what to do if your car breaks down uk

How to Cope When your Car Breaks Down on a UK Road

• 1) Pull over to the hard shoulder and park as far to the left as you can.
• 2) Turn your steering wheel left full lock. ...
• 3) Switch on your hazard warning lights. ...
• 4) Exit your vehicle using the left hand doors. ...
• 5) If you have any animals leave them in your vehicle.
• 6) Phone the emergency services. ...
• 7) Do not attempt to repair your vehicle.

Full Answer

How to stay safe if your car breaks down?

• Get your car off the road. No matter what the issue is with your vehicle, if you are able, it’s very important to pull your vehicle over to the side ...
• Call for help. ...
• Advise others that you’re in trouble. ...
• Stay with your vehicle. ...
• It’s probably not the best time to take a stab at auto repair. ...
• Use common sense. ...
• Be careful of strangers. ...

What would cause a vehicle to break down?

Top 10 reasons for a car breakdown

1. Flat or faulty battery – 30%. Driving a lot of short journeys with a fair amount of stopping and starting you could eventually drain the battery.
2. Lost keys – 10%. You car keys will more than likely have a microchip, designed to help prevent the car being stolen. ...
3. Flat tyre or damaged wheel – 5%. ...
4. Distributor cap – 3%. ...
5. Alternator faults – 3%. ...

More items...

How much does it cost to break down a car?

The average cost lands somewhere between $60 to $130, but the final cost can vary widely depending on a number of factors. You might end up paying closer to $200 to fix major damages. The best way to get an accurate estimate is to research the prices in your area and get a few different quotes.

What to do when your car breaks down while driving?

• Take your foot off the gas pedal.
• Do not brake suddenly.
• Ideally, aim for the right shoulder of the road — pulling into the left-hand shoulder is a last resort.
• Be sure to park with your wheels turned to the right so that if your vehicle is struck from behind, your vehicle will not cross the lane into moving traffic. ...

What do you do with a car that breaks down?

What to do when your car breaks downTurn on your hazard/emergency lights. ... Slow down and pull off the road. ... Turn your wheels away from the road and put on the emergency brake. ... Stay in your vehicle. ... Be visible. ... Set up flares or triangles. ... Call for help.

What should I do if my car breaks down at home?

Call your breakdown service and leave it to the professionals. Put on the car's hazard lights, and its side lights if conditions are gloomy. If you're not in a safe place, such as a lay-by or service station, you'll need to assess whether it's safe to leave the car.

What do you do if your car breaks down on the motorway UK?

What to do if you breakdown on a motorwayTry to get off the motorway.Turn on your lights and hazard lights.Wait in a safe place.Make yourself visible.Report your breakdown online.

Do you have to stay with your car if it breaks down?

Leave your car through the left-hand door and make sure any passengers do so too. Stay behind the barrier of the hard shoulder. Leave any animals travelling with you inside the car. Never try to put a red safety triangle on the motorway.

Can you call the police if your car breaks down?

Most of the time, you'll have 24 hours to take care of it, assuming that the vehicle isn't blocking traffic or obstructing the road. To give yourself the best possible chance that it won't be towed, call the police department's non-emergency line and inform them of your situation.

Can I leave my broken down car UK?

Leaving a Vehicle after Breakdown on Motorway You and any passengers should all exit the vehicle using the left-hand side doors. Try to move up the bank or wait behind the barrier instead. Everyone (including children) should remain as far away as possible from the hard shoulder.

Should I call the police if I break down on the motorway?

If you can't get into the left hand lane, or you can't exit your vehicle to get to a place of safety, stay in your vehicle, keep your seatbelts and hazard warning lights on and call 999 immediately. National Highways closely monitors traffic in roadworks, but you must call 999 if you've broken down in them.

What happens if your car breaks down on the motorway?

Broken down on a motorway Try to leave the motorway at the nearest exit or by pulling into a service station. If this isn't possible, pull over onto the hard shoulder and stop your car as far to the left as possible with your wheels also turned to the left.

Do you call the police if you break down on motorway?

If you don't have breakdown cover, you could use google maps to find the nearest local garage and give them a call. If you breakdown in a motorway lane, call 999. If you call through a motorway emergency phone, you'll be connected to the Highways Agency or the police.

Can I call AA if not a member?

