Frequently Asked Questions
We operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year — rain, snow, or shine. In fact, those are exactly the conditions when we’re most needed, and when you most need a team that shows up. Maryland winters can be brutal, and we’re well experienced handling breakdown calls in challenging weather conditions. Don’t wait it out — call us and we’ll get to you as safely and quickly as possible.
Yes. Motorcycles can break down just like any other vehicle, and we’re equipped to assist. Whether it’s a jump start, a flat tire, running out of gas, or a breakdown that requires a tow, we handle motorcycle roadside calls with the same specialized care we bring to motorcycle towing. Just let us know the make and model of your bike when you call.
Your safety comes first. If you’re on a busy road or highway, get your vehicle as far onto the shoulder as possible, or into a parking lot or exit ramp if you can. Turn on your hazard lights right away, and if you have road safety triangles or flares, place them behind your vehicle. When you exit the car, do so from the passenger side and stay as far from traffic as you can. If you’re in a dangerous location or feel unsafe, stay in your vehicle with your seatbelt on and let us know when you call so we can alert you of any additional steps.
In most cases, calling us directly is significantly faster. When you call your insurance company, they have to find a provider in your area, which can mean long hold times and extended waits — especially late at night. We’re local, we’re available 24/7, and we can typically be on scene within 30 to 45 minutes. If you want to seek reimbursement from your insurance afterward, we’ll provide you with a paid receipt you can submit to your insurer.
Yes, and we strongly recommend against trying to get in yourself using a hanger or other improvised tools — that often damages the door seal, window trim, or interior. Our trained operators use professional equipment to unlock your vehicle quickly and without causing any damage to the exterior or interior. Just give us a call and we’ll be there.
Yes, we offer gas delivery service. We’ll bring you enough fuel to get to the nearest gas station. Just let our dispatcher know what type of fuel your vehicle takes and your exact location, and we’ll get you moving again. It happens to everyone at some point, and we’re not here to judge — just to help.
Of course. We’ll come to you and change your flat tire using your vehicle’s spare, so you can get back on the road quickly. If you don’t have a usable spare, or if the tire can’t be safely repaired roadside, we’ll tow your vehicle to the repair shop of your choice. You shouldn’t have to struggle with a tire iron on the side of the road — that’s what we’re here for.
Yes, jump-start service is one of the most common calls we handle. We’ll come to your location and get your car started. Keep in mind that if your battery is frequently dying or struggling in cold weather, that can be a sign the battery needs to be replaced soon. If a jump start doesn’t hold or you’re unsure about the battery’s health, we can tow you to a repair shop.
We offer a full range of roadside assistance services including jump starts, flat tire changes, fuel (gas) delivery, car lockout and key retrieval, and winch-out recovery. If your situation requires a tow rather than a roadside fix, we handle that too — all from the same call, with the same team.
To get help to you as quickly as possible, it helps to have the following ready: your exact location or the nearest cross street, your name and a callback phone number, a description of your vehicle including year, make, model, and color, and the drop-off location if you already know where you want the vehicle taken. If you’ve been in an accident or are in an unsafe location, tell us right away so we can prioritize accordingly.
We can. Our flatbed trucks are well suited for transporting forklifts, scissor lifts, scaffolding, excavators, and similar equipment between job sites. If you’re in construction or a related trade and need equipment moved, we can save you the time and manpower it would take to handle it yourself. Call us to discuss your specific needs and we’ll let you know exactly how we can help.
Yes. We offer long-distance towing for situations like out-of-state breakdowns, vehicle relocations, or any time you need your car transported a significant distance. Whether you’re moving and need your vehicle transported separately, or you’ve broken down while traveling far from home, give us a call and we’ll work out the details with you.
Yes, accident recovery is one of our core services. If you’ve been involved in a collision, we work alongside law enforcement to ensure your vehicle is safely and efficiently removed from the roadway. If police are already on the scene, you have the right to request us specifically — we encourage you to do so rather than waiting for a random dispatch. Our team understands that accident scenes are stressful, and we’ll handle everything as smoothly as possible.
