A breakdown does not always end with a tow truck. Sometimes a flat tire, an empty tank or a weak battery can be fixed on the spot, and you can drive away. This page explains which problems roadside help can often handle in Santa Ynez, and when a tow is the safer choice.
When you call (805) 693-7957, you are connected with licensed and insured local contractors. Tell them what happened and where you are, and they can help you work out the next step.
Get safe before you call
Your first job is to get out of traffic. If you can, pull fully off the road, turn on your hazard lights and keep away from passing cars. Do this before you try anything else.
On a highway shoulder, stay inside with your seat belt on if you cannot get safely away from the car. If anyone is hurt, call 911 first.
Roadside help that can avoid a tow
Several common problems can be handled where you stopped. Here is what that can look like.
Flat tire change with your spare
If you have a usable spare, a roadside technician can put it on for you. This helps if you have no jack, the lug nuts are stuck, or the shoulder is too tight to work on safely. Check that your spare is inflated, because a flat spare means the car may need a tow after all.
Fuel delivery
Running dry happens, especially on long, quiet stretches between towns. A technician can bring fuel to you so you can reach a station under your own power. Tell the dispatcher what type of fuel your vehicle takes.
Jump start
If the car clicks or does nothing when you turn the key, a jump start may bring it back to life. A separate page covers jump starts in more detail, including when a battery should be replaced.
Minor help to get moving
Some small problems do not need a tow. Describe what you see and hear, and the dispatcher can tell you whether someone can fix it on site or whether the car should go to a shop.
When roadside help is not enough
Some problems are not safe to fix by the road. A tow is the better choice if any of these apply: Call (805) 693-7957 to reach a local provider.
- The car will not roll or steer.
- A tire is badly damaged and you have no good spare.
- You see smoke, smell burning, or a warning light tells you to stop driving.
- The engine stalls again soon after a jump start.
- You were in a collision and the car is not safe to drive.
Driving on a damaged car can turn a small repair into a large one. If you are unsure, say so on the call and describe the symptoms. Your owner's manual may also say how your vehicle should be towed, so keep it handy.
Trouble spots around the valley
The Santa Ynez Valley sits between the Santa Ynez Mountains to the south and the San Rafael Mountains to the north. Many drives here are on two-lane roads. State Route 246, which becomes Mission Drive in Solvang, is mostly two lanes between Buellton, Solvang and Santa Ynez. Pulling over safely takes some care on roads like that.
State Route 154, also called the Chumash Highway, is a different situation. It climbs through Los Padres National Forest and over San Marcos Pass, topping out near 2,000 feet. It has only occasional passing lanes, and a breakdown there is far from town. Give the dispatcher your direction of travel and the nearest landmark, such as Lake Cachuma, so help can find you.
On rural roads such as Refugio Road, Alisal Road, Ballard Canyon Road or Alamo Pintado Road, there may be few landmarks. Note the nearest cross street or a nearby ranch or winery sign. Summers here are warm and dry, with no average month above about 72 degrees F. Even so, a long wait beside a road with no shade is uncomfortable, so keep water in the car.
What to have ready when you call
A few details help the dispatcher send the right help:
- Your exact location, including cross streets, highway direction and any nearby landmark.
- Your vehicle's year, make and model.
- Whether the car rolls and steers.
- What happened, and where you want the car taken if it needs a tow.
If you are towing a horse trailer, driving an RV or moving a box truck, say so right away. Heavy vehicles need equipment matched to their weight and length, and the dispatcher will ask for those details first.
Check your coverage first
Many auto insurance policies, credit cards and motor-club memberships include roadside or towing coverage. It is worth a quick look before you pay out of pocket. If you plan to submit the cost for reimbursement, ask for an itemized receipt. Payment methods vary by provider, so confirm them on the call.
Help across the service area
Help is available in Santa Ynez, Ballard, Jonata Park and Rancho Santa Ynez, and in nearby Solvang, Los Olivos, Buellton and Los Alamos. It also covers the rest of Santa Barbara County. If you are stuck near U.S. 101 or anywhere along the valley's main roads, call (805) 693-7957 and describe what is going on. You will be connected with local help who can tell you whether the problem can be fixed on the spot or needs a tow.