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.

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*A replacement car can normally be arranged under one of the following conditions: (1) Comprehensive policyholders – a replacement car may be available under the terms of your insurance policy. Please check your policy details for more information. (2) Non fault accident – where we have the name, car registration number and insurance details of the person who caused the accident, we can supply a replacement car. This is done on a credit hire basis which means the costs for this service will be passed onto the insurance company of the person who caused the accident. We may not be able to arrange a replacement car where we are unable to get an admission of liability from their insurance company, or where the driver is untraceable or uninsured. (3) Repair garage – if your car is booked in for repairs following an accident, the repair garage may be able to provide a replacement car (subject to availability).