Domestic Disaster : what to do if your car breaks down

At Loans 2 Go we have a series of helpful articles that provide guidance as to what to do in case of some kind of domestic disaster. A list of previous articles appears at the end of this one.

One topic that is particularly important at the moment is what to do if your car breaks down. Winter is a tough time for drivers in many ways, and a breakdown is the last thing you want to happen. But if it does, it helps enormously to be prepared.

So in this article we look at:

• Dealing with a breakdown in a variety of different circumstances;
• How to reduce your chances of a breakdown in the first place;
• Tips for safe winter driving;
• What to take on a long winter journey.

Dealing with a breakdown

If your car breaks down, there are different things to do depending where you are when it happens. We are going to look at what to do if you break down:

• At home;
• On a small road;
• On a motorway or other major road.

At home

If your car breaks down at home, and you have breakdown cover that includes Home Start, this is the best option to go for. Or even if you have breakdown cover that does not include Home Start, it may be possible to contact the company and add it on as an option.

Most kinds of Home Start cover will either repair your car at your home or, if this is not possible, take your car to a local garage.

If you don’t have breakdown cover, the first thing to do is think about whether you know anyone who could help. Do you have a friend who is good with cars? Or is there a mobile mechanic living near you that does car repairs in your area? 

If neither of these options works out, the best thing to do is to contact a local garage for advice. They may either be able to send someone to check out your car at home, or arrange for it to be transported to their garage to be repaired.

On a small road

If you break down on a small A or B road, the first thing to do is to try and get as far off the road as possible. If you can’t get your car out of the way of other vehicles, call the police for assistance.

Put your car hazard lights on, and if you have a warning triangle put it a little way behind your vehicle if it’s safe to do so. This alerts other road users to the situation. 

Also get passengers out of the car and to a palace of safety. Make sure that everyone is as visible as possible – if necessary leave sidelights on.

Once the car and your passengers are as safe as you can make them, call your breakdown service if you have them. If not, you may be able to join a service such as the RAC and AA instantly by phone. Otherwise you will need to start phoning local garages for help.

On a motorway or other major road

If you break down on a motorway, you need to get off the road if at all possible. Try to make it to the hard shoulder or, if it is a smart motorway, to the next emergency refuge area.

If you cannot get off the main carriageway, get as far to the left as you can and put your hazard lights on. Call the police immediately. On a smart motorway, your breakdown should also be picked up by a remote control centre, who will block off lanes as needed.

Get everyone out of the car if it is safe to do so and get them behind the crash barrier. Official advice is to leave pets in the car with a window slightly open unless you can get them well away from the road to a place of safety.

Call your breakdown service. Emergency phones are available at regular intervals if there are any issues with your mobile phone.

Whilst it’s essential to know what to do in the event of a breakdown, it’s also really important to do all you can to avoid a breakdown in the first place. Let’s take a look:

How to reduce your chances of a breakdown

The RAC uses a very helpful acronym FORCES to remind us of all the essential checks that we should all do regularly on our cars, but particularly before making a long journey. These six checks can help to reduce your chances of a breakdown this winter:

• Fuel

Make sure that you have enough before you set out. If you get stuck in traffic your car will use more fuel than normal. The same applies if you have an electric car : ensure it is fully charged before you leave. And throughout your journey, take opportunities to refuel or recharge regularly rather than leaving it till you are nearly empty.

• Oil

Checking your oil level regularly and topping up as needed is a key part of keeping your engine in tip top condition, enabling your car to perform at its best.

• Rubber

Check that all four tyres have 2-3mm of tread and that they are inflated to the correct pressure. This will enable them to maintain good grip in wet or icy conditions. Also check your wiper blades for wear and tear: if they are not clearing the windscreen of rain properly they will be even less effective at tackling snow.

• Coolant

Your radiator should contain approximately a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze. Check your levels and ensure you have the right mix.

• Electrics

Make sure all of your lights are working and replace any faulty bulbs or blown fuses. Also check your battery. If it’s either over five years old, or is struggling to start the car, now is the time to get it replaced.

• Screenwash

Check that your windscreen washer fluid is fully topped up and contains a high concentration of good quality screenwash.

Tips for safe winter driving

The first rule of winter driving is to take the time to clear your car windscreen properly before setting off. Not only is this sensible advice, it is also a legal requirement. The Highway Code stipulates that if driving in adverse weather conditions you must, by law, be able to see out of every glass panel in your vehicle. 

So even if you are only going on a short journey you need to clear your windows of snow, ice or condensation, and make sure that there is no snow on any part of the car that could move and block your view.

Once you are on the road, you may also need to adjust your driving techniques to keep yourself and others safe. If there is snow or ice, take extra care by following these five tips:

• Reduce your speed to below normal;
• Leave plenty of stopping distance between you and the car in front;
• Think about the gears you are using. For example, pulling away in second gear and using lower gears when going downhill can both reduce wheel slip; 
• Accelerate and brake as smoothly and slowly as possible;
• Use dipped headlights and fog lights where necessary to ensure you are visible.

What to take on a long winter journey

Recent images of drivers stranded on roads and having to take overnight refuge in pubs make us think about what we would do in that situation. One aspect of this is to consider what you would need if you either get stuck in your car due to a snowdrift or major traffic jam, or breakdown and have to abandon your car. 

So when setting off on a long winter journey, some of the following are worth taking with you.

For your car:

• Ice scraper
• De-icer
• Anti-freeze
• Jump leads and tow rope
• Reflective safety triangle
• Snow shovel

For you:

• Thermal blankets or sleeping bags
• Thermos flask, bottled water and snacks
• Phone (with in-car charger)
• Torch (with spare batteries)
• High visibility jackets
• Dry clothing
• First aid kit

We hope that the above information will help you to know what to do if your car breaks down, and to do all that you can to prevent it happening in the first place.

Also check out or previous articles on what to do in the event of other domestic disasters:

• Washing machine breakdown
• Car accident
• Missing pet
• Wasps nests
• Power cut
• Water leak 
• Broken window
• Boiler breakdown
• Burglary
• Broken fridge
• Getting locked out
• Burst pipes
• Mould and mildew

Remember that if you are facing a car breakdown or any other kind of domestic disaster, an emergency loan from Loans 2 Go may be able to help you sort things out.

Do visit us here again soon for more financial and lifestyle tips from Loans 2 Go.