In immediate danger? Move away from traffic if you can and call 911 for injuries, fire or a hazardous obstruction.
Public motorist assistance
Free roadside assistance programs by state.
These programs can provide limited no-cost help on covered highways. They are not one uniform service in every state: the operator may be a state DOT, city, county, turnpike authority or regional traffic agency.
40verified programs
32states represented
50 states + DCjurisdictions reviewed
How the system works
Not every program is statewide.
Federal Highway Administration guidance describes service patrols as route-based traffic-incident and motorist-assistance operations. State transportation departments commonly run them, but local governments, toll authorities and contracted operators also do.
This nationwide review covers every state plus Washington, DC. A program is listed only when current public evidence supports the operator, coverage and no-cost or public-assistance status. A state without a verified listing does not prove that no local help exists.
Official evidence that does not publish enough current cost, route, hour or access detail is shown separately rather than being turned into an unsupported “free roadside assistance” claim.
Source check completed October 6, 2026. “Evidence incomplete” means an official patrol reference exists, but the current public facts do not yet support a reliable free-service listing.
DCDistrict of ColumbiaNo qualifying current program verified
This is a point-in-time editorial finding, not a claim that assistance can never exist in an unlisted state. Construction-zone, event, local-agency and toll-road patrols can start or stop without a national announcement.
Official sources checked
Verified public roadside programs
Check the exact route, hours and limitations before relying on a program. “Free” applies only to the published covered service.
AL
Free on covered routes
Alabama Service Assistance Patrol
ALDOT's Alabama Service Assistance Patrol provides free roadside help and incident support on prescribed interstate routes in five metropolitan regions.
Coverage
Prescribed interstate routes in the Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa regions.
Request help
ASAP vehicles patrol their assigned routes and are coordinated by regional traffic-management centers. Use ALGO Traffic for current coverage information and call 911 when a breakdown creates immediate danger.
ADOT's Incident Response Unit patrols Phoenix-area freeways to protect incident scenes, relocate disabled vehicles and provide limited motorist assistance.
Coverage
Phoenix metropolitan freeways and other locations when assigned for incident response; this is not statewide on-demand roadside coverage.
Request help
The unit is dispatched through ADOT traffic operations and public-safety channels rather than a published direct request line. Call 911 when a disabled vehicle creates immediate danger.
California's Freeway Service Patrol uses privately owned tow trucks to provide no-charge help on designated congested urban freeway routes.
Coverage
Designated routes in participating regions, including the Sacramento area, Bay Area, Central Valley, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Inland Empire and parts of the Central Coast.
Request help
From a mobile phone or freeway call box, call 511. Tell the operator the freeway, direction, nearest exit or landmark and vehicle description.
CDOT Safety Patrol provides no-charge basic help and traffic-incident support on designated Front Range and I-70 mountain corridors.
Coverage
Published Denver and Front Range metro routes plus the I-70 mountain corridor between Morrison and Vail.
Request help
Patrol vehicles stop when they encounter a disabled motorist or are dispatched through traffic operations. CDOT does not publish a direct consumer call-out number; call 911 for immediate danger.
INDOT Hoosier Helpers provides free basic motorist assistance and traffic-incident support on selected Indiana interstate corridors.
Coverage
Selected interstates in central, northwest and southern Indiana.
Request help
Call 1-855-INDOT4U (1-855-463-6848). If the vehicle is within an active coverage area, the call center can transfer the request to dispatch. Call 911 for emergencies.
NYSDOT's Highway Emergency Local Patrol program provides free assistance on selected highway beats in seven New York metropolitan areas.
Coverage
Selected routes on Long Island, in New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley, and around Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany.
Request help
HELP vehicles patrol their assigned beats and may be dispatched by police or a transportation management center. NYSDOT does not publish a HELP request phone number; call 911 for an emergency.
NCDOT's Incident Management Assistance Patrol, also called Safety Patrol, provides free roadside help and incident support on covered major highway routes.
Coverage
Most major North Carolina highway routes shown on NCDOT's Safety Patrol map; coverage is not every road in the state.
Request help
Dial *HP from a mobile phone while in a covered area. Give the route, direction, nearest exit or mile marker and a description of the vehicle.
RIDOT Roadside Responders patrol Providence-area highways during weekday peaks and provide limited no-cost assistance.
Coverage
I-95 from the Massachusetts line to the Airport Connector, all of I-195, Route 146 from I-95 to Route 123, and all of Route 10 in Cranston and Providence.
Request help
This is not an on-call service. Pull fully onto the shoulder when possible, contact a normal roadside provider, and call 911 if the situation is dangerous.
TDOT HELP operators support stranded motorists and manage incidents on designated urban and rural interstate routes throughout Tennessee.
Coverage
Designated routes around Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville plus more than 870 miles of rural interstates across TDOT's four regions.
Request help
HELP has no direct statewide request number. Operators patrol and are dispatched through traffic operations and public-safety channels. Outside HELP patrol areas, TDOT directs motorists to *THP (*847) for emergency aid; call 911 for immediate danger.
North Texas MAPP coordinates free assistance for stranded motorists on covered highways, toll roads and managed lanes across the Dallas–Fort Worth region.
Coverage
Covered routes in Dallas and Tarrant Counties and portions of Collin, Denton, Ellis, Parker, Johnson and Rockwall Counties.
Request help
Use the phone number published for the relevant patrol operator or corridor. If a vehicle is exposed to moving traffic or another immediate hazard, call 911.
VDOT's Safety Service Patrol provides free basic assistance and incident support on scheduled sections of Virginia's interstate system.
Coverage
About 1,079 interstate miles, including key sections of I-95, I-64, I-81, I-85 and I-66.
Request help
Patrols operate scheduled routes and are dispatched through traffic and public-safety operations. The official program page does not publish a direct SSP request number. Call 911 for immediate danger.
WSDOT Incident Response Team vehicles respond to state-highway incidents, including disabled motorists with flat tires or no fuel.
Coverage
State highways where WSDOT Incident Response resources are deployed.
Request help
Dial 911 for assistance on the roadway or to report a disabled vehicle, collision or lane hazard. Dispatch sends the appropriate responder, which may include IRT.
WisDOT Safety Patrol uses specially equipped patrol vehicles to provide free, limited help to motorists involved in minor crashes or breakdowns on selected high-volume highways and major work-zone corridors.
Coverage
Current published coverage includes sections of I-41, WIS 441, I-90/94 and I-94 in Milwaukee, Outagamie, Brown, Columbia and St. Croix counties. Separate sheriff and special-event teams can cover other scheduled locations.
Request help
There is no public Safety Patrol booking line. Operators make regular rounds through active coverage areas looking for disabled vehicles. WisDOT tells motorists to move out of traffic when possible, remain in the vehicle and keep seat belts fastened; call 911 when the breakdown or incident creates immediate danger.
Call emergency services for injuries, fire, a crash blocking traffic or a vehicle exposed to moving traffic. Public patrol assistance is not guaranteed and is not a substitute for emergency response.
Free roadside assistance programs: identify the road, direction of travel and a safe stopping place before requesting help.Match the roadside callout in United States to the vehicle problem and equipment required.Confirm coverage, total price, arrival estimate and destination before authorizing service in United States.
