What to Do During a Breakdown

Knowing what to do during a breakdown can make a stressful situation much safer and easier to handle. Whether your car has stopped on a motorway, a side street, or somewhere in between, following the right steps protects you, your passengers, and other road users while help is on the way.

What to Do During a Breakdown: First Steps

If your vehicle starts to lose power or make an unusual noise, try to steer calmly onto the hard shoulder, a layby, or the side of the road, away from moving traffic. Switch on your hazard lights immediately so other drivers can see you. The Highway Code’s breakdown and accident guidance covers this in detail and is worth reading before you ever need it.

Staying Safe While You Wait

On a motorway, leave your vehicle through the passenger side door if it is safe to do so, and stand behind the barrier well away from the carriageway. On quieter roads, staying inside the car with your seatbelt fastened is usually safer than standing beside it. Keep a warm layer and a torch in the car for breakdowns after dark or in poor weather.

Calling for Help

Once you are in a safe position, call for recovery and give a clear description of your location, ideally using a nearby junction number, landmark, or what3words reference. Our car recovery South East London team will ask a few quick questions about the fault and your vehicle so we can send the right equipment straight away. You can also check the RAC’s breakdown advice hub for further tips while you wait.

What Information to Have Ready

• Your exact location or the nearest landmark
• Your vehicle registration and make/model
• A short description of what happened
• A contact number we can reach you on

Having these details ready speeds up dispatch and means our driver arrives properly prepared for the job, whether that is a simple jump start or a full flatbed recovery.

Common Breakdown Causes

Flat batteries, punctures, overheating engines, and running out of fuel are among the most frequent reasons drivers call us. Many of these can be resolved at the roadside with a jump start, a wheel change, or fuel delivery, while more serious mechanical issues, such as a failed timing belt or gearbox fault, will need a tow to a garage of your choice. Our drivers carry equipment for most common roadside fixes, so a fair number of breakdowns are sorted without any towing at all.

After the Breakdown

Once your vehicle is safely recovered, it is worth booking a check-up with your garage, particularly if the cause of the breakdown was not obvious. Keeping on top of routine maintenance, tyre condition, and battery health is the best way to avoid a repeat breakdown in future. A quick pre-trip check of your oil, coolant, tyre pressure and lights takes only a few minutes and can prevent many common roadside failures before they happen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to stay in my car during a breakdown?
On most roads, yes. On a motorway or fast dual carriageway, it is safer to exit from the passenger side and wait behind the barrier.

How quickly can you reach me?
Our team typically reaches breakdowns across South East London within 30 to 45 minutes, depending on your location and traffic conditions.

What if I am not sure what caused the breakdown?
That is fine. Just describe the symptoms when you call, and our driver will assess the vehicle on arrival and recommend the safest next step.

If you need help right now, call our 24/7 recovery line, or explore our full range of recovery and towing services for more on how we can assist.