We'll come and rescue you, even if you're not a Member yet. If you're already with us, you can also report a breakdown and pinpoint your location using our app. It's the fastest way to ask us for help and track our arrival.

Should you stay in your car if it breaks down on the highway?

Steer your vehicle as far out of the travel lanes as possible. Note your location for police or other responders. If you can pull over to the side of the road, exit through the passenger-side door, away from traffic, then stand far away - behind the guardrail, if possible.

Where should you stand if your car breaks down?

Ideally you should stand away from your car and at least a few metres behind the rear of your car. This should help keep you safe if another vehicle hits your car. Use your phone to contact a breakdown service or a local garage for assistance.

What is the first thing to do if your brakes fail?

How to stop a vehicle that has total brake failure. Pump the brake pedal continuously. This could build residual pressure in the brake system to slow the car, but will most certainly warn trailing traffic you are attempting to stop. If you feel brake pressure return, gradually press the brakes until you come to a stop.

Who to call if you break down on the motorway?

999Broken down on a motorway and can't get to the hard shoulder If you can't get to the leftmost lane, stay in your car with your seatbelt and hazard lights on, then call 999. If you're disabled and unable to follow advice about leaving the car, also stay in your car with your seatbelt and hazard lights on, then call 999.

What should you do if your car breaks down on a country road at night?

What to Do If Your Car Breaks Down at NightCall a 24-Hour Towing Service. Many towing companies offer 24-hour services for situations just like these. ... Turn on Your Hazard Lights. ... Let Someone Know Where You Are. ... Keep an Eye on Your Surroundings.

What should you do if your hood flies up while driving?

If you are driving and the hood of your car flies open, do the following:Slow down.Try to look underneath the hood at the road ahead.If that is not possible put your head out the window and look around the hood.Use the painted center line or lane markings as a guide.More items...

Be prepared with breakdown cover

Many car insurance policies now include breakdown cover but there are still many where you have to pay extra for this as an add-on to your policy.

Be prepared with a breakdown kit

As mentioned above, check out our blog on how to prepare your car for winter which includes a list of 10 essentials for your winter car kit.

Car on lease broken down: what to do

If you lease a car, breakdown cover with roadside assistance is provided by the manufacturer until a car is three years old.

Car on finance broken down no cover: what to do

If your car broke down while it’s still on finance and you have no breakdown cover, you have the right to seek help from either the dealership you bought your vehicle from or the finance provider.

What is a hard shoulder?

The hard shoulder is a lane on the furthest left hand-side of the motorway which is usually reserved for emergency stoppages, such as breakdowns.

What information do I need to tell my breakdown cover provider?

If you have breakdown cover, your provider will need the following details in order to recover you:

What happens now?

The fate of your next few hours will vary, depending on what level of breakdown cover you have.

How to break down a car?

Whether you break down in the middle of a city, on a remote country lane, on a busy A road or a quieter B road, there are some basic rules you should follow while you wait to be rescued: 1 If you can, get your car off the road or pull over to the left as far as possible. 2 Put your hazard warning lights on. 3 If your car is safely parked off-road and it’s not causing an obstruction, it may be safer to wait for help in your car on quieter roads. 4 If you’re on a busy road, it will usually be safer to wait outside your car. Exit your car through the door furthest away from the traffic. 5 Wear a high vis jacket, light-coloured clothing or reflective clothing so other drivers can see you. 6 If it is safe to do so, put out a red warning triangle on the road at least 45 metres behind your car, unless you’re on the motorway. 7 Don’t stand between your car and oncoming traffic, and don’t block your car lights from other drivers. 8 Try to keep your sidelights on if it’s dark or there’s poor visibility.

What happens if your car breaks down?

If you are unfortunate and your car breaks down during a journey, you may be unaware of what you legally need to do, what the road rules are and how to remain safe until further help arrives. Even if you look after your car and make sure it’s in tip-top condition, there is still a risk that you could break down on your travels.

How to report a breakdown?

You can call your provider by phone, or some providers will allow you to report your breakdown online. To help you, your breakdown provider will need to know: Your name and other details about you and your policy. Details about your car and what has happened. Your location.

How to call a breakdown provider?

Call your breakdown provider on your mobile or walk to the nearest emergency telephone on your side of the carriageway behind the barrier of the hard shoulder. After making the phone call, wait for assistance. Stand well away from the hard shoulder and the carriageway.

