First, safety
- Turn on your hazards. In a ditch beside a busy road, stay buckled in the car unless it's unsafe to stay.
- If you run the engine for heat, make sure the tailpipe is clear of snow. A blocked exhaust can push carbon monoxide into the car. Run the engine in short stretches and crack a window.
- If anyone is hurt, or the car is blocking a lane, call 911 first.
What not to do
- Don't floor it. Spinning tires polish snow into ice and dig the car deeper. It can also overheat the transmission.
- Don't rock it hard by slamming between drive and reverse; that's hard on the transmission.
- Don't let someone push on a slope or stand behind a spinning tire.
- Don't tie a strap to a random part of the car. Bumpers and suspension parts aren't tow points.
Try this first (snow)
- Straighten the front wheels.
- Clear snow from around the tires and from under the car, especially in front of the drive wheels.
- Spread sand, cat litter or your floor mats in front of the drive wheels for grip.
- Turn off traction control if your manual says it helps in deep snow.
- Ease out gently in a low gear. If the wheels just spin, stop.
A ditch is a different problem
If the car went off the road into a ditch or a median, the tires often have nothing to push against, and the car may be resting on its frame. Driving out can tear up the underside. That's a job for a winch: the car is pulled back up the slope in a controlled way.
What a winch-out costs
A PS Towing & Recovery winch-out is $150 plus $4 a mile for the drive to you. After the car is back on solid ground, check for leaks, warning lights and anything dragging. If it isn't safe to drive, we put it on the flatbed and tow it: $120 plus $8 a mile. Dispatch confirms the total.
When storms hit
During and right after a big snowstorm, calls spike. Call early, stay warm and visible, and keep your phone charged. Our winter car kit checklist covers what to keep in the trunk, and (414) 254-1468 reaches dispatch 24/7.