Dealing with your car breaking down can be overwhelming, especially if it’s never happened to you before. What do you do first? Who do you call? How do you get help? While it may depend on the severity of the situation, there are some basic steps you could take to keep yourself safe and get your car back on the road as soon as possible.
If you need help repairing your vehicle or replacing a part after a breakdown, consider auto repair financing, which is a type of personal loan that could help you get the money you need as a lump sum with predictable monthly payments and a set payoff date.
Keep reading for some steps to take after your car breaks down.
Pull over
If you notice your car acting strangely or you think something is wrong, you’ll want to get off the road as quickly and safely as possible. Put on your flashers or hazard lights to warn drivers around you and carefully pull onto the shoulder or another safe area. Activate your emergency brake to secure your vehicle.
If your car stops in the middle of the road, don’t panic — turn on your hazard lights to tell other drivers to go around you, and you could also set up road flares or reflective triangles if it’s safe to do so. If there’s a lot of traffic around you, stay inside your car until it’s safe to get out.
It may be hard to stay calm in this situation, but take a deep breath and focus on keeping yourself and anyone else in your vehicle safe.
Assess the Situation
Next, you’ll want to assess what’s happened. Check your dashboard to see if any warning lights have come on, indicating a problem. Stay alert for any strange sounds or weird smells. If it’s safe to get out of your car, see if you can spot the problem.
Pop the hood to check for anything out of the ordinary, such as steam caused by overheating. Just be careful not to touch anything that could injure you. If you see smoke or fire, it’s important to get away from your car immediately and call 911.
You could also take a look under the car to see if there are any fluids leaking onto the road or to check if you have a flat tire. If that’s all that’s wrong, you can change it yourself and carefully drive to a service station for a permanent tire or call for roadside assistance.
Call for Roadside Assistance
If you can’t get your car back on the road safely, call your insurance provider or roadside assistance provider, such as AAA. They can either send someone out to get your car going again or help you get it towed to a mechanic. If roadside assistance isn’t available, you can also call around to local mechanics yourself.
While you’re waiting for the tow truck, stay in your car or in a safe place nearby until they arrive.
Have a Professional Diagnose the Problem
Once a mechanic has looked at your car, they will explain what repairs are needed, how long they’ll take and how much they’ll cost. In the meantime, you may want to check your warranty or service contract to figure out what’s covered, and coordinate with your insurance to apply any benefits you’re eligible for.
Hopefully, your car will be up and running in no time. If not, you may need to check with your insurance about getting a rental car to tide you over.
Keeping a Cool Head Could Help You Navigate a Tricky Situation
It’s stressful anytime your car breaks down, especially if you’re in heavy traffic, on an empty road or far away from home. Try not to panic, keep your wits about you and, most importantly, keep yourself and any other passengers as safe as possible. With luck, you’ll be back on the road in no time.
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