Your rental car broke down in Wichita. Who do you call? Call the rental company’s roadside number first, before any tow company. The car belongs to them, so they decide who tows it and where it goes. If they tell you to arrange your own tow, call Miller’s Towing & Recovery at 316-351-4754 and keep the receipt.
If your rental car broke down, this guide walks through the first six steps, who usually pays, and the roadside numbers for the rental companies at Wichita Eisenhower National Airport.
Rental Car Broke Down? Do These 6 Things First
- Get safe. Steer to the shoulder or a parking lot. Turn on the hazard lights. On Kellogg, I-135 or I-235, stay buckled in unless you see smoke or fire. Kansas law tells other drivers to move over or slow down for a stopped car with flashing lights.
- Call 911 if you are in a traffic lane or anyone is hurt. A blocked lane is an emergency, even with no crash.
- Find the roadside number. It is printed on the rental agreement. It is often on the key tag or a sticker inside the car too.
- Call the rental company. Give your rental agreement number, your location and what the car is doing. Ask two questions: who is sending the tow, and will I be charged?
- Do not approve repairs. Do not let a shop work on the car unless the rental company tells you to. It is their car and their call.
- Write everything down. Note the time, the name of the person you spoke with and any reference number. Take photos of the car, the dash warning lights and where it stopped.
Roadside Numbers for Rental Companies at the Wichita Airport
Wichita Eisenhower National Airport lists seven rental car companies on site: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Payless. Most out of town drivers in Wichita are in a car from one of them.
| Company | Where to find help |
|---|---|
| Enterprise | Roadside line 1-800-307-6666, listed on the Enterprise protections page |
| Avis | Roadside line 800-354-2847 for the US and Canada, listed on the Avis roadside page |
| Budget | Number on your rental agreement. See the Budget roadside page |
| Hertz, Alamo, National, Payless | Number on your rental agreement or key tag |
Phone numbers change. Trust the number on your own rental agreement over any number you find online, including the ones above.
Rental Car Broke Down: Who Pays for the Tow?
The rental agreement decides. No Kansas law sets one answer for every rental. In general, it comes down to what caused the problem and what you bought at the counter.
When the car itself fails
If the engine, transmission or another part fails through no fault of yours, call the rental company and let them send help. Ask them to confirm on the phone that you will not be billed for the tow. Then ask how you get a replacement car.
When the problem is something the renter did
Lost keys, keys locked in the car and an empty fuel tank are treated differently. These are the items the paid roadside plans are built around:
- Enterprise says its Roadside Assistance Protection waives your financial responsibility for lost keys, lockouts and fuel outages.
- Avis lists lockout service, flat tire help, jump starts and delivery of 3 gallons of fuel under its Extended Roadside Assistance.
- Budget lists key replacement, lockout service, jump starts, tire service and 3 gallons of fuel. Without the plan, Budget says standard charges for services like lost keys and fuel delivery may apply.
So if you turned the plan down at the counter and then locked the keys inside at Towne East, expect a charge. Budget also notes that prohibited use of the car voids its plan.
When you hire a tow on your own
This is where renters lose money. If you call a tow company before you call the rental company, you may pay the bill yourself and not get it back. Get the rental company’s approval first, and get the name of the person who gave it.
What If the Rental Car Was in a Crash?
Call 911. In Wichita, police may have the car towed if it blocks traffic and cannot be driven. Ask the officer which tow company took it and where it went. Then call the rental company right away and give them that information. Storage is charged by the day at a tow yard, so the sooner the rental company knows, the better.
Next, call your own auto insurer and the credit card company you used for the rental. Ask each one what it covers on a rental. Some personal policies and some cards cover damage to a rental car, and some do not. Do not guess.
If you need to find the car later, our guide on how to find a towed car in Wichita lists the city lookup tool and the phone numbers to call.
If Your Rental Car Broke Down on a Highway Near Wichita
Where you stop changes who can help first.
- Kellogg, I-135 and I-235: Stay in the car with your seat belt on. Call 911 if you are in a lane. Then call the rental roadside line.
- Kansas Turnpike: Dial *KTA (*582) from a cell phone to reach the Turnpike’s dispatch. See our page on a Kansas Turnpike breakdown near Wichita for what to expect.
- Airport roads: If the car quits on the way back to the airport, call the rental branch. Tell them your flight time so they can note it on your contract.
A car left on a Kansas highway for more than 48 hours can be towed by law enforcement under K.S.A. 8-1102. Do not leave a rental on the shoulder and fly home without telling the company where it is.
When a Local Tow Company Gets the Call
Not every “my rental car broke down” call is handled by the rental company’s own network. We tow rental cars in three common cases.
- The rental company approves it. The agent tells you to get the car to a branch or a shop and send in the receipt. We give you an itemized receipt with the pickup address, the drop off address and the vehicle details.
- The car is a peer to peer rental. With a car booked through an app like Turo, follow the roadside steps in the app first. Then call us if you are told to arrange a tow.
- It is a loaner or a body shop rental. Call the shop or dealer that gave you the car. They will tell you where they want it.
When you call, have the year, make and model, your location, and the address where the rental company wants the car. You get the price before we hook up. For non urgent moves, see how to schedule a tow in Wichita.
Questions Renters Ask
My rental car broke down. Will I be charged?
It depends on the cause and your rental agreement. Ask the roadside agent directly, and write down the answer and the agent’s name.
Will I get a replacement car?
Ask on the same call. The rental company decides if a replacement comes to you or if you pick one up at a branch.
Who pays for a flat tire on a rental car?
Check your agreement. Budget’s roadside page says the renter might pay for the tire repair or replacement, depending on the circumstances.
Can I use my own roadside plan, like AAA?
Many motor club plans follow the member, not the car. Call the rental company first anyway, because they choose where the car goes.
Can I pay the tow with a credit card?
Yes. Miller’s takes credit cards and debit cards. Read more in do tow trucks take credit cards.
Need a Tow for a Rental in Wichita?
If your rental car broke down and the rental company says to arrange your own tow, call Miller’s Towing & Recovery at 316-351-4754. We provide towing services in Wichita, KS 24 hours a day from our yard at 4309 S Broadway. You get a price before we hook up and a receipt you can send to the rental company.