Tow and Go is Houston’s free freeway assistance program. It replaced SafeClear in 2014 and operates today as a public-private partnership between the City of Houston and Texas Department of Transportation. The program moves stalled vehicles off covered freeways at no cost to the driver.

What Tow and Go covers

If you are on a covered Houston freeway with an attended vehicle, Tow and Go provides:

  • A free tow to a safe spot off the freeway (up to about 1 mile)
  • A flat-tire change with a working spare

Tow and Go does not provide:

  • Fuel delivery (you need a paid fuel delivery operator)
  • Lockout service (you need a paid lockout operator)
  • Jump start (some operators offer this on the shoulder)
  • Tow to a destination (Tow and Go’s free tow is to a safe spot, not your home or a shop)

Which freeways are covered

Tow and Go covers:

  • I-10 (Katy Freeway), excluding the Katy Freeway HOT lanes
  • I-45 (North and Gulf Freeways)
  • I-69 / US-59
  • Loop 610
  • Beltway 8 main lanes and frontage roads

Tow and Go does not cover tollways (Fort Bend Parkway, Westpark Tollway, Hardy Toll Road) or the Katy Freeway HOT lanes.

What “attended” means

The vehicle must be attended for Tow and Go to apply. Attended means a licensed driver is with the vehicle (or arrives shortly after the breakdown). An unattended vehicle on the shoulder is a different situation (HPD coordinates).

The intent is to assist drivers, not to clear abandoned cars. If you walk away from your car on the shoulder, Tow and Go does not pick it up.

How to request Tow and Go

The vehicle must be authorized by law enforcement or Houston TranStar. Call HPD non-emergency at (713) 884-3131 and ask for Tow and Go. The dispatcher sends a Tow and Go operator to your location.

You can also use the Tow and Go page on houstontx.gov for program information, but the dispatch path is through HPD or TranStar.

What about a destination tow

If you want a tow to a destination (your home, a repair shop, a dealership), the city non-consent rate does not apply. Tow and Go’s free tow is to a safe spot, not a destination.

For a destination tow, the operator’s quote applies. For tows within Houston city limits, the operator’s fee covers the trip. For long-distance, the operator quotes a long-distance fee.

History note

SafeClear started in 2005 and charged drivers a $50 fee from 2011. The current Tow and Go program is no cost to the driver. The program transitioned from SafeClear to Tow and Go in 2014. The free program is funded by the City of Houston and TxDOT, not by driver fees.

What if you want to use a different operator

You can call a different operator at any time. If you call Quick Tow Houston at (281) 916-1288, we dispatch a paid operator for fuel delivery, lockout, jump start, or a destination tow. The line takes calls around the clock.

You do not have to use Tow and Go. You can call any licensed operator. Tow and Go is just the free option for a tow to a safe spot.

What about the Katy HOT lanes specifically

The Katy Freeway HOT lanes (managed lanes on I-10 west inside Beltway 8) are excluded from Tow and Go. The lane is managed by METRO / TxDOT, not by the Tow and Go program.

If you break down in the HOT lane, you need a different path. Some operators have HOT-lane authorization. The fee is the operator’s quote.

When not to call Tow and Go

Call a paid operator (or a different path) if:

  • You need a destination tow (Tow and Go only goes to a safe spot)
  • You need fuel delivery (not covered)
  • You are on a tollway (not covered)
  • You are on the Katy HOT lanes (not covered)
  • The vehicle is unattended on the shoulder (different path)

What to do if you cannot reach Tow and Go

If HPD is slow or unreachable, call a paid operator at (281) 916-1288. The operator can usually get to you faster than waiting on the dispatch queue.

For what the operator charges, see our tow cost guide. For running out of gas specifically, see our fuel delivery explainer.

Frequently asked questions

Is Tow and Go really free? Yes. The program is funded by the City of Houston and TxDOT. The driver pays nothing for a tow to a safe spot or a flat-tire change.

Which freeways are covered? I-10 (excluding HOT lanes), I-45, I-69 / US-59, Loop 610, Beltway 8 main lanes and frontage roads.

What about tollways? Not covered. Call a paid operator with tollway authorization.

What if I need a destination tow? Tow and Go only goes to a safe spot. Call a paid operator for a destination tow.

What if my car is unattended? Call HPD non-emergency at (713) 884-3131. Different path applies.

What if I am on the Katy HOT lanes? Not covered. Call an operator with HOT-lane authorization.