My car is stuck in sand — how do I get it out?
If your car is stuck in sand: stop pressing the accelerator — spinning wheels dig you deeper. Drop tire pressure to 15–20 psi, clear sand from around the wheels, and rock the car gently forward and back. If that fails, open the Wire app and request recovery or a tow; nearby drivers send quotes and you pick the one that fits.
Step by step
Stop spinning the wheels
The most common mistake. Every second of wheelspin in sand sinks the car further and makes recovery harder.
Lower the tire pressure
Drop to 15–20 psi so the tires float on a wider contact patch. Remember to reinflate before returning to asphalt.
Dig around the wheels
Clear sand in front of and behind the tires, and from under the chassis if the car is sitting on it.
Lay a track for the tires
Put anything firm under the tires — a mat, a board, branches — to give them something to grip.
Rock the car gently
With very light throttle, rock forward and back to build momentum gradually rather than in one burst.
Request recovery on Wire
If nothing works or the car is resting on its chassis, open Wire, share your exact coordinates and the ground type, and nearby drivers quote.
Things to watch
- Never recover a car with an ordinary rope — it snaps and becomes genuinely dangerous.
- Share precise map coordinates; most desert delays come from a vague location, not the distance.
- Carry enough water and never set off walking in the desert.
- Repeated attempts overheat the transmission, especially automatics — take breaks.
Common questions
Does Wire reach desert locations outside the city?
Coverage is strongest inside cities and their surroundings. Out in the desert it depends on how close drivers are to you, so share exact coordinates in the request and drivers can judge the distance and quote realistically.
What's the difference between recovery and a flatbed?
A recovery truck pulls the car free with a rope or hydraulic winch, which is what you want for sand. A flatbed loads the whole car onto a level deck, which is what you want to transport a car that cannot drive.
What does sand recovery cost?
There is no fixed price. Nearby drivers quote based on how far the location is, how difficult the ground is, and the type of vehicle, and you compare and choose. You see the price before accepting any offer.
What to do if…
Need a tow right now?
Request a tow