Texas Motorist Assistance Program

Texas Motorist Assistance Program (MAP)

The Texas Motorist Assistance Program (MAP) is intended to help stranded motorists get back on the road due to minor emergencies. They won't help you get over your weird fear of hood ornaments, but they can help you with a flat tire or overheating engine. It's a free service on most Houston and Harris County area freeways. Its purpose is to help stranded motorists and also to clear the freeways of minor incidents. This also helps other motorists by keeping them moving and saving them time and gas.  I've often thought about getting out of my car when I'm stuck in traffic, walking over to the traffic-causing problem and demanding the people involved reimburse me for gas wasted on waiting in traffic.  The MAP helps to keep me from doing that.

The specially marked MAP vehicles are equipped to handle minor automotive emergencies like overheating, flat tires, and jump-starts.  If you have such an emergency in the Houston or Harris County area, you can call 713-CALL-MAP (713-225-5627) to contact a Texas Department of Transportation dispatcher for help or to report a stranded motorist, if your cell phone provider is Verizon Wireless then you can dial *MAP (*627) free of charge.  AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile users just have to yell for help and hope someone comes.

MAP vehicles are staffed with experienced, uniformed deputies from the Harris County Sheriff's Office.  The Motorist Assistance Program is offered Monday through Friday, from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, free-of-charge. If services beyond those offered by MAP are required, motorists can contact the provider of their choice at their expense.

MAP is a public service that is made possible by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas Department of Transportation, Harris County Sheriff's Office, Houston Automobile Dealers Association, and Verizon Wireless.