Last Updated August 2026

It doesn’t take extreme off-roading to get stuck in the mud. A rain-soaked campground, a wet and rutted festival field parking lot or even a construction site can leave your tires spinning. Before you press harder on the accelerator, learn key steps to take when you’re stuck in the mud.

Signs your car is stuck in the mud

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if you're truly stuck or just need a little momentum. Signs that you’re stuck:

• Your tires spin and make noise but don’t move the car
• The car rocks but doesn’t advance
• Mud reaches the wheel wells or undercarriage

What to do first

Assess the situation. Get out and take a look, if it’s safe. Check how deep the mud is, whether it’s touching the underside of your car and whether the ground around you is firm enough to stand on.

If the car is “high-centered” — resting on its undercarriage — the tires are no longer making enough contact with the ground to free you. Call for help getting pulled out — which is often called recovery, instead of towing, when a vehicle is trapped by terrain.

Step by step: How to get your car unstuck from mud

If the mud isn’t too deep and it’s safe to proceed, Consumer Reports recommends taking these steps .

Before you try anything

• Check whether your car is front-, rear- or all-wheel drive. This tells you which wheels need traction.
• Turn off traction control if your owner’s manual supports it for low-traction conditions; otherwise, leave it on.
• Clear mud away from the drive wheels, especially in front of and behind the tires. Turn the steering wheel left and right a few times to help.
• Straighten the steering wheel so the tires roll forward instead of digging sideways.
• Reduce the load in your car if you can safely.
• Make sure you have a safety-rated point to attach a strap or winch — not the bumper, axle or ball hitch.

Clear the wheels

Remove mud from in front of and behind your tires, using your hands or any tools available. To help loosen packed mud, turn the steering wheel from side to side a few times. Clear a path several feel long in the direction you need to go. Leave the wheels facing straight ahead.

Add traction under the tires

Put something grippy — sand, gravel, cat litter, boards, branches, even blankets or clothing — directly in front of and behind your drive wheels to give them more traction. Your car’s floor mats can work in a pinch.

Use gentle acceleration or rocking

Apply light, steady pressure on the gas. Spinning the tires faster can dig the car in deeper. If the car doesn't move forward, try shifting slowly between drive and reverse to rock it free, easing off the gas each time you change direction. Avoid prolonged rocking in an automatic transmission, since it can cause the transmission to overheat.

Pull with a strap only if it’s safe

A recovery strap — stretchy nylon webbing designed for pulling a car out of mud — can help if another car or truck is available to do the work, but this method can be risky. Don’t use rope or tow lines, which don’t have the same built-in stretch and can snap under the pressure of a sudden yank or pull attachment points off the stuck car.

Attach the recovery strap only to a manufacturer-rated recovery point — never to any other part of the car. It may be a threaded hole or a metal hook or loop on the front or back of the car; check the owner’s manual to find yours. Keep everyone clear of the strap’s path while it’s being used because a strap that snaps under tension can cause serious injury.

When to call for help

Some situations call for professional help to free a car stuck in mud:

• Mud reaches the car’s undercarriage.
• You don’t have safe, rated recovery points to attach a strap or winch.
• Severe weather, standing or rising water or unstable ground make it a poor time to try to free your car yourself.
• You’ve tried freeing the vehicle for several minutes without success.

A towing or roadside assistance company can typically extract a car that’s stuck using a winch, which is often safer than a strap pull. When you call, be ready with your location, vehicle type and description of how the car is stuck (for example, in mud versus a ditch) so the company can send the right equipment.

Having roadside assistance coverage in place in your car insurance policy can help with the cost of a tow or winch if you get stuck. And if a muddy mishap leads to actual vehicle damage, optional collision coverage in a policy may help, too.

Steps for keeping your car from getting stuck in the mud

A little caution can save you from getting stuck if you find yourself in (or heading toward) a muddy area.

• Drive slowly and steadily and keep the wheels straight.
• Avoid slamming on the brakes or accelerating hard on soft or wet ground.
• Before you drive into mud, use a stick to check how deep it is. Go another way if mud would reach halfway up your tires.
• Choose routes with visible tire tracks from other vehicles and avoid low-lying areas after heavy rain.
• Keep your tires properly inflated and check tread depth regularly, since worn tires lose traction faster in mud.

The same advice can help you navigate in other seasons. Many winter driving tips for icy or snowy roads, like keeping a slow pace and avoiding sudden braking or acceleration, also apply to muddy or soft terrain.

Building a mud recovery kit for your car

According to Ready.gov, it’s smart to keep a basic emergency kit in your car in case you’re stranded. Add these things to yours if you’re heading into muddy conditions:

• A compact shovel
• A set of traction boards or mats and a bag of sand, gravel or cat litter
• A rated recovery strap, gloves, flashlight, jumper cables and phone charger
• A blanket, water and a reflective triangle or flares in case you have to wait for help

If you’re heading into a situation where getting stuck is more likely, review this roadside emergency guide before you go, and let someone know your route and expected return time.

The information contained in this page is provided for general informational purposes only. Read our editorial standards for Insurance Questions and other content. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied. This does not refer to any specific insurance policy and nothing herein is intended to replace or modify any terms in your actual policy.

Farmers may also provide information on topics that are not directly about insurance policies or coverage that we believe could be helpful to you. Information in such articles is not meant as professional advice, and any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

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