Can't Find an Exit Sign? Your Phone's Exact Steps to Pinpoint Your Location

Your car is on the shoulder with the hazard lights flashing. You’ve made the smart, safe call for roadside assistance. The friendly voice on the other end of the line asks a simple question that suddenly feels impossible to answer: "Can you tell me your location or the nearest exit?"

At night, in bad weather, or on an unfamiliar stretch of highway, exit signs and mile markers can be incredibly difficult to spot. This moment of uncertainty adds stress to an already tense situation. But don't worry—the solution is in your hand. Your smartphone is a powerful GPS device that can tell you exactly where you are in seconds.

At Carsaad Towing, we want you to be prepared. Here is a precise, step-by-step guide for finding your location using the most popular map apps.

Smartphone map showing current location

How to Find Your Location in 3 Common Apps

Don't panic and try to navigate complex menus. For each app, the process is very simple and takes just a couple of taps.

Using Google Maps (iOS & Android)

After activating location services, mapping applications can quickly show your location. Here’s how to effectively use them:

1. Open the Google Maps app.

2. Tap the "Locate Me" button. This icon looks like a small target or crosshairs and is usually found in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

3. Identify the Blue Dot. The screen will automatically center on a pulsating blue dot—that's your exact location.

4. Read the Map. The name of the freeway you are on will be clearly visible. Zoom in with your fingers to see the names of the nearest cross-street overpasses and the next one or two upcoming exits. This is the perfect information to give a dispatcher.

5. For Ultimate Accuracy (Optional): Press and hold your finger on the blue dot to drop a red pin. Then, tap the "Share" button to send a text message with a direct link to your location.

Using Apple Maps (iPhone)

Open the Apple Maps app.

1. Tap the "Location Arrow" button. This icon looks like a paper airplane arrow and is located in the top-right corner of the screen.

2. Look for the Pulsating Blue Dot. The map will immediately shift to center on your current location, shown as a blue dot.

3. Find Your Exit. Zoom in on your location. Apple Maps is excellent at clearly labeling freeway exit numbers and the names of the cross-streets. You can easily see the last exit you passed and the next one ahead.

4. Share Your Location: You can either press and hold on the blue dot to "Share My Location" or simply tell the dispatcher the information you see on the screen.

Using Waze (iOS & Android)

Open the Waze app. Waze will typically open centered on your current location automatically.

1. Re-Center if Needed. If the map has moved, tap the "Recenter" button in the bottom-right. It looks like a compass symbol.

2. Check Your Current Road. Your location is represented by a car-shaped icon. Waze is great at displaying the name of the road or freeway you are currently on at the bottom of the screen.

3. Share Your Drive. Tap the "Share" button at the bottom of the screen (you may need to tap your car icon first). This allows you to send a link to someone (like a family member or the dispatcher) that shows your live, real-time location on a map.

Quick Alternative: Ask Your Voice Assistant

If you'd rather not open an app, you can get the information hands-free. Simply activate your phone's assistant and ask clearly:

• For iPhone users: "Hey Siri, where am I?"

• For Android users: "Hey Google, what's my location?"

Your phone will read your approximate address or nearest intersection back to you.

Smartphone screen displaying a roadside assistance app interface

The Carsaad Towing Advantage: We Can Find You, Too

Carsaad Towing dispatcher talking on the phone with a stranded customer

Knowing your location is incredibly helpful, but we understand that you're in a stressful situation. That’s why we’ve invested in technology to make it even easier.

If you call Carsaad Towing and are unsure of your location, we can send a secure link to your smartphone. With a single tap, your phone sends us its precise GPS coordinates. Our dispatch system sees your exact location on our map, and we send a truck directly to you—no guesswork required.

Save the Carsaad Towing number in your contacts today: (888) 928-1233. Whether you can pinpoint your exit on a map or need us to find you with our technology, one call is all it takes to get safe, professional help on the way.