Irvine, CA ยท 24 hours
Towing in Irvine, CA
Towing Irvine is a local tow operator based in Irvine, answering calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call (682) 427-5421 for a tow truck in Irvine, a flatbed out of a parking structure, accident recovery, or roadside help on the 5, the 405 or a surface street.
Open 24 hours. Your call rings a local tow operator, not a call center.
Irvine
- 1You callA local Irvine operator answers, not a call center.
- 2Location and vehicleTell us the street or freeway direction, the vehicle, and what happened.
- 3Truck matchedFlatbed or wheel-lift, picked for your car and where it sits.
- 4Loaded and movedYour car goes to your shop, your home, or another city.
What does a towing service in Irvine handle?
A towing service in Irvine moves vehicles that won't start, won't run safely, or can't be driven after a crash. Towing Irvine answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and calls ring a local tow operator based in Irvine instead of a call center.
Most calls are breakdowns. The engine quits on Jamboree Rd, the transmission slips on the way up Culver Dr, or the car just won't turn over in a driveway in Woodbridge. Those are emergency towing calls, and the truck comes to wherever the car is sitting.
The other big share is accident recovery. After a collision on Irvine Center Dr or Alton Pkwy, a car that can't be driven has to be cleared and taken somewhere. We load it and take it to the body shop or your home, wherever you tell us.
Vehicles we tow in Irvine
- Cars and SUVs
- Light trucks
- Motorcycles, on a flatbed
- Some commercial vehicles (call and describe it first)
If the car only needs a jump, a tire change or fuel, you may not need a tow at all. See roadside assistance in Irvine for what can be fixed where the car sits.
What should you do if you break down on the 5 or the 405 in Irvine?
Get to the shoulder or the next off-ramp if the car will still roll. If you can't get out safely, stay in the car with your seat belt on and call for a tow. Call 911 first if anyone is hurt or the car is stopped in a live lane.
Irvine sits on two of the busiest freeways in Orange County. The I-5 and the I-405 meet at the El Toro Y, the 5/405 split at the southeast end of the city, and traffic there moves fast and merges hard. A stalled car near the split is a bad place to stand around.
On the freeway
- Hazards on as soon as you lose power.
- Ease right toward the shoulder, or take the off-ramp if you can reach it.
- If traffic is close on the driver's side, don't open that door.
- When you call, give the freeway, the direction, and the nearest exit or sign you passed, such as Jeffrey Rd, Culver Dr, Sand Canyon Ave or Jamboree Rd.
On SR-133, SR-73, SR-261 or SR-241
Same steps apply. Tell the dispatcher which road you're on and the last exit or overpass you saw. If you broke down on the 55 near the Irvine Business Complex, say if you're north or south of the 405.
Once the car is somewhere safe, the tow truck can hook it up and take it off the freeway to a shop or your home.
Service matrix
Which towing services reach each city around Irvine?
Every service below runs in every listed city, day and night. Tap a check to read more.
Do you need flatbed or wheel-lift towing in Irvine?
Wheel-lift towing lifts one end of the car and rolls it on the other wheels, which works for many standard breakdowns. Flatbed towing carries the whole vehicle on the bed, which suits all-wheel-drive cars, motorcycles, low cars, and vehicles damaged in a crash.
Both are standard ways to tow a car in Irvine, and the dispatcher will ask a few questions to pick the right one. Tell us the make and model, whether it's all-wheel drive, and whether any wheels are damaged or locked.
When a flatbed makes sense
- All-wheel-drive and many four-wheel-drive vehicles
- Motorcycles
- Lowered or low-clearance cars
- A car with a wheel or axle damaged in an accident
- Long trips between cities
When wheel-lift works
Wheel-lift trucks are shorter and easier to maneuver. They fit tight spots like apartment carports in Westpark, narrow condo lanes in University Park, and some parking structures where a long flatbed can't turn or clear the ceiling.
More detail on each option is on the flatbed towing Irvine page.
Can you get roadside assistance in Irvine instead of a tow?
Yes, if the problem can be fixed where the car sits. Roadside help in Irvine covers jump starts, flat tire changes, car lockouts and fuel delivery. A tire change uses your own spare, and if the car still won't run after that, the same call can turn into a tow.
A dead battery in a lot at Irvine Spectrum Center or a flat on Barranca Pkwy doesn't always mean the car has to go anywhere. The truck comes out, gets the car running or rolling, and you drive off.
- Jump starts for a battery that's run down. If it won't hold a charge after the jump, the car may need a shop.
- Flat tire changes using the spare you carry. Check that it's there and has air.
- Car lockouts when the keys are inside the car.
- Fuel delivery when you've run out on the road.
When you call, say what happened and what the car did right before it stopped. That tells the dispatcher whether to send a roadside call or a tow truck. Full details are on the roadside assistance Irvine page.
Can a tow truck get a car out of a parking structure in Irvine?
Often, yes, but the truck has to fit. Many parking structures in Irvine have low ceilings and tight ramps, so a wheel-lift truck is usually the tool for a car stuck inside a structure. Tell the dispatcher the level, the entrance, and any posted clearance height.
