What to Do when Your Car Runs Out of Gas

One minute you're cruising along in your car, singing to the CD in your car stereo. The next minute, your car starts chugging and refuses to accelerate. Your lights dim, and your car rolls to a stop. You never thought it could happen to you, but it just did. You've run out of gas. What are you supposed to do now?

Push to Safety

The first step is to get your car off the road. If your low fuel light came on before you rolled to a stop, or if you recognized the warning signs and felt your car running out of gas, you might have had time to react and pull off to the shoulder or turn down a side street. If you had no clue and you're marooned in traffic, it's time to start pushing. You cannot leave your car in the road, because it will cause a potential safety hazard to other motorists.

To push your car off the road, put on your hazard lights and shift your car into neutral. When you feel it is safe to do so (i.e. when there are no oncoming cars), step out of your vehicle on the driver's side and leave your door ajar. With your left arm on the doorframe, heave mightily to propel your car forward. Keep your right hand on the steering wheel and be prepared to guide your car as it rolls. If you have run out of gas on a city road with no shoulder, turn your car onto a side street with minimal traffic. Accept help from passengers or motorists if someone offers to push. They should stand behind your vehicle and push while you steer. Once your car has been pushed to safety, leave your hazards on if you heave ended up on a shoulder or are parked illegally on a side street. This will signal to motorists not to hit your car. Your hazard lights will also signal to law enforcement that you either plan to return quickly and they should not tow your car, or that you need help if you remain in your vehicle.

If You Have a Cell Phone…

Your safest bet if you run out of gas is to stay in your car. You may have roadside assistance through your cell phone plan, AAA, your auto insurance, or your dealership (if your car is fairly new or a lease). Call roadside assistance if you possibly can. If you do not have roadside assistance, call a friend. Tell your friend you have run out of gas. Your friend should go to a gas station, buy a gas can and some gas, and bring it to you. If you can't reach anyone, call a local tow service. For a steep fee, a tow truck operator will bring you gas and help you start your car. Your mission accomplished, and you can skip the rest of the article.

If You Don't Have a Cell Phone…

Well, it happens, and it's best if you know what to do next. Sitting by the side of the road in a car that's run out of gas isn't going to rescue you, and you know it. Despite everything you've heard about the dangers of leaving your vehicle, you should probably start walking. If you are in an extremely remote area, you should try to flag down help instead of risking dehydration. In a suburban or urban area, your next step is to find a gas station.

Walk Toward the Light

If you know where you are when you run out of gas, good. That means you probably know where to find the nearest gas station. Go there.

If you're in unfamiliar territory, you're probably going to have to make some educated guesses as to what to do next. In an extremely remote area, you should stay in your vehicle and try to flag down help. Walking twenty miles down a desert road isn't going to get you gas, just severe dehydration and possible death. If you run out of gas on a freeway, head for the nearest exit, whether it is ahead or one you just passed. Thankfully, gas stations have a tendency to spring up around freeway exit ramps.

In an urban or suburban setting, the guessing gets tricky. For your own safety as well as to improve your odds of finding a gas station quickly, walk towards lights. The more brightly lit an area of town is, the more likely it is to be densely populated and have a nearby gas station. Do not hesitate to walk into stores or fast food establishments to ask for directions. If you are unable to locate a gas station within a reasonable amount of time, ask to borrow a phone book and use the phone at a local establishment. Buy something or offer money for the phone call to be polite. At this point, you might even consider calling a cab to drive you to the nearest gas station and back to your car.

Fill It Up…Or Not

At the gas station, you will need a few things. First, you must purchase a gas can. These are usually bright red and hold anywhere from one to five gallons of gasoline. If the gas station does not sell gas cans, ask to borrow theirs. Be prepared to leave something of yours as a deposit to ensure your return. Secondly, you need gas. The amount of gas you buy is crucial. If your car has a twenty-gallon gas tank, one measly gallon of gas might not be enough to start your car. But keep in mind that you must walk back to your vehicle, so you might not be able to carry five gallons of gas. If your car has a history of not starting reliably, you might consider buying a fuel additive to help it start.

The gas can you purchase or borrow should have a long tube attached to the cap that goes into your gas tank to hold open the seal. However, you will need a funnel to get the gas into that tube. Pick up a free paper funnel from the gas station. If they don't have them, buy a funnel or something you can make into a funnel (like a newspaper).

The Home Stretch

It should go without saying that the next step is to walk back to your car. Once there, insert the tube from underneath the gas can cap into your car's gas tank. Stick your funnel into the end of the tube and pour. You must pour the gas into your tank excruciatingly slowly to avoid spillage. Remove all helpful instruments, put the cap back on your gas tank, and start your car. Drive away, and don't let it happen again!