What to Do When Your Car Breaks Down
Get off the road safely first, then call for roadside help before you worry about anything else.
Get safe, then get help
The first thing to do is get the car off the travel lane if you can, turn on your hazard lights, and stay inside with your seatbelt on if you're anywhere near moving traffic. Once you and anyone with you are safe, call for roadside assistance, either through your insurer, a separate roadside plan, or your car's manufacturer if it came with one.
What you do after that depends on why the car stopped. A flat tire or dead battery is often something a roadside provider can fix on the spot. Anything involving smoke, a burning smell, or a car that won't stay off the road safely needs a tow rather than a roadside fix.
Whether you have roadside coverage
Some auto policies include roadside assistance and some don't. If you're not sure whether yours does, your insurance card or your policy declarations page usually says so, and it's worth checking before you're stuck rather than during.
If you do have it, know what it covers. Most roadside plans cover towing, jump starts, flat tire changes, lockouts, and running out of fuel, but there's often a limit on how many times you can use it or how far they'll tow you.
If you don't have roadside coverage through your insurer, check whether your car's warranty includes it, since many new and certified used cars come with a few years of manufacturer roadside assistance. A credit card or an auto club membership can also cover this, so it's worth checking what you already have before you pay for a tow out of pocket.
If none of those apply, you can still call a local tow company directly. It will cost more, but it gets the car moved.
Whether another car or driver was involved
A breakdown with no other vehicle involved is a mechanical problem, not an accident, and it generally doesn't involve your insurer beyond roadside assistance. You don't need to file a claim just because the car stopped running.
If the breakdown caused a collision, like your car stalling and getting hit, or you losing control because of a tire blowout, that's different. Call the police to file a report and contact your insurer the same way you would for any other accident.
If you're stopped on a highway shoulder, treat it as a safety situation regardless of what caused it. Cars are hit on shoulders by passing traffic more often than people expect, so get as far from the travel lane as you can and, if you're able to safely exit the vehicle, stand well away from it rather than waiting inside.
Questions people ask about this
Does calling roadside assistance count as a claim?
No, using roadside assistance for a tow or a jump start isn't the same as filing a claim. It's a service call, not a payout, so it typically doesn't affect your premium the way an at-fault accident claim would. Check your policy or ask your insurer directly if you want to confirm how your plan treats roadside calls.
What information do I need to give roadside assistance?
You'll need your location, your vehicle's make and model, and a description of the problem. If you're on a roadside assistance plan tied to your insurance, they may also ask for your policy number, so it helps to have your insurance card on hand or saved on your phone before you need it.
Can I get reimbursed for a tow if I don't have roadside coverage?
It depends on your policy, since some insurers will reimburse a portion of towing costs even without a dedicated roadside assistance add-on. Keep the receipt from the tow company and call your insurer to ask before assuming either way.
Is it safe to wait inside my car if it breaks down on the highway?
It's generally safer to stay inside with your seatbelt on if you're stopped in a travel lane, since stepping out puts you close to passing traffic. If you've managed to get fully onto the shoulder or a breakdown lane, moving away from the car and standing behind a barrier if one is available is often the safer choice. What's safest depends on where exactly you've stopped and how much room you have.
What should I keep in my car in case it breaks down?
A charged phone, your insurance card, a flashlight, and some kind of reflective triangle or flares are the basics worth having. Beyond that, a spare tire that's actually inflated and the tools to change it matter more than people expect, since not every roadside call gets to you quickly.
See what roadside coverage looks like from a few insurers before your next renewal.
Check your current policy or insurance card this week to see if roadside assistance is already included and what it covers. If it's not, look at whether your car's warranty, a credit card, or an auto club membership already gives you something similar before you pay for a separate plan. Save the roadside assistance number somewhere you'll actually have it, not just in a glovebox you might not reach. If you've had a breakdown recently that turned into a collision or any kind of claim, call your insurer directly rather than guessing how it will be handled.
