Towing & Roadside Help in Beaverton

Nobody plans to break down. But if you drive around Beaverton long enough, it’s going to happen sooner or later: a dead battery in the Fred Meyer lot, a flat on Canyon Road, or something worse on Highway 217 at rush hour. We’ve been helping people through these moments since 1995, so here’s the straight version of what to do, who to call, and how to avoid getting taken for a ride (literally).

No one pays to be listed on this page. These are companies we’ve worked with and trust with our own customers’ cars.

What Should You Do First When Your Car Breaks Down?

Get yourself safe first. The car can wait, and you can’t be replaced.

• Get as far right as you can. Shoulder, exit ramp, side street, or parking lot, whatever you can reach safely.
• Hazards on right away. At night, leave your parking lights on too.
• On a freeway like 217 or Highway 26, stay buckled in the car unless you can get well away from traffic, behind a guardrail. If you do get out, use the passenger side.
• Don’t walk away from a car that stalls on the freeway. If you leave it on the shoulder of 217 or Highway 26, ODOT can have it towed, and you’ll pay for the tow and the storage, which gets expensive fast. Stay with it, in the car or safely behind the guardrail, until help arrives.
• Call 911 if you’re blocking a lane or anyone’s hurt. For everything else, call a tow company or your roadside assistance.

Do You Already Have Towing Coverage?

You may. A lot of people pay out of pocket for a tow they already have coverage for. Before you call anyone, take 30 seconds and check:

• Had service with us in the last year? Any MotorCar Doctors service of $25 or more covers your vehicle for a full year of roadside assistance: a tow, a jump start, a lockout, a flat tire, or an empty tank. Call the 24/7 line at 866-588-0728, pay the provider, then send in the claim form with your receipt to be reimbursed up to $75 per incident, for up to two incidents during your year of coverage. How our roadside assistance works.
• Your auto insurance app. Many policies include roadside assistance and a set number of towing miles.
• AAA or a similar membership, if you have one.
• Your new-car warranty. Many manufacturers include roadside assistance for the first few years.
• Your credit card. Some cards offer roadside dispatch benefits.

Which Tow Companies Do We Trust in the Beaverton Area?

• Hillsboro Towing Service: Hillsboro, serving Beaverton, Aloha, Tigard and the rest of the west side. Open 24/7, with towing, jump starts, lockouts and tire changes. Phone: 503-648-0559 | Website
• Anderson Towing & Recovery: Beaverton, on SW Baseline Road. Open 24/7, with light- to heavy-duty towing and roadside help. Phone: 503-439-9900 | Website

Locked Out or Lost Your Keys?

Keys locked in the car, or a key fob that’s lost, broken or stopped working? That’s a job for a locksmith. Why this one? Jeff: “Davis Lock & Safe is our go-to locksmith.”

• Davis Lock & Safe: Beaverton, at 3880 SW 170th Ave. Car and trunk lockouts, key cutting and spare keys, and replacing and programming lost or broken keys and key fobs, including transponder and remote keys. Their mobile locksmiths come to you and can often cut and program a new key right where the car is. The shop is open Monday to Friday, 8 to 5. After hours it’s mobile service only, and you can call for emergency service. Phone: 503-848-9100 | Website

• Check your coverage first. Lockouts are one of the things our roadside assistance covers if you’ve had service with us in the last year (see above), and many insurance and auto club plans include them too.
• Make sure it’s a real locksmith. In Oregon, a locksmith has to be certified by the Construction Contractors Board and work for a CCB-licensed business. Ask for the license number and look it up on the CCB license search, and be wary of ads with no local address.
• Get the price before any work starts, the same as with a tow.
• Down to one key? Having a spare made now costs far less than replacing the only one after it’s lost.

Should You Ask for a Flatbed or a Wheel-Lift Tow?

Not every car should be towed the same way. Ask for a flatbed if you drive:

• An all-wheel-drive or 4WD vehicle, like a Subaru, most SUVs, or many newer sedans. Towing with some wheels still on the ground can damage the drivetrain.
• A lowered, sports, or low-clearance car
• A hybrid or EV. Check your owner’s manual; most call for a flatbed.
• A car with a damaged wheel, axle, or suspension

When you call, tell the driver the year, make, model, and whether it’s AWD. A good tow company will ask anyway.

Where Should the Tow Truck Take Your Car?

You get to decide where your car goes. The tow driver doesn’t. Some drivers will suggest a shop they have a relationship with, and that’s not always a bad shop, but it should be your choice.

If you want us to take a look, have the car towed to MotorCar Doctors Auto Repair, 13203 SW Canyon Rd, Ste C, Beaverton, Oregon 97005. After hours, use our key drop to the right of the front door: grab an envelope from behind the pull-down door, fill it out, put your keys inside, and drop it in the box. Give us a call in the morning at 503-626-4810 and we’ll figure out what’s going on. Our digital vehicle inspection sends you photos and notes, so you see exactly what we see before you approve anything.

How Do You Avoid Getting Burned on a Tow?

• Get the price before the hook-up: the base fee, per-mile rate, and any after-hours charge.
• Be careful with trucks that show up without being called. Only work with the company you or your roadside plan dispatched.
• Take photos of your car before it’s loaded, all four sides.
• Get a receipt with the company name and phone number on it.

Where Can You Check Road Conditions Before You Head Out?

ODOT TripCheck shows live cameras, closures, and conditions, and it’s worth a look before any longer drive. In winter especially, Highway 26 over the West Hills and routes toward the coast can change fast.

Can a Quick Inspection Prevent a Breakdown?

Often, yes. Most breakdowns we see started as something small that got missed: a tired battery, a leaking hose, or tires past their prime. A quick inspection before winter or a road trip catches most of it. We’ll check it over, show you what we find, and tell you honestly what can wait.

Frequently Asked Questions