Yes, we provide winch-out service. Winching involves using a motorized winch and heavy-duty cable to carefully extract a vehicle that’s stuck in mud, snow, or down an embankment. It’s a precise process that requires skill and the right equipment. This is very different from someone simply tying a rope to another vehicle and pulling — improper extraction can cause serious damage to your car. Our operators know how to make adjustments throughout the process to protect your vehicle while getting it safely back on solid ground.
Absolutely. We know how protective motorcycle owners are of their bikes — and rightfully so. When we transport a motorcycle, we use soft straps and take every precaution to make sure your bike is loaded, secured, and unloaded without a scratch. Just let us know the make and model when you call so we can send the right equipment.
Yes, we have a large fleet of flatbed tow trucks and use them extensively. Flatbed towing is especially important for all-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles, motorcycles, low-profile cars, and any vehicle where keeping all four wheels off the ground is the safest approach. We’ll always use the right type of truck for your specific vehicle.
Absolutely not — damage-free towing is a standard we hold ourselves to on every single job. Our operators are highly trained and our trucks are equipped with modern safety attachments designed to protect your vehicle throughout the entire loading, transport, and unloading process. We are well aware that some towing companies don’t exercise the same level of care, and that awareness drives everything we do. If you drive a low-profile sports car or a classic vehicle, just let us know when you call — we use specialized ramping systems and extra precautions for those.
We make every effort to arrive within 30 to 45 minutes of your call. Response times can vary based on traffic, weather, and how many calls we’re handling at the time, but getting to you as fast as safely possible is always our top priority. The longer you’re stranded on the side of the road, the greater the risk of a secondary accident — we take that seriously.
The fastest way to reach us is to call 301-568-4400. For non-urgent requests, you can also fill out the service request form on our website at metropolitantow.com. Either way, be ready to share your vehicle’s location, your name and phone number, a description of your vehicle, and — if applicable — where you’d like it dropped off. The more detail you give us, the faster we can get to you.
Yes. We work closely with local and state law enforcement agencies in the Clinton and greater Maryland area. That relationship means we are often called to assist at accident scenes, and it reflects the trust that local authorities have in our ability to respond quickly, operate safely, and handle vehicles with care.
With over 28 years in business, we’ve handled every imaginable car breakdown and accident scenario you can think of. Our tow truck operators are highly trained, our trucks are late-model and well-maintained, and we are trusted by local and state law enforcement agencies to respond quickly and safely. More than anything, we genuinely care about our customers. We know that nobody calls a tow truck on a good day, and we train our entire team — dispatchers included — to be empathetic, efficient, and professional every single time.
We handle just about everything — cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, classic and vintage vehicles, low-profile sports cars, all-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles, and even construction equipment such as forklifts, scissor lifts, and excavators. Our fleet includes modern flatbed tow trucks as well as specialized equipment to handle whatever you’re driving safely and without damage.
We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — including nights, weekends, and holidays. Car breakdowns don’t follow a schedule, and neither do we. Whether you’re stranded at 3:00 AM or 3:00 PM, you can count on us to answer the phone and dispatch a truck to you as quickly as possible.
We are based in Clinton, Maryland and primarily serve the Clinton area, Upper Marlboro, and the broader Prince George’s County region. We also offer long-distance towing, so if you’ve broken down far from home or need your vehicle transported out of state, we can help with that too. When you call, just let us know your location and we’ll get to you.
We have been proudly serving the Clinton, Maryland community and surrounding areas for more than 28 years. Over that time we have towed more than 62,000 vehicles, and that kind of track record simply doesn’t happen unless you’re consistently doing things right. When you call us, you’re calling on decades of real-world towing experience.
Have a question not answered here? We’re always happy to help.
Call us anytime: 301-568-4400
metropolitantow.com | 8005 Old Branch Avenue, Clinton, MD 20735