The CoverGirl Car Insurance Services Guide to:
What to do following a car breakdown
Of course the best thing to do is not to have a breakdown in the first place. There are many things you can do to prevent your car breaking down:
- Maintain your car – have it serviced regularly by a reputable garage
- Check your car regularly:
- Check the battery level
- Ensure the tyres are in good condition
- Check the lights, indicators, wipers and screen washers work
- Keep your petrol tank topped up
If your car has a breakdown, here are some useful tips to get you on your way as quickly and safely as possible:
Motorway breakdown
- Pull on to the hard shoulder and park well away from the main carriageway
- Exit the car by the passenger door and stand well away from the car
- If you have a mobile phone, call for assistance
- Arrows on marker posts at the edge of the hard shoulder indicate the direction
to the nearest emergency phone
- Emergency phones will link you to a police motorway control centre. Tell them
the following information:
- Your exact location
- Car make, model and registration number
- How many passengers
- Your membership number if you have breakdown cover
- Cause of accident (if known)
- Return to your car, but don't get in to the car unless you feel unsafe – many
fatal accidents occur on the hard shoulder
- If you feel unsafe, get into your car on the passenger side, put your seatbelt
on and lock all doors
Breakdown on other roads
- If you are stranded, don’t hitch a lift with a stranger
- Use a mobile phone, or find the nearest public phone to call your motoring
organisation or a garage for help
- Tell them your location, car, cause of breakdown and motoring organisation
membership number. If you are alone (or with children), in a remote area or
feel in danger, tell the breakdown company and they will make you a priority
- Return to your vehicle and, unless there's a danger of collision, stay inside
the car
CoverGirl Car Insurance Services provide cheap car insurance for women.
