Published 14 October 2025
How to help someone whose car has broken down
Ever wondered how you'd handle a call for help if a friend or family member's car broke down?
How to deal with a breakdown call
Imagine the scene… you've settled down in front of the telly with a cup of tea, and the phone rings – it's your teenager on the line telling you their trusty runaround has broken down on the side of a busy road.
That’s where we come in.
Once you know they’re safe, let our breakdown guide you through the next steps:
- Remain calm – remember they called you for help. It’ll help the other person to keep their cool in a potentially dangerous situation.
- Tell them to make sure their car is on the hard shoulder, or as far off the road as possible, with front wheels turned to the left to stop it rolling into traffic. If it's safe, they should step away from the car and set up a warning triangle for oncoming traffic about 45 metres back where it's clearly visible. Remind them to be extra careful when setting it down and picking it up – and leave the triangle in the boot if they're on a motorway.
- Help them pinpoint their location if their car breaks down. A smartphone with GPS or the what3words app can make this very simple. Otherwise, ask about the last landmark or junction they remember seeing to get an idea of where they are.
- Call Britannia Rescue. If there's one of those handy emergency phones on the same side of the road, tell them to pick it up and dial for help – this will help the breakdown assistance to find their exact location.
- Then, wait for us to arrive and we’ll take it from there.
Naturally, having breakdown cover information in the car will help, when calling they'll need to share:
- The postcode of where the policy is registered to and the phone number they're calling from.
- The exact details of where they are.
- If they have personal cover and aren’t in their usual car, they’ll need to know the make, model, and registration number of the car they're driving.
How to avoid a car breakdown
If you've been lucky enough to dodge car breakdowns in the family, that's great! But it's always wise to be prepared, just in case.
The good news is, there are plenty of simple things drivers can do to help keep their cars running smoothly and avoid breakdowns.
How to prepare for a car breakdown
Before setting off, especially in unfamiliar areas with poor signal, it's a good habit to download a map of the local area to their phone. This way, they can still use GPS without data. If they're stuck with no signal, advise them to look for road markers or head to the nearest safe spot, like a shop or service station, to figure out their location.
Make sure you’re prepped for both them and for you. We’ve created a full checklist of essential items to take with you in case your car breaks down. It’s useful to tick off what you have and see how you can be extra prepared.
You may want to consider a full breakdown kit including towing ropes, tyre inflators and warning triangles. But, when packing your essential breakdown emergency kit, don’t forget:
If you have any breakdown trouble, remember to stay calm, follow the steps above and call for help once you're all safe.
In the event of a road traffic accident your insurer should always be contacted first, if they’re unable to help your breakdown provider may be able to assist.