Irvine has a lot of structured parking. The big garages are at Irvine Spectrum Center, the UC Irvine campus, the office towers in the Irvine Business Complex around John Wayne Airport, and the garages near Irvine Station.
What helps on a parking structure call
- The name of the structure and which entrance you used
- The level and the nearest stair or elevator
- The clearance sign at the entrance, if you can read it
- Whether the car can roll in neutral
If a flatbed can't get in, a wheel-lift truck can usually pull the car down to street level. If the car needs a flatbed for the trip, it can be moved onto one outside the structure.
At UC Irvine and in office buildings, it helps to let the parking office or building security know a tow truck is coming, so the gate or entrance isn't a holdup.
Do towing companies in Irvine do long-distance towing?
Yes. Long-distance towing moves a car from Irvine to another city or region, and every long-distance tow is quoted by phone before the truck rolls. Give the pickup address, the drop-off address, and the vehicle so the quote covers the whole trip.
People call for long-distance towing for a few reasons. A car breaks down far from the owner's regular mechanic, someone buys a car that doesn't run, or a student at UC Irvine needs a car moved home.
A flatbed is the usual choice for a long run because the car rides on the bed and none of its wheels turn on the road.
Before you call
- Have both full addresses ready, including gate codes or business hours at the drop-off.
- Know who will be at the destination to receive the car.
- Take personal items you'll need out of the car.
For a car that also needs to go across town first, such as from a shop in Tustin back to Irvine, the same call can cover it. See towing in Tustin for local runs there.
Which cities near Irvine does the tow truck cover?
Towing Irvine covers all of Irvine plus Tustin, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Lake Forest, along with the rest of central Orange County. If you're near the edge of that area, call and give the address so the dispatcher can confirm.
Irvine borders each of these cities, and the freeways tie them together. A breakdown on the 55 might start in Costa Mesa and end in Tustin. A crash on Jamboree Rd can happen on either side of the Newport Beach line.
- Tustin towing: Old Town Tustin, Tustin Legacy, Red Hill Ave and the 5 and 55.
- Costa Mesa towing: South Coast Plaza, Harbor Blvd, Bristol St and the 405/55/73 interchange.
- Newport Beach towing: Pacific Coast Highway, Fashion Island, Balboa Peninsula and Newport Coast.
- Lake Forest towing: Lake Forest Dr, El Toro Rd, Bake Pkwy and Foothill Ranch.
We also take calls from nearby cities like Santa Ana. Inside Irvine, that means everywhere from Northwood and Orchard Hills down to Turtle Rock, Quail Hill and the Great Park neighborhoods.
What should you tell the dispatcher when you call for a tow truck in Irvine?
Start with where you are and if you're safe. Then give the vehicle and what happened. An exact location is the most useful thing you can give a tow truck in Irvine, because many streets and shopping centers look alike from the road.
Irvine's village layout means a lot of similar streets and similar-looking centers. "The shopping center on Culver" could mean more than one place. A cross street, a business name or a parking row number helps the truck find you without a second phone call.
The short list
- Your location: street and cross street, or freeway, direction and last exit
- The vehicle: year, make, model and color
- What happened: won't start, crash, flat, out of gas, locked out
- Where it's going, if it needs a tow
- A callback number in case the call drops
If you're on the freeway or in traffic, stay put and keep your phone with you. The number to call any time, day or night, is (682) 427-5421.
Coverage
Where in Irvine can you get a tow truck?
Anywhere on the map, plus the rest of Orange County. Send a pin or the nearest cross street when you call and the driver will route straight to you.
FAQ
What do drivers ask before calling a tow truck in Irvine?
Is towing in Irvine available at night?
Yes. Towing Irvine answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including nights, weekends and holidays. Calls go to a local tow operator based in Irvine, so the person who picks up knows the streets and freeways here. Call (682) 427-5421 any time your car won't start or can't be driven.
How much does a tow truck in Irvine cost?
Prices aren't listed on this site because each job depends on the vehicle, where it is, where it's going, and whether it needs a flatbed. Call (682) 427-5421 and ask the dispatcher with those details in hand. Long-distance tows are always quoted by phone before the truck rolls, so you know the cost before your car moves.
Can you tow an all-wheel-drive car in Irvine?
Yes. Most all-wheel-drive vehicles should ride on a flatbed so none of the wheels turn while the car is moving. Tell the dispatcher the year, make and model when you call, and mention if it's all-wheel drive. That way the right truck is sent the first time and the drivetrain is protected.
Do you tow motorcycles in Irvine?
Yes. Motorcycles go on a flatbed and are strapped down for the trip. Let the dispatcher know it's a motorcycle when you call, along with the location and where it's going. If the bike went down in a crash, say so, so the driver knows what to expect when loading it.
What if my car was in an accident in Irvine?
Call 911 first if anyone is hurt or a car is blocking a live lane. Once everyone is safe and police are done at the scene, call (682) 427-5421 for accident recovery. The truck will load the car and take it to a body shop, your home, or another address you choose.
Will the tow truck take my car to my own mechanic?
Yes. You choose where the car goes. Give the shop's name and address when you call, and check whether it's open. If the shop is closed, ask the dispatcher about dropping the car at your home instead, or call the shop ahead to see if they accept after-hours drop-offs.
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