Everything You Need to Handle a Vehicle Breakdown

We can be careful drivers but there is still plenty of chance that our beloved vehicles are going to break down at some stage.

If you are unprepared, this could be a much worse experience than you might think. You need to make sure that you are able to make your vehicle safe and that you have everything you need to be alright no matter how long it will take the breakdown crew to get to you.

Here is everything you will need in order to be able to handle a vehicle breakdown properly.

A Breakdown Kit

Unless you live in a big city, everyone should make sure they have this sort of breakdown kit on hand. If you drive up any sort of country road in your day-to-day life, you need to make sure that you have a country breakdown kit.

The first thing this kit should have is warm clothing. Make sure you are able to layer up or down as you need; even if you are going to be driving around in the summer.

You should also make sure that you have bottled water and some long-lasting snacks like granola bars or trail mix.

Finally, make sure you have some sort of light source like a torch – a wind up one is best so the batteries can’t run out – and a portable charger for your phone.

If you are driving about in winter, you might also need a shovel.

If you have children or pets, make sure you have things for them too. A basic breakdown kit is also always a good idea.

They are mandatory in the EU and it is good practice to drive with one even in the UK.

Breakdown Cover

Many motorists forego breakdown cover until it’s too late, but when you consider the fact that it can be added to your insurance policy for a relatively modest fee it really is a wise investment.

In fact, some car insurance companies will even include breakdown cover with their insurance policies as standard, which means you might be able to get this type of cover without having to pay anything extra.

Some van insurers might be willing to do the same, so it’s always a good idea to use a price comparison site to compare van insurance policies in order to see if you find one that includes breakdown cover as standard.

Someone to Phone

If you did take out breakdown cover before your vehicle broke down (or you have insurance that includes it as an add-on) then your first phone call should be to your insurance provider.

If you don’t have breakdown cover you are still going to need roadside assistance, though, you’ll just have to pay more for it.

If you have broken down in your local area it might be worth trying to find out if your local garage can handle breakdown recovery.

Giving them a quick call in an emergency might elicit a much faster response than if you phoned the AA or RAC and asked them to arrange recovery.

A Cool Head

Having to go through a breakdown is a necessary part of being a driver. It is more often not so much an “if” but a “when”.

If you are travelling at speed when the breakdown occurs, you might have to quickly and calmly manoeuvre the vehicle off the road and into a safe space.

If it is somewhere busy like a motorway, this can be incredibly stressful. However, you need to make sure that you keep a cool head to avoid any further accidents happening.

It can be incredibly difficult in the moment but you need to make sure that you and any other occupants of the car are safe.

If necessary, be aware that you may have to leave the car and stand back from it; especially if you are stopping on a motorway.

You will also need to keep calm while you pass details across to the company arranging your recovery.

Try to keep all the documentation you need for the car or van in the glovebox so you can just grab it if necessary.

Vehicle Breakdowns – Not as Scary as They Appear

With enough planning, you should be in the best position you can be when facing a breakdown. It is not something which should be approached lightly but it is one of those things you can fully prepare for.

All you then need to do is keep calm and remember that help is on the way.

There is no reason why your breakdown can’t be handled as easily as any other part of driving.

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