--- title: "Broke Down on I-35 Between Austin and San Antonio" description: "What to do if your car breaks down on I-35 from Round Rock to San Antonio: the first two minutes, who to call, crash rules, summer heat and towing." canonical: https://texas.huntautogroup.com/guides/broke-down-on-i-35-austin-san-antonio/ last_updated: 2026-11-05 language: en --- # Broke Down on I-35 Between Austin and San Antonio Ownership # Broke Down on I-35 Between Austin and San Antonio What to do if your car breaks down on I-35 from Round Rock to San Antonio: the first two minutes, who to call, crash rules, summer heat and towing. **[Anthony Hunt](https://texas.huntautogroup.com/about/) ** Updated November 5, 202610 min read ![Broke Down on I-35 Between Austin and San Antonio](https://texas.huntautogroup.com/assets/covers/broke-down-on-i-35-austin-san-antonio.webp) If your car breaks down on I-35 between Austin and San Antonio, get as far off the traveled lanes as you safely can, turn on your flashers, and call for help. Call 911 if anyone is hurt or you are stuck in a live lane. For a breakdown with no emergency, Texas DPS runs a Stranded Motorist Hotline at 1-800-525-5555, or *DPS (*377) from a mobile phone. Around Austin and San Antonio, TxDOT also runs free HERO roadside patrols: 512-974-HERO in Austin and 210-732-HERO in San Antonio. I live in Austin, and this stretch of I-35 runs through [Round Rock](https://texas.huntautogroup.com/areas/round-rock/) , [San Marcos](https://texas.huntautogroup.com/areas/san-marcos/) and [New Braunfels](https://texas.huntautogroup.com/areas/new-braunfels/) down to the Loop 1604 and Loop 410 area of San Antonio. Traffic is heavy, trucks pass close, and summer heat makes a wait on the shoulder harder. Below is what the official sources say, in the order you will need it. This is general information, not legal advice. ## The first two minutes 1. **Signal and steer right.** Use the momentum you still have to reach the shoulder, an exit ramp or the frontage road. Texas DPS says to park as far off the traveled portion of the highway as possible. 1. **Turn on your flashers.** DPS says to make your vehicle visible. 1. **Look before you open a door.** DPS advises getting out on the passenger side, away from traffic. 1. **Decide if this is an emergency.** If someone is hurt, the car is stopped in a travel lane, or you feel unsafe, call 911. TxDOT's road tips handbook says 911 is for life-threatening situations such as a roadside emergency or a highway crash, and to be ready to give your phone number and location. 1. **Note where you are.** Find the nearest exit, mile marker, cross street or landmark, and your direction of travel. Every call will ask for it. ## Getting off the road safely The safest place to stop is off the highway. If the car still rolls, an exit ramp or the frontage road beats the shoulder. Once you are stopped, the [Texas DPS travel tips page](https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/highway-patrol/travel-tips) adds these steps: - Open the hood and leave it open. - Tie a light colored cloth to the antenna or a door handle. - If possible, stay with the vehicle until uniformed law enforcement arrives, especially at night or in bad weather. - Put a "Send Help" sign in a window where other drivers can see it. - If someone stops to help, keep your doors locked, crack a window, and ask them to call law enforcement. If you decide you must walk, DPS says to write down your name, the date, the time you left, your direction, and the plate number and description of the vehicle. Then tell law enforcement where and how you left the car. Do not count on other drivers to give you room. The Texas Move Over or Slow Down law, [Transportation Code Section 545.157](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.545.htm#545.157) , lists specific vehicles using their lights: emergency vehicles, tow trucks, TxDOT and highway maintenance vehicles, utility vehicles, waste trucks and toll project vehicles, plus animal control and parking enforcement vehicles since September 1, 2025. A regular car with its flashers on is not on that list. [NHTSA](https://www.nhtsa.gov/move-over-its-law) notes that only 19 states and Washington, DC include disabled vehicles in their move over laws. **Want a personalized car guide?**Message Anthony on WhatsApp with your budget and what you need. Free, honest advice in English or Spanish. He doesn't sell cars.[WhatsApp](https://wa.me/15559374868?text=Hi%20Anthony%2C%20I%27d%20like%20a%20personalized%20car%20guide%20%28I%20read%3A%20Broke%20Down%20on%20I-35%20Between%20Austin%20and%20San%20Antonio%29.) ## Who to call These numbers come from official TxDOT and DPS pages I checked on November 7, 2026. | Situation | Number | What the official source says | | --- | --- | --- | | Anyone hurt, a crash, a car stuck in a live lane | 911 | For life-threatening situations such as a roadside emergency or highway crash | | Breakdown or stranded, no emergency | 1-800-525-5555, or *DPS (*377) on a mobile phone | DPS Stranded Motorist Hotline, answered 24 hours a day by a live operator | | Austin-area highways | 512-974-HERO (4376) | TxDOT Austin HERO, free patrol service | | San Antonio-area highways | 210-732-HERO (4376) | TxDOT San Antonio HERO, free patrol service | | Road conditions and closures | DriveTexas.org or 1-800-452-9292 | TxDOT road and travel information | ### Austin HERO TxDOT runs the [Austin HERO program](https://www.txdot.gov/about/programs/highway-roadside-assistance/austin-hero.html) with the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. It