Flat tire change

A roadside tire change swaps a flat for your spare. It is not a repair and it does not include a new tire.

What to expect and how it is billed

If you have no usable spare — increasingly common on new vehicles — the call becomes a tow, at tow pricing. Check what is actually in your trunk before you need it, because a sealant kit is not a spare.

How to avoid being overcharged

Get the numbers before the unit is dispatched: base fee, per-mile charge where it applies, and any surcharge for hours or difficulty. Ask for an itemised receipt. If the tow was non-consensual — police-ordered or from private property — your state or city may publish a cap, and the operator should be able to tell you which schedule it is billing under.

Your rights · Costs · Calculators

Sources (1)
  1. Towing and Recovery Association of AmericaTraining and certification levels (accessed 2026-08-17) T2