What to Do When Your Car Breaks Down
Turn on your hazard lights, steer to the safest place you can, stay away from moving traffic and call for help. If anyone is hurt or you are in immediate danger, call 911 first.
What should I do first?
- Stay calm and turn on your hazard lights. Do this as soon as something feels wrong.
- Steer to the safest place you can. A parking lot, a side street or a wide shoulder is better than a lane of traffic.
- Put the vehicle in park and set the parking brake.
- Keep yourself and your passengers away from moving traffic.
- Use a reflective triangle or flares only if it is safe to step out. Skip this if traffic is close.
If you cannot get away from traffic, or you feel unsafe, call 911.
Should I stay in the car or get out?
It depends on where you are. If you are on a busy road and cannot move far from traffic, follow the advice of local authorities and call 911 if you feel unsafe. If it is safe to leave the vehicle, stand well away from the road, on the side away from traffic.
Who should I call?
- 911 if someone is hurt, or if there is smoke, fire or immediate danger.
- A roadside or towing company if the vehicle will not move. You can call us at (305) 564-8795.
- Your insurer or roadside plan, if you have one. Ask what it covers.
What should I tell the roadside company?
The clearer you are, the easier it is for the driver to find you and bring the right truck. Tell us:
- The nearest cross street, or the address from your phone map. If you are on US-1 (South Dixie Highway) or Old Cutler Road, tell us which direction you are facing.
- The make, year, model and color of the vehicle.
- What happened: a noise, a warning light, smoke, a flat tire or the engine will not start.
- Where the vehicle should go, if you know.
What can I check while I wait?
If it is safe, a quick look can help you tell us what is wrong:
- The fuel gauge. An empty tank is an easy fix.
- The warning lights on the dashboard.
- Whether a tire is flat.
Do not open the hood if you see smoke or steam.
Which service do I need?
- Dead battery: jump start or mobile battery replacement.
- Flat tire: flat tire change.
- Keys locked inside: car lockout service.
- Out of fuel: emergency fuel delivery.
- The vehicle will not move or was in a collision: towing or flatbed towing.
How can I be ready before a breakdown?
A little preparation makes a bad day easier:
- Keep your phone charged and a charger in the car.
- Save a roadside or towing number in your phone before you need it.
- Know where your spare tire and jack are, and check that the spare is inflated.
- Keep a flashlight and a reflective triangle in the car, if you can.
- Know what your insurance or roadside plan covers.
What should I do after my vehicle is towed?
Ask where the vehicle is going and keep a note of the address. Keep any receipt or written quote. If you have insurance or a roadside plan, call to ask what is covered. Ask the repair shop for an estimate before you approve any work.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on the light. A red warning light usually means you should stop safely as soon as you can. Check your owner manual, and call for help if you are not sure.
Pull over safely and turn off the engine. Do not open the radiator cap while the engine is hot. Call for help.
Read the address or the nearest cross street from your phone map. Tell us the road and which direction you are facing.
Call (305) 564-8795 and we will tell you when a truck can come.
Most roadside services are estimated at $50 to $120. Towing is estimated at $75 to $150 for light-duty vehicles. These are estimates, and we give you a quote before we dispatch a truck.
Move as far from traffic as you safely can and turn on your hazard lights. If you feel unsafe, call 911. Tell us the highway, the direction you are heading and the nearest exit or mile marker.
Broken down right now?
Call (305) 564-8795. We will ask where you are, what happened and where the vehicle should go, then give you a quote.