What To Do When You Have a Car Breakdown: Ten Top Tips

Breaking down is always a very stressful experience - no matter where you are, or how well prepared you are. Keeping these few simple tips in mind can help to ease the stress.

Don't panic. As long as you have breakdown cover you will be helped.

A copy of the Highway Code is always a good thing to keep in the car. The Highway Code will give you the correct ways of dealing with breakdowns, e.g. on the motorway.

Take a well-charged mobile phone with you on any journey, no matter how short. Or alternatively keep loose change for a public telephone box in the car for calling your emergency breakdown number.


When you ring the emergency breakdown number do not let them make you wait. Ask to speak to the supervisor if you have to, because as a general rule the coordinators will keep you waiting if they can, so that the troublesome people can get help first. Be one of the troublesome people.


If you have young children in the car, play it up. The breakdown company will be afraid of being reported.

No matter how frustrating things are, when the breakdown person arrives, be very nice. He's there to help.

Don't try to fix the car yourself unless someone there is a very experienced, preferably qualified mechanic. This could make things worse, and could make the breakdown mechanic's job harder, which will not endear him to you.

Don't pay for the car to be towed off by a garage that will cost you, unless you are absolutely desperate and the mechanic can't get to you - you pay for your motor breakdown service, and you should get it.

If you have children in the car, safety first - a stationary car on the road is never safe - try to find somewhere close but not too close to the car to wait for the break down mechanic.

And last make sure you have motor breakdown cover! It is always better to be safe than sorry.