Events & Places
Franklin University Towing for Evening and Weekend Students
When class ends late and the car will not start, here is how to get a jump, a lockout or a tow near Franklin's downtown Columbus campus.
Call (740) 812-9489
Franklin University towing requests look different from most campus calls, because Franklin's students are mostly working adults. The university's main campus is at 201 South Grant Avenue in downtown Columbus, and federal College Navigator data shows that 73 percent of its undergraduates are 25 or older and 63 percent attend part-time. Many take courses online, so the people who do drive downtown tend to arrive after work, stay for an evening class, and head for the car when the surrounding offices have emptied out. That timing matters when a battery dies or keys get locked in, because help after 10 p.m. is priced differently and the streets are quieter. This page covers the campus location, the late-evening pattern, what to tell dispatch and what each service costs. We are an independent company with no connection to the university.
Call (740) 812-9489 · Request a tow now (SOS) · Get an online quote
Where the campus is and how students arrive
Franklin's downtown campus is centered on South Grant Avenue on the east side of downtown, with buildings that include Fisher Hall and Frasch Hall along with the university's clock tower and Huntington Courtyard. It is a commuter campus in the plainest sense: College Navigator lists no on-campus housing, so nearly everyone who comes to class drives, rides a bus or gets dropped off.
For drivers that means surface lots and nearby garages shared with downtown office workers during the day, and a much emptier landscape at night. Before you walk into class, take a moment to note the lot or garage name, the level and the nearest cross street. If you call us at 9:45 p.m. with a dead battery, that note is the difference between a technician walking straight to you and one circling the block.
Late-evening problems and what to do about them
Cars driven straight from work and left for a three-hour class sit through the coldest or hottest part of the evening. A marginal battery may crank fine at 6 p.m. and fail at 9. A jump start is a flat $75 plus a $4-per-mile en-route charge and comes with a battery test and printed report; if the battery is done, a replacement on the spot saves a second trip.
Locking your keys inside while juggling a laptop bag is the other common call, and lockout service costs the same flat rate. A tire that picked up a nail on the way in can be switched to your spare with a tire change.
- Wait inside the building or a lit spot, not beside the car on a dark lot
- Keep your phone charged enough to take our callback
- Have ID that matches the registration ready for a lockout
Timing, surcharges and response on a class night
Our rate card adds $150 for calls between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and $50 on weekends. A class that lets out at 9:30 and a quick call can land before the after-hours window; a car you discover dead at 10:15 will not. We tell you the total before we dispatch.
Most metro calls are reached in 20 to 40 minutes, which is an estimate rather than a guarantee. Downtown at night is usually easy to cross, but events at the Convention Center or the Arena District can slow things down; our Convention Center page covers that area. If the car needs to go, emergency towing is $4 a mile en-route, a $125 hook-up and $7 per loaded mile to your home or shop.
If your car is gone when class ends
Downtown parking rules are enforced at night too. If your car was on a street with posted restrictions or an expired meter, check the City's Find My Vehicle search, then read our Columbus impound lot guide for the documents and fees. The City releases vehicles on weekdays only. If you parked in a private lot, the posted sign names the company that removed the car. We cannot release a car from any lot, but once you have the release, we can tow it wherever you need. When you call, mention where the car was parked and whether any sign or notice was posted on that curb. If the car turns up at the City lot and will not start after sitting there, a jump or a tow from the lot are both options once it has been released to you.
Franklin University: common questions
Frequently asked questions
Do you handle Franklin University towing and roadside calls at night?
We answer those calls. Dispatch answers around the clock at (740) 812-9489, and we respond to drivers parked near Franklin's South Grant Avenue campus after evening classes. We are not affiliated with the university. Tell us the lot or garage, the level and the cross street, and we will send a technician to jump, unlock, change a tire or tow.
How much is a jump start after a night class?
The service is $75 plus en-route at $4 per mile from our yard. Calls placed between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. add a $150 after-hours surcharge, and weekend calls add $50. If your class ends at 9:30 and you call right away, you may land before the after-hours window. After the jump, a battery test runs and you leave with a printed copy of the reading.
Where is Franklin University's main campus?
The main campus is at 201 South Grant Avenue in downtown Columbus, ZIP 43215, on the east side of downtown. It is a commuter campus with no on-campus housing. Buildings include Fisher Hall and Frasch Hall. Give dispatch the building or lot you are near when you call so the driver can find you quickly.
Can you replace my battery in the parking lot?
In most cases, yes. If the post-jump test shows the battery has failed, we can install a new one where the car sits, priced at the battery cost plus the $75 service call and en-route at $4 a mile. That avoids driving home on a battery that may not restart the next morning. Surcharges apply after 10 p.m. and on weekends.
I cannot find my car downtown after class. What should I check first?
Start with the City's online vehicle search to see whether it was impounded. If you parked in a private lot, look for the posted sign that names the towing company. Only the City or that company can release the car, and the City lot is open weekdays. If nothing turns up, report it to police as possibly stolen.
Should I wait by my car for the tow truck?
Not if the lot is dark or empty. Wait inside a building or in a well-lit spot where you can see the car, and keep your phone on. Our dispatcher calls when the technician is close. Once the truck arrives, confirm the plan and the price with the driver before any work starts.
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Roadside Towing & Recovery Inc is an independent towing company and is not affiliated with Franklin University.
Roadside Towing & Recovery Inc (dba Columbus Roadside Towing).
Corporate office (private, no walk-ins): 3879 Regatta Ct, Lewis Center, OH 43035
Tow yard & impound lot: 1620 Harrisburg Pike, Columbus, OH 43223
(740) 812-9489 · chris@columbusroadsidetowing.com