covers 337 miles of I-35, US 183, 183A, 183 Toll, US 290, 290 Toll, SH 71 and Loop 1 (MoPac). On I-35, the page lists coverage from SH 195 to the Comal County line, and between SH 45 North and SH 45 Southeast. The page lists more than one set of patrol hours, so check it for the road you drive. ### San Antonio HERO The [San Antonio HERO program](https://www.txdot.gov/about/programs/highway-roadside-assistance/san-antonio-hero.html) covers 261 miles of highway in the greater San Antonio area. TxDOT says it operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with full service Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., and limited service on weeknights and all day on weekends. The page does not list the individual routes. ### What HERO can do Both pages list the same help: moving disabled vehicles to safety, clearing minor crashes, changing flat tires, adding air, gasoline and water, minor repairs, jump-starting batteries, and providing drinking water and cell phone service to stranded drivers. I did not find an official page that lists HERO coverage for I-35 through New Braunfels and Comal County. If you are not sure HERO covers where you are, call the DPS hotline or 911. ## Crash or breakdown: what the law says A crash adds legal duties under the Texas Transportation Code. **If every car can still be driven.** Under [Section 550.022](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.550.htm#550.022) , if a crash happens on a main lane, ramp, shoulder, median or nearby area of a freeway in a metropolitan area, and each vehicle can be normally and safely driven, each driver must move as soon as possible to a designated collision investigation site, the frontage road, the nearest suitable cross street or another suitable place. Not doing so is a Class C misdemeanor. A vehicle counts as normally and safely driven only if it does not need towing and can run under its own power without more damage or hazard. TxDOT's [collision tips page](https://www.txdot.gov/safety/driving-laws/tips-avoid-collisions.html) adds that if no one is hurt and you can drive, you do not need to wait for police before moving out of traffic. **Share information.**[Section 550.023](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.550.htm#550.023) says drivers in a crash that injures someone or damages an attended vehicle must give their name and address, the vehicle's registration number and their liability insurer. If asked, they must show their driver's license, and they must give reasonable help to anyone injured. **If someone is hurt.**[Section 550.021](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.550.htm#550.021) requires drivers to stop at or near the scene without blocking traffic more than necessary, check whether anyone needs aid, and stay until they have met the duties above. **Report right away.**[Section 550.026](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.550.htm#550.026) says that if a crash injures or kills someone, or damages a vehicle so it cannot be normally and safely driven, the driver must notify police immediately by the quickest means. Inside a city, that is the local police department. Outside city limits, it may be the sheriff's office or the nearest DPS office. TxDOT says to always call police when someone is injured or killed, when vehicles cannot be moved, when you suspect a driver is intoxicated, when a driver has no insurance, or when a driver leaves the scene. If the vehicles cannot be moved, protect the scene with flares or by raising your hood. Then notify your insurance company. See Texas car insurance minimums. ## Heat: waiting safely in summer From May to September, the wait can be the hardest part. A car with no AC heats up fast, and the I-35 shoulder has almost no shade. The [National Weather Service heat illness page](https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-illness) lists the warning signs: - **Heat exhaustion:** heavy sweating, weakness, cool, pale, clammy skin, a fast weak pulse, cramps, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, headache, fainting. Move to a cooler place, loosen clothing, use cool wet cloths and sip water. Get medical help right away if the person vomits or symptoms get worse or last more than an hour. - **Heat stroke:** throbbing headache, confusion, slurred speech, body temperature above 103 degrees, hot red skin, a rapid strong pulse, fainting. The NWS says to call 911 or get the person to a hospital right away. A few things help: - **Carry water.**[NHTSA's summer driving tips](https://www.nhtsa.gov/summer-driving-tips) include drinking water in the roadside kit. - **Mention the heat when you call.** Both HERO pages list drinking water among their services. - **Watch kids and older riders.** NHTSA notes that losing AC on a hot day is hardest on children and older adults. - **Never leave a child alone in the car.** NHTSA warns that even at 60 degrees with the windows cracked, the inside of a car can quickly reach deadly levels. To lower the odds of a summer breakdown, see [used cars and Texas heat](https://texas.huntautogroup.com/guides/used-cars-and-texas-heat/) . ## Towing: questions to ask and how to avoid surprises If HERO cannot get you going, you will likely need a tow. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) licenses tow operators. Its [towing consumer information page](https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/towing/consumerinfo.htm) says a consumer who had a tow from a traffic accident or incident is entitled to: - **A copy of the tow ticket.