What to do if your car breaks down

09 April 2025

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Breaking down is a pain, and can be scary if you're on a busy road or motorway. That’s why we’ve pulled together some helpful tips on what to do if you find yourself and your car in a sticky situation…

Try to keep yourself and others calm as panicking can make the situation worse.
If you think your car is about to stop, try to find a safe place to pull over.
Make sure you have some basic essentials in the car at all times.

Pre-journey checklist

No one plans on breaking down, but being prepared can make the experience a lot less stressful. So, whether you’re heading off on a long journey, or just your usual daily commute, a few simple checks before you leave can save you from breakdown panic.

Check fuel levels by looking at the gauge on your car's dashboard. Running out of fuel is one of the most common causes of breakdown, so don’t be caught short!
Lots of people don’t know that repeated short journeys can flatten your car's battery, so it’s important to check it’s charged up. You can do this by using a voltmeter.
Are your tyres properly inflated? Flat and worn tyres can be dangerous and often result in a breakdown. You can check your tyre pressure at a petrol station.
Make sure your screen wash is topped up. Having a clear windscreen is important for staying safe on the roads in all weather conditions.

Remember to always keep a copy of your breakdown cover documents in the car when going out on a journey - or save your breakdown provider's emergency number in your phone, so you have it to hand.

A top tip is to download the what3words app - this means you can give the breakdown provider your precise location so you can be rescued, even in the most remote areas.

What do you do if your car breaks down?

Thankfully, sudden breakdowns are rare as your car will usually give you some indication it's not happy. To help avoid a surprise breakdown, listen out for unusual sounds, keep an eye out for warning lights, and don't ignore that loud beeping sound - it could mean something important like you're about to run out of fuel or electricity.

If you do suddenly break down, try taking the following steps to make sure you’re not in danger:

If you think your car is about to stop, try to find a safe place to pull over. On a dual carriageway or on a motorway, this could be a lay-by or hard shoulder.
Try to get away from the main flow of traffic if your car does grind to a halt before you reach a safe place. If there's no hard shoulder, stop in the emergency refuge area or pull over off the road if it's safe to do so.
When you stop on a motorway hard shoulder, the safest place to wait for help is away from moving traffic. This puts you out of harm's way if another car were to hit yours.
If you can get there safely, stand a good distance behind a crash barrier and far away from the broken down car. Ideally, you would all be wearing hi-vis jackets, so keep some on board.
If you break down in a live lane of a motorway or carriageway and can't safely move the car off the road, switch on your hazards and let other drivers know that you’ve stopped.
Calmly assess the situation and make a decision on the safest course of action. If you decide to remain in the car, put your seatbelts on and call 999 as soon as you can.
Never try to fix the car at the side of the road as this can be dangerous. Call your breakdown service and leave it to the professionals.

How to stay safe when broken down

If you’re stuck on the side of the road, you need to make sure you and your car are visible. On a busy road, it might be difficult for other drivers to see you, particularly in poor weather and in the dark. If you're not in a safe place, like a lay-by or service station, you'll need to assess whether it's safe to leave the car.

To make sure you’re visible to other drivers, you should:

Put on the car's hazard lights straight away if conditions are gloomy.
Be sure to wear a hi-vis jacket if you have one.
If you have a warning triangle, place it at least 45m behind your car if it's safe to do so - this gives other drivers a heads up that there's a hazard ahead.
Remember you shouldn’t use the warning triangle on the motorway as it's too dangerous with fast-moving traffic around.

Who should you call if your car breaks down?

Most motorways will have markers on the side of the road that indicate where the nearest emergency phone is.

If it’s safe, you can walk along the hard shoulder to the nearest emergency phone. You’ll need to let the breakdown service know where you are so use the markers on the motorway to help pinpoint your location. Otherwise, try and recall your last turnoff or phone GPS if you have signal.

If you have the what3words app, open it up and you'll be given a unique three-word reference for your exact location.

Let your breakdown cover provider know if you feel unsafe in the area you've broken down in. They can advise you on what to do and will often prioritise people who are stuck in unsafe situations.

Breakdown cover is invaluable in the event of a breakdown. It can include services like roadside repairs and towing to a garage, so you won’t be left stranded. It’s worthwhile to make sure you’re covered as it can save you money and hassle if your car stops working - and gives you peace of mind while driving! We provide 5 levels of breakdown cover from Roadside Assist to UK & European Assist.