How far behind your car should you put a red triangle?

If it is safe to do so, put out a red warning triangle on the road at least 45 metres behind your car, unless you’re on the motorway. Don’t stand between your car and oncoming traffic, and don’t block your car lights from other drivers. Try to keep your sidelights on if it’s dark or there’s poor visibility. The aim of these rules is ...

What to do if you have a disability?

If you have a disability that makes it hard to do any of these things, you should stay in your vehicle and turn on your hazard warning lights. You can then display a “Help” pennant, if you have one, and phone for help if you have a mobile phone.

How to wait for help in your car?

Put your hazard warning lights on. If your car is safely parked off-road and it’s not causing an obstruction, it may be safer to wait for help in your car on quieter roads. If you’re on a busy road, it will usually be safer to wait outside your car. Exit your car through the door furthest away from the traffic.

What to do if your car is in close proximity to traffic?

Ignore the temptation to stay inside. With your vehicle in such close proximity to high-speed oncoming traffic, you run the risk of your parked vehicle being hit. As such, you should get yourself and your passengers to safety—anywhere far from the road is fine, or behind the safety barrier.

What to do if you break down on a dual carriageway?

If you've broken down on a dual carriageway or motorway, it's vital that you don't attempt to fix the problem yourself. Even if you're pretty confident that you know what the issue is, it's still a dangerous situation. What you should do instead is wait for the experts to arrive.

Why is it important to wear a jacket when driving at night?

This is especially important if you're driving at night ! Depending on what you've got in your boot, you might have a high-visibility jacket that, you should consider wearing when you come to getting out of the vehicle—it will help make you more visible to other road users.

How far behind your vehicle should you put a reflective triangle?

Make yourself visible. If you have one, and it's safe to do so, you should place a reflective triangle approximately 45 metres behind your vehicle on the same side of the road. This will give motorists plenty of time to spot you and alter their speed if need be.

What side of the road should you get out of when you pull over?

Once you've pulled over onto the hard shoulder or far left of the road, you need to be very careful getting out of the vehicle. You should avoid getting out on the driver's side—if you do, you put yourself at risk with the oncoming traffic. Instead, climb over to the passenger's side on the left and get out that way.

Why is it important to slow down before pulling over?

It's important that you slow down before you think about pulling over. Don't make any sudden movements and give the road users behind you plenty of time to prepare.

How to get a car to be towed?

It's not the end of the world if you don't have a breakdown policy in place. If this happens to you, you have a few choices up your sleeve: 1 Get in touch with a local garage: they'll usually be able to come out and tow your vehicle to their garage. 2 Start a policy with a breakdown provider: almost all providers will allow you to ask for assistance and start a policy then and there. 3 Use an emergency phone: in this case, it will usually be Highways Agency who will get involved.

What to do if your car develops a problem?

If your vehicle develops a problem, leave the carriageway at the next exit or pull into a service area if possible (see Rule 275 for places of relative safety). If you cannot, you should

How to return to your vehicle after a breakdown?

if you feel at risk from another person, return to your vehicle by a left-hand door and lock all doors. Leave your vehicle again as soon as you feel this danger has passed. Before you rejoin the carriageway after a breakdown, build up speed on the hard shoulder and watch for a safe gap in the traffic.

How to call 999 if you have a car?

call 999 immediately and ask for the police. Alternatively, press your SOS button if your vehicle has one and ask for the police.

What to do before rejoining the carriageway after a breakdown?

Before you rejoin the carriageway after a breakdown, build up speed on the hard shoulder and watch for a safe gap in the traffic. Be aware that other vehicles may be stationary on the hard shoulder. Rule 277. If you cannot get your vehicle onto the hard shoulder.

What is the safest place to stop?

The safest place to stop is a location which is designed for parking. On motorways and other high-speed roads, the safest place to stop is a service area. Other places of relative safety include

What are the emergency services required to do on a carriageway?

The emergency services, traffic officers and recovery workers may be required to work in the carriageway; for example, dealing with debris, collisions or conducting rolling roadblocks. You MUST follow any directions given by police or traffic officers as to whether you can safely pass the incident or obstruction.

What does it mean when a car has a hard shoulder?

a hard shoulder, build up speed, indicate and watch for a safe gap in the traffic. Be aware that vehicles, obstructions or debris may be present on the hard shoulder