While you can drive for a little while when your gas tank is on E and your fuel light is on, there’s always the risk that you’ll run out at any time. If you find yourself without fuel before you can reach the nearest gas station, you need to ensure you stay safe and get back on the road as soon as possible. Before calling a towing company, follow these steps.

What to Do If You Run Out of Gas

1. Pull Over

When you feel your car start to sputter, immediately pull to the side of the road. After all, if your car is in the middle of traffic, you’ll create a significant hazard. If your vehicle isn’t safe where it is, call 911 so officers can block off your lane and give you time to call a towing company.

2. Contact a Friend or Family Member

If you’re near home, call a friend or family member to help. They might already have gas on hand if they have a large yard and use a lawnmower or snowblower, but if not, they can take you to the nearest gas station to fill up a can.

3. Use a Ridesharing App

If all of your loved ones are unavailable, or you're too far from home for them to help, call a ridesharing service to take you to a gas station. You'll need to know the location of a gas station that's near you, so have a locator app on your phone for these circumstances. Also, call the station to make sure they sell gas cans.

4. Call a Towing Company

If it's late or you don't know where you are, have a towing company bring you to the gas station instead. It's never safe to walk along the side of the road or sit in your car in the middle of traffic, especially when it's dark out. A towing company will get you to a safe location so you can finish your drive home.

Bland Street Auto Center in Bluefield, WV, offers auto repair, maintenance, and towing to residents throughout Mercer, Bland, and Tazewell counties. This locally owned and operated company has been in business for over 17 years, offering emergency towing services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visit their website to learn more about how they can help, or call (304) 327-5025 to request a tow.