You might never consider the possibility of running out of gas until it actually happens to you. After all, you know your car better than anyone, and you’ve likely taken that needle about your fuel level pretty low many times. No matter how many times you’ve cut it close and gotten away with it, the day may come when your luck runs out. Don’t panic, because you’re about to learn what to do if you run out of gas.
Park Somewhere Safe
The first thing you need to do is be sure your car is safe. If you run out of gas on a street or road, then be sure you move it to the curb or even into a parking space. Blocking traffic at any time is going to risk accidents and injuries for yourself and others.
Call Roadside Assistance
If you have roadside assistance, then they can provide many services for you. Lockouts, flat tires, and dead batteries might be the most common calls, but needing gas at the side of the road is usually one of the things they will take care of for you.
Call for Towing
If you don’t have roadside assistance that covers this, then you can call for towing on your own. Towing companies don’t just haul off vehicles after wrecks. When they can, they make vehicles operable again where they are. Sometimes that means a new tire or battery, and sometimes it means just showing up and refueling the gas tank. If your roadside assistance comes through your insurance, then you should know that using it might drive up your insurance rates. A towing company might save you money in the long run, even if it costs more at the time.
Get to a Gas Station
The final option is just getting to a gas station on your own. You can walk, call a friend, or even hail a rideshare or taxi. Hitchhiking is technically possible but not usually a good idea. Most gas stations have a portable gas container they will rent you that you can use and bring back.
The one thing you never want to do when you run out of gas is get overly embarrassed about it. You might be somewhat and understandably sensitive about how you let this happen in the first place. However, the important thing is that you take care of the situation promptly and move on.
