A breakdown is stressful, especially on a busy road. The first minutes matter most, and they are about safety, not about fixing the car.
Get to safety
At the first sign of trouble (a warning light, smoke, a loss of power, a strange noise), turn on your hazard lights and pull over as far as possible from traffic: the shoulder, an exit, a parking area. On a highway, try to reach an exit or emergency area if the car can still move safely.
Once stopped, apply the parking brake and turn the wheels away from the road. If you are on a highway shoulder, it is usually safer to get out on the side away from traffic and wait behind a barrier, well away from the car. Put on a reflective vest if you have one, and place warning triangles behind the car only if you can do so safely. If you cannot leave the car safely, stay inside with your seat belt on and call for help.
Call for help
Call your roadside assistance service, your insurer (many policies include it) or the car manufacturer’s assistance, which often covers newer cars. Give your exact location: highway number, direction, the nearest exit or mile marker, or use your phone’s GPS. In an emergency, or if you are in a dangerous spot, call 911 (or 112 in Europe).
Simple checks while you wait
If you are safely away from traffic, a few observations help the technician:
- Car will not start, clicks or nothing happens: probably the battery. See how to handle a car battery issue.
- Temperature gauge high, steam from the hood: stop the engine and do not open the radiator cap while it is hot.
- Engine stalled while driving: our guide to why a car stalls lists the usual causes.
- Flat tire: change it only if you are well away from traffic; see changing a flat safely.
- Out of fuel: it happens to everyone; assistance can bring some.
A flashing check-engine light means a serious misfire: stop driving to avoid damaging the catalytic converter.
Making breakdowns less likely
Most roadside calls come down to a few causes: batteries, tires, running out of fuel and overheating. Regular checks prevent the majority of them. Keep an emergency kit in the car, know your assistance number, and keep your phone charged on long trips. Our checklists on preparing for a long drive and maintaining your car cover the basics, and some driver apps can request help with your exact location.
