A car breakdown can strike without warning, on a busy freeway, in a remote area, or late at night when help feels far away. Knowing what to do when your car breaks down can mean the difference between a minor inconvenience and a genuinely dangerous situation. Yet many drivers haven’t thought through the steps until they’re stranded on the roadside with hazard lights flashing.
Whether you’re dealing with a flat tyre, an overheating engine, or complete mechanical failure, staying calm and following the right sequence of actions protects you, your passengers, and other motorists. The decisions you make in those first few minutes matter more than you might expect, especially on high-speed roads where visibility and positioning are critical.
At National Cover, we understand that breakdowns are stressful, it’s why our motor insurance includes benefits like 24/7 towing services and dedicated claims support to help when things go wrong. This checklist covers everything from immediate safety steps to contacting roadside assistance, handling specific scenarios like highway breakdowns or night-time emergencies, and knowing when your insurance can help. Save it to your phone or print it for your glovebox, you’ll be glad you did.
Before you do anything: safety essentials
Your first priority when your car breaks down is protecting yourself and your passengers from immediate danger. Before you reach for your phone or assess what’s wrong with the vehicle, you need to make split-second safety decisions that could prevent a collision. The moment you realise something’s wrong, your actions determine whether this becomes a manageable situation or a serious incident.
Check your surroundings immediately
Look in all mirrors to assess the traffic around you and identify how fast vehicles are travelling. On a freeway or highway, cars can approach at speeds exceeding 100 km/h, leaving drivers little time to react to a stationary vehicle. Notice whether you’re on a straight stretch where others can see you early, or around a bend where visibility is limited. These observations will guide your next moves and help you understand the level of risk you’re facing.
Turn on hazard lights straight away
Activate your hazard lights the moment you realise you’re slowing down or losing power. This alerts drivers behind you that something’s wrong and gives them precious seconds to react and change lanes. Your hazard lights are your first line of defence, making your vehicle visible from a distance even before you’ve pulled over completely. Don’t wait until you’ve stopped, turn them on while you’re still moving.
Decide whether to stay in or exit the car
Once stopped, evaluate whether it’s safer to remain inside with seatbelts fastened or to exit and move away from the vehicle. On busy roads or highways where traffic is fast, staying inside your locked car with hazard lights on is often the safest option until help arrives. If you’re on a quiet street or well off the road with good visibility, exiting to the passenger side away from traffic may be appropriate.
If you’re on a high-speed road and can’t get far enough off the carriageway, staying in your car with seatbelts on protects you better than standing near traffic.
Step 1. Pull over and make your car visible
When you know what to do when your car breaks down, your first physical action is getting the vehicle off the road and making it as visible as possible to other motorists. This step reduces the risk of collision and gives you a safe starting point for everything that follows. The way you pull over and the position you achieve can determine whether you’re in immediate danger or relatively secure while you wait for help.
Signal and slow down gradually
Indicate your intention to pull over by activating your left indicator alongside your hazard lights, giving other drivers clear notice of your movements. Reduce speed smoothly rather than braking hard, which could cause vehicles behind you to collide with your car. If you’re losing power involuntarily, use whatever momentum you have to coast towards the verge rather than stopping in a live lane. Gentle, predictable movements help surrounding traffic adjust safely.
Position your car as far left as possible
Aim to get your vehicle completely off the carriageway and onto the shoulder, verge, or emergency lane if one exists. The further you are from moving traffic, the lower your risk of being struck by another vehicle. On highways and freeways, even an extra metre of distance matters significantly.
Position your wheels straight ahead and apply the parking brake once stopped, this prevents the car from rolling if you need to exit.
Use warning triangles and high-visibility gear
If you’re on a quiet road and it’s safe to exit, place a warning triangle at least 45 metres behind your vehicle to alert approaching drivers. Wear a high-visibility vest if you have one in your boot. These simple tools dramatically increase your visibility, especially in low light or poor weather conditions.
Step 2. Choose the safest place to wait
Once your car is off the road, you need to decide where to position yourself while waiting for assistance. This crucial part of knowing what to do when your car breaks down depends on several factors including traffic speed, your location, visibility conditions, and whether you have passengers. Making the wrong choice here can put you at unnecessary risk, even if you’ve pulled over successfully.
