, a car that won't start in a hospital garage at 2 a.m., a crash that left your sedan sitting crooked in a turn lane. Auto Lyft USA answers the phone around the clock, every day of the year, and the person who picks up is a dispatcher in Columbus who can put a truck on the road while you are still talking.
Every vehicle we move rides on a flatbed carrier. That is useful in an emergency because you don't have to know anything about your drivetrain, whether the car is all-wheel drive, or whether a damaged wheel will still roll. The deck takes the whole car, so the driver can load it and get you off the shoulder without a debate about the right equipment.
Every truck starts its shift at our 1620 Harrisburg Pike yard, a short drive from the I-70 and I-71 split and the I-270 outerbelt. How soon one reaches you depends on where you are, the hour and what traffic is doing, so you get a live estimate from dispatch on that call rather than a number printed on a website. You also hear the complete price before anyone is sent, and you can say no.
When to call
Situations where emergency towing is the right call
Stalled in a live lane
A dead engine on I-71 or SR-315 with nowhere to coast is the most dangerous place to sit. Call 911 first if you can't get out of traffic, then call us.
Smoke, steam or a warning light
Overheating, a burning smell or an oil pressure light means the engine should stop now. Driving another mile can turn a hose into a rebuild.
Crash with no injuries
Once police have what they need, we load the car, sweep loose glass and plastic, and take it where you choose. More on our accident towing page.
Stranded late at night
A car that dies after a late shift or outside a closed store leaves you stuck in the cold. The dispatcher stays on the line while the truck is assigned.
A tire that can't be changed
A blowout with no spare, a locking lug key that went missing or a bent rim gets the car on the deck instead of limping on a donut.
Stuck off the pavement
Slid into a ditch or a snowy median along US-33? A winch-out pulls it back, and if it won't drive afterward, the flatbed takes it.
On scene
How our drivers handle it
You call, we ask the essentials
Where you are, which direction you were headed, what the car is, whether anyone is hurt and where it should go. A cross street or mile marker helps most.
Price and timing up front
The dispatcher tells you the full cost and a realistic arrival window based on live traffic. Nothing rolls until you agree.
The driver secures the scene
On arrival the truck parks to shield your car, lights and cones go out, and the driver walks around the vehicle and takes photos.
Loaded and delivered
The car is winched onto the deck and strapped at the tires, then taken to your shop, your home or our yard if the shop is closed.
While you wait for the truck
Staying safe matters more than the car. Freeway shoulders around Columbus are narrow in places, especially on the I-670 stretch downtown and the older parts of I-71 near the Short North, and drivers drift onto them more than you would expect.
- Turn on your hazard lights and, if it is dark, the dome light so other drivers can see the car is occupied.
- If you can get out on the side away from traffic and stand behind a guardrail, do that. If not, stay buckled in.
- Don't stand between your car and the moving lanes, and don't try to push the car on a highway.
- Have your keys, registration and the address of the destination shop ready for the driver.
- If your phone battery is low, tell the dispatcher early so they can text the details instead of calling back.
When an emergency is bigger than a car
Our four carriers are light-duty trucks built for cars, crossovers, minivans and pickups. If the vehicle in trouble is a box truck, a loaded work van over the weight limit, an RV or a semi, we don't pretend otherwise. The dispatcher arranges the job through a partner heavy-wrecker company and tells you who is coming. See heavy-duty towing for how those calls work.
Some problems don't need a tow at all. A dead battery, a lockout or an empty tank can often be fixed where you sit, which is cheaper and faster. Ask about roadside assistance when you call and the dispatcher will tell you honestly which one makes sense.
Where the emergency calls come from
A lot of our late-night work happens on the interstates: I-70 east toward Reynoldsburg and west past Hilltop, the I-71 corridor down toward Grove City, and the full loop of I-270. We also get regular calls from the retail strips on Morse Road, Broad Street and Hamilton Road, and from neighborhoods all over the city. Check the service areas page for the full list of towns.
Emergency Towing: questions and answers
Do you offer emergency towing at 3 a.m. on a holiday?
Yes. Someone answers the dispatch line every hour of every day, including Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve. Overnight and holiday calls may carry an added charge, and if they do, the dispatcher includes it in the single price you hear before a truck is assigned.
How long will an emergency towing truck take to reach me?
It depends on how far you are from the nearest available truck and what traffic is doing at that moment. We don't publish a promised arrival time because a snowstorm or a closed lane on I-270 changes everything. The dispatcher looks at where the trucks are and gives you an honest live estimate on the call.
