Missouri roadside breakdown guidance
MoDOT guidance for disabled vehicles, visibility, and roadside safety.
Tommy'sRoad RescueCall live dispatch816-588-8888Kansas City service
Roadside Assistance
Call live Kansas City dispatch at 816-588-8888 for current availability.
When this service may be appropriate
Roadside assistance can solve some common no-move situations without towing. Live dispatch first checks the problem, location, vehicle, access, and whether the scene is safe enough for roadside work.
- A likely depleted 12-volt battery that may respond to a jump start
- A flat tire when the vehicle has a usable, correct spare and is on a stable, safely accessible surface
- Emergency fuel delivery when the correct fuel type can be confirmed
- A vehicle lockout when the requester can show authority to access the vehicle
- A roadside problem that may still require towing after the first assessment
What to tell dispatch
- An exact map pin or address, road and direction of travel, nearest exit or cross street, and which shoulder or lot entrance
- Vehicle year, make, model, fuel type, current warning lights, and a short description of what happened
- For a tire: the damaged tire, spare type and condition, wheel-lock key, and whether the vehicle is on level ground
- For a lockout: where the keys are and how you can verify ownership or permission
- Whether anyone is injured, the vehicle is in a live lane, or there is smoke, fire, leaking fluid, traffic exposure, or another immediate hazard
Price and service limits
Roadside-assistance prices depend on the requested service, exact location, vehicle, access, materials, and conditions. The advertised $125 towing starting price is not a universal roadside-service price. Ask live dispatch to confirm the service and price before assignment.
- A jump start is not a battery or charging-system diagnosis and cannot guarantee the vehicle will start or keep running
- A spare-tire change requires a usable, compatible spare and a safe working surface; it is not mobile tire repair
- Fuel delivery does not guarantee that a vehicle will restart, and wrong-fuel or electric-vehicle situations require a different plan
- Lost keys, high-security systems, damaged locks, and some lockouts may require a locksmith or a tow
- Truck, technician, equipment, and material availability are confirmed for each request
Scene safety
Call 911 first for injury, fire, smoke, a child or vulnerable person alone inside a locked vehicle, a hazardous spill, or a vehicle blocking active traffic. Do not attempt a tire change or other repair where traffic, unstable ground, weather, or vehicle position makes the work unsafe.
Questions drivers ask
What roadside services can I request?
You can ask dispatch about jump starts, spare-tire changes, emergency fuel delivery, vehicle lockouts, and battery-related help. Dispatch confirms current availability, job fit, and price before assigning service.
Can I call for roadside assistance overnight?
Yes. Live dispatch answers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. An answered call does not guarantee that every service or piece of equipment is immediately available; dispatch will give you the current answer.
What if I do not have a usable spare tire?
Tell dispatch before a truck is assigned. If the vehicle has no compatible, safe spare—or the wheel, suspension, or tire is too damaged for a spare installation—the appropriate next step may be towing rather than a tire change.
Does a jump start guarantee my car will run?
No. A jump start may help when a 12-volt battery is depleted, but it cannot repair a failed battery, alternator, starter, wiring problem, or other mechanical fault. Towing may still be needed.
Will emergency fuel delivery make the vehicle start?
Not necessarily. Dispatch needs the correct fuel type, and a vehicle may remain disabled because of a battery, fuel-system, mechanical, or other problem. Do not start a vehicle after the wrong fuel has been added; explain the situation to dispatch.
What authorization is needed for a lockout?
Be prepared to show identification and proof that you own the vehicle or have the owner's permission. Some locks, keys, and security systems may be outside the available roadside service and require another solution.
Official and primary resources
Kansas crash and roadside guidance
KDOT safety steps for a crash or disabled vehicle on Kansas roads.
Missouri Traveler Information Map
Live Missouri road conditions, incidents, work zones, and weather layers.
KanDrive
Live Kansas road conditions, closures, cameras, construction, and weather.
NHTSA tire safety
Federal tire-maintenance, warning-sign, and recall information.
NHTSA heatstroke prevention
Immediate safety guidance when a child is in or around a hot vehicle.
External resources are provided for convenience. Tommy's is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of those organizations.
Safety first.
If anyone is injured, in immediate danger, facing a fire or hazardous spill, or blocking an active traffic lane, call 911 first. Move only when you can do so without entering traffic or increasing the danger.
Need help now?
Call live dispatch. An online form or email does not dispatch a truck.