Need a tow or just a jump? How to tell in Dawsonville

Find what you're seeing in the table, then ask for that service when you call or text us.

Roadside service costs less than a tow, and the difference grows with distance.

We know this is stressful. These five checks take about a minute and tell our dispatcher almost everything needed to send the right help.

1. Get out of traffic. Turn on your hazards. If you're stuck on a highway shoulder, our GA-400 highway breakdown safety guide covers how to stay safe while you wait.
2. Read the dash. Turn the key to "on," or press Start without your foot on the brake. Red lights usually mean stop. Amber lights usually mean get it checked soon.
3. Try to start it once. Listen for clicking, a slow crank, or an engine that turns over but never catches. Cranking again and again drains a weak battery.
4. Walk around the car. Look for a low tire, fluid under the engine, or steam.
5. Check your trunk. See whether you have a spare and your locking lug nut key.

If the problem is the battery, a tire, fuel, or your keys, a technician can usually fix it where the car sits.

Rapid clicking or a slow crank with dim lights usually points to a weak or dead battery, though a failing starter can sound similar. Sometimes it's as simple as a loose cable, like the Jeep I mentioned above.

It's also the most common roadside problem by far. AAA handled more than 28 million roadside requests in 2024, and dead batteries led the list at nearly 6.9 million, according to AAA Club Alliance.

Age matters too. Most car batteries last three to five years, and AAA recommends testing yours every year once it's past three, per AAA's battery replacement guidance. If your battery is in that range, a jump will likely get you moving. Plan on a battery test soon after.

Check the trunk floor before you call. In AAA's most recent count, 28 percent of 2017 model-year vehicles didn't include a spare as standard equipment, according to AAA's spare tire research. Many of those cars carry an inflator kit instead. Those kits handle small punctures, but a 2015 AAA study found they can't fix sidewall damage or blowouts. If your wheels use locking lug nuts, keep the key in the glove box or with the spare. Without it, the tire can't be changed on site.

If the gauge was low and the engine sputtered before it quit, it's probably fuel. Fuel delivery brings enough to get you to a station. Stop cranking once you suspect fuel so you don't drain the battery too.

A lockout is a roadside call even if the engine is still running. We'll get you back into your car quickly.

Red warning lights, overheating, grinding, leaks, or crash damage mean the car shouldn't go any farther under its own power.

If the oil pressure light turns red or the temperature gauge hits red, shut the engine off. Driving on can cause serious engine damage. If you see steam, leave the radiator cap alone. The system is under pressure and the coolant is scalding.

Grinding when you brake, a heavy knock from the engine, or a transmission that won't engage are mechanical failures. These need a shop, so your car needs a ride there.

Damage after a crash



A car that still runs can still be unsafe after a wreck. A bent wheel, a leak, or deployed airbags means it's time for a tow. Our post-accident towing checklist walks you through what to do at the scene.

A car in a ditch or mud usually needs a winch-out first. If it drives normally once it's back on solid ground, you're done. If the slide damages a tire or the suspension, we'll tow it to a shop.

A few problems start out looking like a quick fix and end with a tow.

• If the car starts after a jump but dies again within minutes, the alternator is the likely culprit, and the car needs a shop.
• If the spare is flat or missing, or the lug key is gone, we'll take the car to a tire shop.
• Some all-wheel-drive vehicles have to ride on a flatbed. Check your owner's manual and tell us when you call so we send the right truck.

Not sure which situation you're in? Describe what you're seeing, and we'll tell you honestly what it needs.

Your location, two photos, and your vehicle details are enough for an accurate estimate.

1. Your exact spot: an exit number, mile marker, cross street, or a dropped map pin.
2. A photo of your dashboard with the key on.
3. A photo of the problem, or of where the car is sitting.
4. Year, make, and model, and whether it's all-wheel drive.
5. Where the car should go if it needs a tow.

Send it all through our quote form. On roads with a weak signal, a text often goes through when a call won't.

Potts Towing has a branch at 75 Elliot Road in Dawsonville. Call it directly at (706) 973-3582. We serve most of Dawson County, including Dawsonville and Silver City. Arrival times depend on where you are, so ask dispatch for an honest ETA when you call.

Learn more about our towing and roadside service in Dawsonville, including flatbed transport, accident recovery, and winch-outs.

Before you call, check whether the car clicks or cranks, whether a dash light is red, and whether you have a spare. Those answers tell us whether to send a jump, a tire change, fuel, or a truck.

We're a local, family-owned crew, we quote honestly, and we're here 7 days a week. Get a free estimate from Potts Towing, or text us the details above.

Austin Potts is the owner and operator of Potts Towing, a family-owned towing and roadside assistance company headquartered in Cumming with a branch in Dawsonville. He works calls across Forsyth County, Dawson County, and North Georgia.