Stay inside on high-speed roads
On highways, freeways, or any road where traffic moves above 80 km/h, staying inside your vehicle with seatbelts fastened offers the best protection. The risk of being struck by passing traffic far outweighs the theoretical danger of remaining in a stationary car. Lock your doors and keep hazard lights flashing while you wait. If you have children, keep them secured in their car seats rather than letting them move around or exit the vehicle.
Staying buckled inside your car on a busy road protects you from erratic drivers and reduces your exposure to fast-moving traffic.
Exit carefully on quiet streets
If you’ve broken down on a low-speed residential street or quiet road with good visibility and a wide verge, exiting may be safer and more comfortable. Always exit via the passenger side door away from moving traffic, never the driver’s side. Move well behind your vehicle and stand behind a barrier, guardrail, or on an embankment if available. Keep your phone with you and maintain visual contact with your car.
Step 3. Get help fast and share your location
Understanding what to do when your car breaks down includes getting assistance as quickly as possible and providing accurate information about where you are. Speed matters when you’re stranded, whether you’re on a busy highway or a remote country road. The right phone call combined with precise location details can cut your waiting time significantly and ensure help reaches you without delay.
Contact roadside assistance or emergency services
Call your roadside assistance provider immediately if you have coverage through your insurer or a motoring organisation. National Cover policyholders can access 24/7 towing services as part of their comprehensive motor insurance. If you’re in immediate danger, such as being stuck in a live lane or facing aggressive behaviour from other motorists, call 000 for emergency services before anything else. Keep your phone charged and accessible at all times while driving so you can make these calls when needed.
Know your exact location details
Provide the street name, nearest cross street, or highway marker number when calling for help. On major highways, look for blue kilometre marker signs that display your exact position along the route. Use your smartphone’s mapping application to capture GPS coordinates if you’re on an unfamiliar road. Describe visible landmarks such as service stations, bridges, or distinctive buildings to help the tow truck operator find you faster.
Giving your exact kilometre marker or GPS coordinates rather than vague descriptions can reduce your wait time by 15 to 30 minutes.
Step 4. Handle common breakdown scenarios
Different breakdown types require specific responses that go beyond general safety procedures. Knowing what to do when your car breaks down means understanding how to react to the most common mechanical failures you’ll encounter on Australian roads. These targeted actions can prevent damage to your vehicle, avoid safety risks, and sometimes even get you mobile again without waiting for professional help.
Flat tyre procedure
Pull over safely and assess whether you can change the tyre yourself or need assistance. If you have a spare tyre, jack, and wheel brace, and you’re on flat, stable ground away from traffic, you can attempt the change. Check your owner’s manual for jacking points specific to your vehicle. Never work under a car supported only by a jack, and always apply the parking brake before starting. If conditions aren’t safe or you lack equipment, call for roadside assistance rather than risking injury.
Overheating engine response
When your temperature gauge climbs into the red zone or warning lights appear, pull over immediately and turn off the engine. Do not open the radiator cap while hot, as pressurised coolant can cause severe burns. Wait at least 30 minutes for the engine to cool completely before checking coolant levels. If you can safely add water or coolant and the level was low, you may drive slowly to the nearest service station. Continuing to drive with an overheating engine causes permanent engine damage that insurance won’t always cover.
Never remove a hot radiator cap, the pressurised steam and coolant inside can reach temperatures above 120°C and cause serious burns.
Quick recap and next steps
Knowing what to do when your car breaks down transforms a stressful situation into a manageable one through clear, sequential actions. You’ve learned to prioritise safety by activating hazard lights immediately, positioning your vehicle as far from traffic as possible, and choosing the safest place to wait based on road conditions. Understanding specific breakdown scenarios like flat tyres and overheating engines helps you respond appropriately rather than guessing or making dangerous choices.
Your next step is preparing before a breakdown happens. Add roadside assistance contact numbers to your phone, stock your boot with warning triangles and a high-visibility vest, and ensure you understand what your motor insurance covers. Review your vehicle’s manual to locate jacking points and understand warning light meanings.
Comprehensive motor insurance from National Cover includes 24/7 towing services and expert claims support, giving you immediate access to help when mechanical failures strike. Check your current policy or request a quote to ensure you’re protected with the coverage and assistance you need on Australian roads.
