What Do I Do if My Car Breaks Down on the Bay Bridge?

It’s a driver’s nightmare: You’re driving on the Bay Bridge from San Francisco to Oakland, and your car grinds to a halt.

But whether it’s your car’s transmission, tire pressure or you simply ran out of gas, who are you meant to call?

KQED spoke to Caltrans to learn exactly what you’re meant to do in this situation. Keep reading for what to do if your car breaks down on the Bay Bridge or other bridges around California.

(And if you’re wondering if the Bay Bridge will be closed during this weekend’s I-80 closure through San Francisco, the answer is: the bridge won’t be closed, but it will see traffic impacts Friday-Monday from this 1.6 miles of freeway closure and detours.)

Pull over, stay inside the vehicle and call 911

If you can, drive to the shoulder and once there, stay in the car. While some drivers’ instincts may be to exit their vehicle and try to see what’s wrong — or say, fix a tire themselves — officials strongly recommend you:

• Stay seated in your car
• Turn on your flashing hazard warning lights
• Call 911

If your car didn’t make it all the way to the shoulder and you’re 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’re stationary.

By calling 911 first, drivers can “report to the California Highway Patrol what their location is,” said Lori Shepherd, Caltrans’ public information officer for San Francisco County.

• Jump straight to: What if I break down on the Golden Gate Bridge?

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.

It’s 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.

It’s 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.

So if you don’t know what to say when you call 911, just focus on telling the operator where you are. “Remember, ‘911, I’m on the Bay Bridge, I need to talk to CHP’ — and that says everything,” Shepherd said.

You should also mention which span of the Bay Bridge you’re on, and in which direction. The western span is near San Francisco, while the eastern span is the newer portion closer to Oakland.

Caltrans asks that you do not exit your vehicle unless directed by emergency personnel once they arrive.

Should I call my own tow truck?

No: You cannot call a private tow company to pick you up from the Bay Bridge — or any other bridge managed by Caltrans — unless cleared by an agency supervisor. “And that would be in an extreme situation,” Shepherd said.

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.

You may, however, need a tow truck later after you and your car have been removed from the bridge — more on that below.

How long till help arrives?

“CHP considers breakdowns on the Bay Bridge an emergency,” Shepherd said.

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.

“They won’t have to come from very far to get a motorist,” added Shepherd.

The Caltrans emergency tow service is completely free, but the tow truck will not take you and your car home. The truck driver’s 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.

How much will all of this cost me?

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.

And “all services provided by those outside tow companies will come at a cost that is not controlled by Caltrans or the state of California,” Shepherd said.

What if I have a AAA membership or another form of roadside assistance?

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.

If you don’t have AAA membership already, the organization said that drivers can access instant roadside assistance by buying a “Classic Membership” package along with a $75 fee.

If you don’t have AAA, another option is to call 511 and ask for “Freeway Assist” to alert the Freeway Service Patrol.

In some cases, this service will be able to help you for free if you ran out of gas or your battery died.

And if you’re worried about cost, be warned: The most expensive option in this scenario may be calling a towing company without having roadside assistance from AAA or your insurance.

Caltrans officials confirmed with KQED that drivers should follow the same emergency procedures above if their car breaks down while driving through the six other toll bridges the agency manages in the region:

• Antioch Bridge
• Benicia-Martinez Bridge
• Carquinez Bridge
• Richmond-San Rafael Bridge
• San Mateo-Hayward Bridge
• Dumbarton Bridge

Remember: turn on hazard lights, drive to the shoulder, call 911 to contact CHP, and wait for Caltrans’ tow services to arrive while staying in your car.

One exception: If your car breaks down while driving on the Golden Gate Bridge, it will be a different agency that will help you out after you call 911.

KQED reached out to several tow companies in West Oakland, which all noted that the size of your vehicle and how far you need to go will influence how much you could end up paying — with some towing services charging hundreds of dollars per hour.