A broken-down car is never ideal, whether it’s a mildly inconvenient flat tyre or a disastrous engine fault.
Either way, it’s a situation that can be stressful enough without you having to worry about what to do. That’s why we’ve compiled this short, simple guide to help you understand what you need to do when your car breaks down.
There are several ways you can prepare for a breakdown before you leave:
Important note: If there is an emergency (e.g. if a breakdown results in a traffic accident that causes yourself or others to be injured), you need to call 000 and ask for emergency services.
When you start to notice trouble with your car, turning on your hazard lights will indicate to other drivers that there’s a problem and to be cautious.²
You must pull off the road as soon as it’s safe to do so.³ Whether it’s in an emergency lane along a highway or as far to the left as possible on other roads, it’s crucial to keep you and other drivers safe.
Leave your vehicle from the passenger side (away from the road) and try to stay far from the passing traffic.2 If there’s a road barrier, move behind it.
If it’s unsafe to exit your car, stay inside and leave your seatbelt fastened. Make sure any passengers also keep their belts on.
Call for roadside assistance from your car insurance provider.2 If you don’t have roadside assistance through your insurance, your state/territory’s transport department may have a breakdown number you can call for help.
While your car insurance may not actually cover a broken-down vehicle, there are other ways it can help you in these situations.
For example, your provider may cover (depending on your policy) the cost of emergency transport or accommodation if you’re stranded because your car broke down. Roadside assistance is another option and is sometimes available as an optional extra on some car insurance policies.
Remember to always read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) of any insurance product before purchasing. The PDS will include the full details of the inclusions, exclusions, terms and conditions of your cover.
Want to see which providers offer these inclusions? Simply get a quote through our car insurance comparison service! Our service is fast, easy to use and helps you compare from a range of policies all in one place.
1. © State of New South Wales (Transport for NSW) – NSW Breakdown Safety Strategy. Last updated October 2019. Accessed November 2019.
2. Queensland Government: Department of Transport and Main Roads – Breakdown safety. Last updated September 2019. Accessed November 2019.
3. Victoria State Government – Incident response service: If you breakdown or crash. Published on VicRoads. Last updated April 2019. Accessed November 2019.
4. Queensland Government: Department of Transport and Main Roads – Tunnel safety. Last updated June 2019. Accessed November 2019.
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