The distinction is simple: roadside assistance is meant to get your vehicle drivable where it sits. Towing moves the vehicle somewhere it can be repaired.
Roadside assistance usually fits when...
- A tire is flat and there's a usable spare.
- The battery is dead and the vehicle is otherwise fine.
- Keys are locked inside.
- You're out of fuel.
A tow is usually the answer when...
- The engine won't run, or won't stay running after a jump.
- The vehicle is overheating or leaking significantly.
- There's no usable spare, or a wheel itself is damaged.
- The transmission won't engage.
- Something feels mechanically wrong and driving it would be a gamble.
When you're not sure
Call and describe what happened. That's the job of the person answering the phone. Plenty of FCRA calls start as one service and become another once the driver sees the vehicle — a tire change that turns into a tow because the wheel is bent, or a jump that reveals a charging problem.
One call covers both. Reach FCRA at (404) 915-3463, any hour.
Related service
Roadside Assistance in Atlanta