Stay seated in your car
\nTurn on your flashing hazard warning lights
\nCall 911.<\/p>\n
If your car didn\u2019t make it all the way to the shoulder and you\u2019re still in a lane (or if there is no shoulder), stick to the same plan and be extra-sure to turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers that you\u2019re stationary.<\/p>\n
By calling 911 first, drivers can \u201creport to the California Highway Patrol what their location is,\u201d said Lori Shepherd, Caltrans\u2019 public information officer for San Francisco County.<\/p>\n
CHP will contact the Caltrans Dispatch Communication Center, which then sends out a tow truck. This applies both during the day and night, no matter the time.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s normal to be stressed when you have car trouble like this, and you might also be panicking about the traffic your stall is already causing.<\/p>\n
So if you don\u2019t know what to say when you call 911, just focus on telling the operator where you are. \u201cRemember, \u2018911, I\u2019m on the Bay Bridge, I need to talk to CHP\u2019 \u2014 and that says everything,\u201d Shepherd said.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/250129-BayBridgeCables-16-BL_qed.jpg\")
Two lanes are closed as crews perform routine cable inspection and maintenance on the San Francisco\/Oakland Bay Bridge\u2019s western span on Jan. 29, 2025. This work is part of a Caltrans effort to ensure the bridge\u2019s long-term safety and durability, as the steel cables are inspected for corrosion and other potential issues. (Beth LaBerge\/KQED)<\/p>\n
You should also mention which span of the Bay Bridge you\u2019re on, and in which direction. The western span is near San Francisco, while the eastern span is the newer portion closer to Oakland.<\/p>\n
Caltrans asks that you do not exit your vehicle unless directed by emergency personnel once they arrive.<\/p>\n
Should I call my own tow truck?<\/p>\n
No: You cannot call a private tow company to pick you up from the Bay Bridge \u2014 or any other bridge managed by Caltrans \u2014 unless cleared by an agency supervisor. \u201cAnd that would be in an extreme situation,\u201d Shepherd said.<\/p>\n
This is because outside tow companies are not allowed within the toll zone of any of these other bridges, unless they receive that Caltrans clearance.<\/p>\n
You may, however, need a tow truck later after you and your car have been removed from the bridge \u2014 more on that below.<\/p>\n
How long till help arrives?<\/p>\n
\u201cCHP considers breakdowns on the Bay Bridge an emergency,\u201d Shepherd said.<\/p>\n
After you call, Caltrans will send a tow truck from one of its dispatch centers located near the toll crossing zones on either side of the bridge.<\/p>\n
![\"Men](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/RS58520_063_KQED_WoodStreetOaklandCalTrans_09082022-qut.jpg\")
CalTrans workers clear garbage from the Wood Street encampment in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2022. (Beth LaBerge\/KQED)<\/p>\n
\u201cThey won\u2019t have to come from very far to get a motorist,\u201d added Shepherd.<\/p>\n
The Caltrans emergency tow service is completely free, but the tow truck will not take you and your car home. The truck driver\u2019s job is to remove your car from the freeway and move it to a legal parking space, one exit after the toll crossing on whichever side of the bridge works best for you.<\/p>\n
How much will all of this cost me?<\/p>\n
After the Caltrans emergency tow service gets you off the bridge for free, getting back home or to an auto shop is the part where you may have to call a private tow company.<\/p>\n
And \u201call services provided by those outside tow companies will come at a cost that is not controlled by Caltrans or the state of California,\u201d Shepherd said.<\/p>\n
What if I have AAA membership or another form of roadside assistance?<\/p>\n
If you get roadside assistance through AAA or your auto insurance, call them directly and make sure to tell them when you need to leave the spot where the Caltrans emergency tow service dropped you off.<\/p>\n
If you don\u2019t have AAA membership already, the organization said that drivers can access instant roadside assistance by buying a \u201cClassic Membership\u201d package<\/a> along with a $75 fee.<\/p>\n