Car Breakdown: What to Do and Can You Claim?

Navigating a Car Breakdown: Your Essential Guide

Breaking down can be a stressful and potentially dangerous experience, especially when it happens on a busy road or a motorway. Knowing the right steps to take can help you handle the situation calmly and safely, ensuring your well-being and that of other road users. This article will guide you through what to do if your car breaks down, whether you have breakdown cover or not, and address common questions, including whether you can claim if your vehicle ultimately cannot be fixed.

What to Do If Your Car Breaks Down

The immediate priority when your car breaks down is to ensure your safety and make your vehicle as visible as possible to other drivers. Here’s a breakdown of the essential steps:

• Get out of the road: If possible, move your vehicle to a safer location, such as the side of the road or an emergency refuge area. Even on the side of the road, your car is still considered a hazard.
• Increase visibility: Turn on your hazard warning lights immediately. This alerts other drivers to your situation.
• Assess your location: If you’ve broken down in a safer spot, like a quiet residential street, you might be able to stay in your car. Keep your seatbelt on and hazard lights illuminated. However, your safety is paramount.

Motorway Breakdowns: A Critical Situation

Breaking down on a motorway requires swift and careful action due to the high speeds and volume of traffic. Your safety is the absolute priority:

• Exit if possible: If it’s safe to do so, try to exit the motorway at the next available junction.
• Use the hard shoulder: If exiting isn’t an option, pull your vehicle onto the hard shoulder or into an emergency refuge area as far to the left as possible.
• Turn wheels: Turn your vehicle’s wheels to the left. This can help prevent your car from rolling back into traffic if it’s on a slight incline.
• Hazard lights: Ensure your hazard lights are on to warn oncoming traffic.
• Exit safely: If it’s safe, exit your vehicle using the passenger side doors, away from the traffic. Move behind a safety barrier or up an embankment, well away from the carriageway, to minimise the risk of being hit. Ensure all passengers do the same.
• Call for help: Use your mobile phone or one of the emergency roadside telephones to call for assistance. Note your exact location using motorway marker posts.
• Stay put: Wait in a safe place away from traffic until help arrives. Do not attempt to repair the vehicle yourself on the hard shoulder.

What If You Can't Reach the Hard Shoulder?

If you break down on a motorway and cannot get your vehicle onto the hard shoulder, this is a particularly dangerous situation. The Highway Code advises that in such circumstances, you must remain in your vehicle and call 999 immediately. If it is unsafe to remain in the vehicle, exit via the passenger side, away from traffic, and get behind a safety barrier as quickly as possible.

Should You Stay in Your Car?

The decision to stay in your car during a breakdown depends heavily on the circumstances and location. While you shouldn't leave your car unattended as it could be vulnerable to vandalism or theft, your personal safety is the most important consideration. If remaining in the vehicle poses a risk due to traffic, fire, or fumes, you must leave immediately and move to a safe place away from the road.

Having Breakdown Cover: What’s Next?

If your car insurance policy includes breakdown cover, the process is generally straightforward. Your policy documents will detail the steps to take, including the claims number and breakdown service contact details. It’s highly recommended to save these numbers on your mobile phone for quick access in an emergency.

How Does Breakdown Cover Work?

Most breakdown cover policies provide roadside assistance, aiming to repair your vehicle on the spot. If a roadside repair isn't possible, your cover typically includes vehicle recovery to the nearest suitable garage. Some policies even extend to cover the transportation of you and your passengers to your intended destination.

Can You Claim If Your Car Cannot Be Fixed?

This is a common concern. Breakdown cover primarily focuses on getting you moving again or transporting your vehicle to a repairer. If your car requires extensive repairs and cannot be fixed at the roadside or even at the initial garage, the cost of these subsequent repairs is generally not covered by standard breakdown insurance. Breakdown cover usually includes roadside repairs and recovery. However, if more work is needed in the garage and the car cannot be fixed at the roadside, you cannot claim for these additional garage costs on your breakdown coverage.

It's crucial to understand the specifics of your policy. Some comprehensive policies might offer limited cover for garage-based repairs, but this is not the norm. Always check your policy wording or contact your insurer for clarification on what is and isn't included.

Checking Your Breakdown Cover

To confirm if you have breakdown cover and understand its scope, refer to your insurance schedule within your policy documents. This document provides a detailed outline of your coverage. If you wish to add breakdown cover to your existing car or van insurance, contact your insurer or a specialised sales team.

Breaking Down Without Cover

If you find yourself broken down without any breakdown cover, you still have options, although they may be more costly:

• Local Garage: Contact a local garage or towing service. Be prepared to pay for these services directly, which can be more expensive than using a breakdown service.
• Friends or Family: If you're close to home, reaching out to friends or family for assistance might be a viable option.
• Motorway Emergency Phones: If you're on a motorway, use the readily available emergency phones. These connect you directly to the motorway control centre, which can dispatch help.

Information to Provide During a Breakdown

When you contact for assistance, be ready to provide the following information:

• Precise Location: Clearly describe where you are. On a motorway, mention the direction of travel and the nearest exit or marker post.
• Vehicle Problem: Briefly explain what happened to your car (e.g., engine won’t start, flat tyre, overheating).
• Occupants and Needs: If you require vehicle recovery, inform them about the number of passengers, especially if children, pets, or individuals with accessibility needs are present.
• Contact Information: Provide your phone number so they can give you an estimated time of arrival and follow up.

Post-Breakdown Procedures

After the initial roadside assistance or recovery:

• Receipts: If your policy covers alternative accommodation or travel, submit all relevant receipts to your insurer as evidence to support your claim. These arrangements should ideally have been pre-agreed with your insurer.
• Garage Follow-up: If your car was towed to a garage, keep in touch with them for updates on the necessary repairs.
• Keep Records: Retain any paperwork or receipts provided by the breakdown service. These can be useful for future claims or your own records.

Breakdown Cover vs. Repair Costs

It's essential to differentiate between breakdown assistance and the cost of repairs. Breakdown cover is designed to assist you when your vehicle stops working, covering services like roadside repairs and towing. The actual cost of fixing the mechanical or electrical fault that caused the breakdown is typically the responsibility of the vehicle owner, unless specifically covered by a separate warranty or insurance policy. Therefore, if your car cannot be fixed at the roadside or the garage, you will usually bear the cost of those repairs.

Key Takeaways

A car breakdown demands a calm and systematic approach. Prioritise your safety, know how to contact for help, and understand the limits of your breakdown cover, especially concerning repair costs when a vehicle cannot be fixed.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information. Insurance policies and coverage can vary significantly. Always consult your specific policy documents or a qualified insurance advisor for personalised advice.

If you want to read more articles similar to Car Breakdown: What to Do and Can You Claim?, you can visit the Automotive category.