What to Do If Your Car Breaks Down

Having your car break down can be a nightmare – and it never seems to happen during a ‘good time’ to have one. Whether you are on your way to work, or to school, or to pick up your kids from practice, it is always good to be prepared if you find yourself broken down on the side of the road.

7 Steps to Take After Your Car Breaks Down

If you wind up in a situation where your car breaks down, don’t panic. Here are a few steps you can follow to keep yourself out of harm’s way.

1. Turn on your hazards.

Once you realize that you are about to break down, the first step you should take is to alert those around you. Turning on your hazards lets other drivers know that something is not quite right with your car, and that they should take caution around you. This protects both you and other drivers on the road.

2. Make your way over to the right shoulder.

After your car beings to stall or break down and you’ve turned on your hazards, it is now time to get off of the road. The last place you want to find yourself is stopped in the middle of the road. This can lead to accidents that can lead to injuries ranging from minor to fatal for those involved. Always head toward the right shoulder as opposed to the left.

3. Note your location.

Take a look around at where you are. When you need to call for help from family, friends, or professionals, you will need to tell them where you are. If you have a family location sharing app such as Life360, you can skip this portion and simply alert your Circle of your location.

4. If you are stopped on a highway, stay in your vehicle with the doors locked.

If you find yourself broken down on a high speed road, do NOT exit the vehicle. Exiting the vehicle can lead to a potentially fatal pedestrian accident. Stay out and wait for help.

5. If you are in an emergency situation, call 911.

This is especially important if you were unable to get your car out of the way of traffic.

6. Open your hood to signal that you are broken down.

This is a great way to alert passersby that you are broken down and not hurt, sick, or sleeping. This is also a good way to flag down passing emergency vehicles of your situation.

7. Call roadside assistance.

Roadside assistance is available from a variety of different places, and can help you get off the road quicker with a lighter cost. At Life360, you can get up to 50 miles of free towing with our Platinum Plan. You can view our plans here.