What does an emergency tow cost?
The price depends on the distance to reach you, the miles to the destination, whether it is a late-night call and any added work like winching or cleanup. The dispatcher quotes the full job before dispatch, so there is no surprise at drop-off. Our rates page explains how each part of a bill is figured.
Should I call 911 or a tow company first?
If anyone is hurt, if the car is blocking a travel lane, or if you feel unsafe where you are, call 911 first. Police can close a lane and protect the scene. Once you are safe, call us at (614) 633-8163 and we will coordinate with the officers on the scene.
Can you tow my car if I can't stay with it?
Often, yes. If you need to leave with a ride or an ambulance, tell the dispatcher where the keys will be and where the car is going. The driver photographs the car before loading so you have a record of its condition even though you weren't there.
Can I ride with the driver in an emergency?
Usually one adult can ride in the cab, which helps when you are stranded on a highway with no other way home. Mention it when you call so the dispatcher can confirm there is a seat. Kids can only ride if you bring a proper seat for them, and the driver has the final say on safety.
Where will you take my car in the middle of the night?
Wherever you want it. If your mechanic is closed, we can drop it in their after-hours lot if they allow that, or keep it at our yard on Harrisburg Pike and deliver it once they open. You don't have to decide the long-term plan while standing on a shoulder.
Do you handle emergency tows for trucks and RVs?
Our own trucks are light-duty flatbeds, so we carry cars, SUVs, minivans and pickups. For box trucks, buses, RVs and semis we arrange the tow through a partner heavy-wrecker company and stay in touch with you until it is done. The dispatcher will say up front which route your call is taking.
What information should I have ready when I call?
Your location as precisely as you can give it, the year, make and model, what happened, whether the car rolls and steers, and the address where it should go. If you are on a highway, tell us the closest exit number or mile marker and which way you were driving so the driver finds you without backtracking.
Will my insurance cover an emergency tow?
Many auto policies include towing or roadside coverage, and some credit cards and new-car warranties do too. We can give you an itemized receipt to submit for reimbursement. Call your insurer if you are unsure what your plan covers; your agent can usually answer that in one call.
Can you tow a car that is still in the ditch?
Yes. The driver can winch the car back onto solid ground first, then load it on the deck if it can't be driven. Let the dispatcher know the car is off the road so the extra recovery work is part of the price you hear before we leave.
What if my car breaks down in a parking garage?
Many downtown and hospital garages have low ceilings that a flatbed can't enter. The driver will move the car to the street or an open level with dollies or a jump start, then load it there. Our parking garage towing page explains how those jobs go.
Is an emergency tow handled differently from a scheduled one?
The truck and the loading are the same. The difference is priority: an urgent call goes to the closest free driver, and the dispatcher keeps you updated while you wait. If your car is safely parked at home and can sit until tomorrow, a scheduled pickup through the request form may be easier.
What emergency towing costs
| Charge | Rate | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Hook-up | $125 per tow | Loading and securing the vehicle on the flatbed. |
| Loaded miles | $7 per mile | Each mile the vehicle rides on the deck. |
| En-route miles | $4 per mile | Miles from our yard to the pickup. |
Surcharges where they apply: after hours (10 PM to 6 AM) +$150 · Saturday or Sunday +$50 · interstate shoulder +$75. Ohio sales tax is added for the pickup county. Veterans get 10% off with a military or VA ID. Full details on the rates page, or price your exact trip with the estimate tool.
Need emergency towing now?
One call: your location, your vehicle, your destination. We price it on the spot.
Related services
- Accident Towing
Wreck cleared, debris swept, car delivered to the body shop or our yard.
- Roadside Assistance
Jump, unlock, tire swap or gas, with no membership and no annual fee.
- Winch-Out & Ditch Recovery
Stuck in a ditch, snowbank, mud or a soft yard? We pull it back to solid ground.
- Car & SUV Towing
Everyday light-duty tows for sedans, crossovers, minivans and half-ton pickups.
Towns we cover for this
We handle emergency towing calls in Columbus and every town on our service area list, including:
Everything else we do
Towing
Roadside help
Specialty transport
Where the trucks start
Our flatbeds are based on Harrisburg Pike (US-62) on Columbus's southwest side, and the phone is answered around the clock, 365 days a year.
1620 Harrisburg Pike
Columbus, OH 43223
Phone: (614) 633-8163
Email: lisa@autolyftusa.online
Directions to the yard