Broke Down on the NJ Turnpike or Parkway? Read This First
6 min read · November 4, 2026
Few things feel worse than your car losing power on the New Jersey Turnpike with trucks flying by at 65 mph. Before you call anyone, it helps to know one thing most drivers don't: towing on the Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway doesn't work like towing on a local street.
Toll roads have their own towing rules
The New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway are run by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, and disabled vehicles on those roads are handled by tow operators the Authority has authorized for that stretch of road. In practice, that means a private tow company you call from your phone usually can't pull up on the shoulder and hook your car.
That isn't a bad thing. It keeps tow trucks from racing to the same scene and gets the lane cleared faster. What matters for you is the next step: once your car is brought off the toll road, you decide where it goes from there. That's where a local company like Itowza Towing comes in, taking your car from the drop-off point to your own mechanic, your home or a body shop you trust.
First: get safe
- Get as far right as you can. If the car is still rolling, steer onto the shoulder or, better, an exit ramp or service area.
- Hazards on right away, even in daylight.
- Stay buckled inside the car on a highway shoulder unless it's unsafe to stay (smoke, fire, fuel smell). Most shoulder injuries happen to people standing next to their car.
- Never stand between your car and traffic, and never try to change a tire on the traffic side.
- Call 911 if anyone is hurt, if you're stopped in a live lane, or if you feel unsafe. Tell them which road, which direction and the nearest exit or mile marker.
Know exactly where you are
Highway breakdowns go faster when you can say exactly where you are. Look for:
- The mile marker on the small green posts along the shoulder
- The last exit you passed and your direction (northbound/southbound, or for the Turnpike, which roadway: car lanes or truck lanes)
- Landmarks: a service area name, an overpass, MetLife Stadium on your left, the Meadowlands, the airport
Drop a pin in your maps app and keep your phone charged. If your battery is low, turn off Bluetooth and close apps until help arrives.
When it's not a toll road
Route 3, Route 17, Route 21, Route 46 and I-280 are regular state and interstate highways, and there you can usually call the tow company of your choice. The safety steps are the same. Tell the dispatcher the road, the direction and the closest exit or cross street. Request a tow or call us and we'll take it from there.
New Jersey's Move Over law protects you too
New Jersey law requires drivers to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles, tow trucks and highway maintenance vehicles with flashing lights. When you're the one on the shoulder, that law is working for you, but don't count on every driver following it. Stay inside, stay buckled and stay visible.
After the toll-road tow
Once your car has been taken off the highway, you have options:
- Ask where it's being taken and get the operator's name and phone number.
- Decide the final destination: your regular mechanic, a body shop if there's damage, or home if it's something simple like a dead battery.
- Call a local tow company for the second leg. With Itowza, you choose the destination and we'll talk through the details before we roll.
Keep every receipt. If your insurance or roadside plan covers towing, they'll want to see them.
Things to keep in the car for highway trouble
- Phone charger or a small power bank
- Reflective triangles or LED flares
- A flashlight
- Water, a warm layer and gloves in winter
- Your insurance card and registration where you can reach them without digging through the trunk
A breakdown on a busy highway is stressful, but it's manageable when you know the steps: get safe, know where you are, let the authorized operator clear the road, and pick who handles the rest. When your car needs to go from the drop-off point to your shop, call Itowza Towing at (866) 292-2564.
Questions about this
On the Parkway and the Turnpike, disabled vehicles are handled by tow operators authorized by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, so your own company usually can't pick you up on the shoulder. Once your car is off the toll road, you can choose who takes it to its final destination.
Mile markers pinpoint your location to within a tenth of a mile on most highways. Together with your direction of travel, it's the fastest way for police or a tow operator to find you.
On a highway shoulder, staying buckled inside is usually safer, because people standing next to their car are at the greatest risk from passing traffic. Get out only if the car is smoking, on fire or you smell fuel, and then move well away from traffic, behind a guardrail if there is one.
