What to do if your car breaks down

It’s a situation we all dread. You go to start the car and…nothing. You glance down at your warning lights and confirm the battery-draining culprit. Now what?

Dead batteries, flat tyres, and engine failures

are the top reasons for car breakdowns in Australia. Knowing what to do can be the difference between keeping your cool and blowing your own bonnet.

Here are our emergency roadside tips on what to do if your car breaks down.

In the moment: Handling car breakdowns safely

In the moment: Handling car breakdowns safelyIf smoke starts pouring from your car’s bonnet, naturally you will want to stop as quickly as possible. To ensure your safety

and that of your passengers, try to pull over away from traffic and use an emergency stopping lane. If this isn’t possible, pull over on the left hard shoulder when it is safe to do so, turn your wheels away from the road

, and put your hazard lights on.

Highway breakdowns require extra precaution, as it can be risky waiting inside your car with vehicles zooming past at 110km/h. So should you stay inside or leave? If conditions allow, have all passengers exit the car through the left passenger side and wait behind the guardrails or as far away from traffic as possible. If you must stay within your car, have everyone keep their seatbelts on.

And if a burst tyre is the cause of your breakdown, always pull over on a side road or somewhere away from traffic. You should never attempt to change a flat tyre on a highway.

Special emergency breakdowns

Breakdowns can happen anywhere, any time. So what should you do if you're in a situation that is less than ideal?

• Night breakdowns
  If it is at night or in poor weather, stay in your car with your doors locked and don’t walk on the road. Keep internal lights on, not just hazards, as this will make you more visible to cars.
• Breakdowns with children and pets
  This situation can feel overwhelming quickly. Keep kids and pets calm by joining them in the backseat with seatbelts on. There are some simple steps
  to follow when managing a breakdown. Ensure there is ventilation by cracking a window or leaving the air-con running. If it is safe to do, leave the car if it is too hot and wait away from traffic. Snacks and toys are key to keeping little ones preoccupied.
• Tunnel breakdowns
  Handling car breakdowns in a tunnel
  has its own set of rules. According to Linkt
  , you should try to drive out of the tunnel before pulling over or stop in an emergency stopping lane or breakdown bay. If this isn't possible, try to stop in a right or left lane with your hazards and radio on and engine off.

Who you gonna call?

If you’re a member of roadside assistance

such as RACQ or NRMA, they should be your first call. Even if you’re not a member and you need immediate emergency car repairs, you can still call for help. But they are not your only option for roadside assistance in Australia.

Many car dealers offer 24-hour roadside assistance that is under the manufacturer's new-car warranty. It is also worth calling your car insurance, as you may have opted to pay for additional roadside assistance coverage.

If you know the damage is beyond roadside repair, you can call a tow truck company

directly to take your car to the nearest repair facility.

Thinking ahead: Safe driving tips

A broken-down car is never a welcomed experience. But the good news is you can prepare for and help prevent it:

• Check tyres have enough air pressure and you have enough fuel, especially if planning a long drive
• Regularly service your car to avoid engine problems
• If you are travelling through remote areas with limited reception, consider investing in a UHF radio or satellite phone.
• If travelling with kids, always have water and snacks packed
• Consider having an emergency travel kit in the boot of your car

_{Disclaimer
Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.}