** The company must issue one for each nonconsent tow and give you a copy if you are there. - **Itemized charges.** Each charge must be listed, using the same fee structure as the company's schedule on file with the storage lot. - **Company details.** The ticket must show the company's licensed name, a publicly listed phone number, its certificate of registration number, and the operator's TDLR license number. - **The fee schedule.** Storage lots must give it to the public on request. You can also look up a license with TDLR's license search and file a complaint with TDLR online. If you call a tow company yourself, settle the details before the car is hooked up. Questions I would ask, whoever called the truck: 1. What is the company name and phone number, and the operator's TDLR license number? 1. Where exactly is the car going: my mechanic, my home, or a storage lot? What is the address? 1. What are the charges, item by item? Can I get that in writing before you tow? 1. What payment do you take? 1. If it goes to a storage lot, when can I pick it up, and what do I need to bring? Take a photo of the ticket and the truck. Check your insurance policy or roadside plan now, so you know if a tow is covered before you need one. For the bigger picture, see the cost of owning a used car in Texas. ## A short kit to keep in the car NHTSA says even a well-maintained car can break down, and recommends a roadside kit that includes: - Cell phone and charger - First aid kit and flashlight - Flares and a white flag - Jumper cables and a tire pressure gauge - Jack and ground mat for a tire change - Work gloves, basic tools and duct tape - Drinking water, nonperishable food and medicines - Emergency blankets, towels and coats I would add a printed card with the DPS and HERO numbers, plus paper and a marker for the "Send Help" sign DPS suggests. NHTSA also says to keep your gas tank close to full when you can, and DPS says at least half full. ## What I would do If my car quit on I-35 near Kyle on a July afternoon, I would get as far right as I could, flashers on, and get out on the passenger side only if traffic allowed it. If we were in a live lane or anyone felt sick from the heat, I would call 911. Otherwise I would call Austin HERO, or the DPS hotline outside HERO areas, and give my direction, nearest exit and that we were waiting in the heat. Before any tow, I would ask for the company details and charges in writing. ## Sources All sources checked on November 7, 2026. - [Texas DPS: Travel Tips (breakdown steps, Motorists Helpline)](https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/highway-patrol/travel-tips) - [TxDOT: 2024 Texas Road Tips Handbook (911, Stranded Motorist Hotline, HERO numbers)](https://www.txdot.gov/content/dam/docs/division/trf/safety/general-topics/2024-texas-road-tips-handbook.pdf) - [TxDOT: Austin HERO Roadside Assistance Program](https://www.txdot.gov/about/programs/highway-roadside-assistance/austin-hero.html) - [TxDOT: San Antonio HERO Program](https://www.txdot.gov/about/programs/highway-roadside-assistance/san-antonio-hero.html) - [TxDOT: Move Over or Slow Down](https://www.txdot.gov/safety/traffic-safety-campaigns/move-over-or-slow-down.html) - [TxDOT: Tips to avoid collisions and what to do when one occurs](https://www.txdot.gov/safety/driving-laws/tips-avoid-collisions.html) - [DriveTexas.org](https://drivetexas.org/) - [Texas Transportation Code Chapter 550](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.550.htm) - [Texas Transportation Code Section 545.157](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.545.htm#545.157) - [NHTSA: Summer Driving Tips](https://www.nhtsa.gov/summer-driving-tips) - [NHTSA: Move Over, It's the Law](https://www.nhtsa.gov/move-over-its-law) - [National Weather Service: Heat Cramps, Exhaustion, Stroke](https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-illness) - [TDLR: Consumer Information about Towing](https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/towing/consumerinfo.htm) ## Frequently asked questions **Is TxDOT HERO free?** Yes. TxDOT describes both the Austin and San Antonio HERO programs as free patrol services. **Does HERO cover all of I-35 from Austin to San Antonio?** TxDOT lists Austin HERO coverage on I-35 from SH 195 to the Comal County line. The San Antonio page says HERO covers 261 miles in the greater San Antonio area but does not list routes. If you are unsure, call the DPS hotline or 911. **Should I call 911 for a flat tire?** TxDOT says 911 is for life-threatening situations such as a roadside emergency or highway crash. For a non-emergency breakdown, use the DPS Stranded Motorist Hotline at 1-800-525-5555 or *DPS on a mobile phone. **Do I have to move my car after a minor crash on I-35?** Under Section 550.022, if the crash is on a metropolitan freeway and every vehicle can be normally and safely driven, each driver must move to a safer spot, such as the frontage road or a cross street, as soon as possible. **Where can I check I-35 closures before I leave?** TxDOT's DriveTexas.org shows current road conditions, closures and construction. TxDOT asks drivers not to use it while driving. Educational content. Anthony does not sell, broker or arrange vehicle sales in Texas. Confirm fees and rules with the office named in each source before you pay anything. ## Want a personalized car guide? Message Anthony on WhatsApp with your budget and what you need. Free, honest advice in English or Spanish. He doesn't sell cars. 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