Whether you own a brand-new car or have been driving your vehicle for several years, you never know when an unexpected issue could cause your car to break down suddenly.

Imagine casually cruising down a quiet country road when your car suddenly starts to make a strange noise or spew smoke. A few moments later, your vehicle gradually slows down and abruptly stops, causing a collision to occur.

This scenario could happen to anyone and at any time. With this in mind, it’s easy to see why it’s important for you to know what to do when your car is broken down.

Do you know what you should and shouldn’t do when your car breaks down? If not, be sure to continue reading.

Three things that you should do if your car is breaking down

Here are some of the most important things that you should do when your car is broken down or is about to break down:

• Stay calm
• Pull over to the appropriate side of the road as safely as possible
• Make your vehicle visible (if it breaks down at night)

Thing you should do #1 — Stay calm

If your car suddenly starts to act up or make a strange noise while you’re driving, the first thing that you need to do is stay calm.

Staying calm during stressful situations (like a car breakdown), allows you to keep a level head, which makes it easier to tackle the situation quickly and effectively.

Keeping your emotions in check can also help you see things clearly, which is beneficial when trying to identify the problem with your car.

Thing you should do #2 — Pull over to the side of the road as safely as possible

If you ever hear a strange buzzing, bumping, clanking or sputtering noise coming from your vehicle, you should pull over to the appropriate side of the road as quickly and safely as possible.

Strange noises are a telltale sign your vehicle is dealing with an internal issue and could break down at any time. The best thing that you can do in this unexpected scenario is to pull over to the appropriate side of the road.

Pulling over to the side of the road allows you to assess and fix your vehicle without putting yourself or others at risk. If you aren’t able to fix your broken down car by yourself, you can call a roadside assistance service to help you deal with the issue.

Thing you should do #3 — Make your vehicle visible at night

If you’re dealing with a car breakdown at night, you need to make sure that your vehicle is visible to other motorists. 

Making your car visible is beneficial for a number of reasons. For starters, it prevents other motorists from accidentally colliding with you or your vehicle while they’re on the road. 

Additionally, if your car is lit up on the side of the road, one of your fellow motorists may pull over to help you out. So, not only does lighting up your car help prevent further damage, but it can potentially help you deal with the issue faster.

The easiest way to make your vehicle visible at night is by turning on your hazard lights; however, if this isn’t an option, you can use bright flashlights or battery-powered lanterns to improve visibility for other drivers.

Three things that you should never do if your car is breaking down

Here are some things that you should never do if your car is broken down or is about to break down:

• Push your vehicle to the side of the road
• Overlook potential problems
• Stop in the middle of the road

Thing you shouldn’t do #1 — Push your vehicle to the side of the road

As mentioned earlier, if your car breaks down, you need to move your vehicle to the side of the road safely. However, this doesn’t mean that you should try to physically push your vehicle to the side of the road.

Pushing your vehicle is extremely dangerous, especially during the winter and on busy roadways. If you try to push your vehicle during the winter, you can accidentally slip and injure yourself. Additionally, if you slip on a busy roadway, you could get hit by an oncoming vehicle.

Because of this, we urge you not to physically push vehicles to the side of the road under any circumstances.

Thing you shouldn’t do #2 — Overlook potential problems with your vehicle

If you’ve ever dealt with a broken down vehicle in the past, then you know that you should never overlook a problem, regardless of how big or small it might be. Minor problems can quickly grow into severe issues, so it’s best to deal with them while they are still manageable. 

Additionally, driving with a damaged car can be dangerous, as it can increase the chances of getting into an at-fault accident or collision (which can lead to higher auto insurance rates).

Thing you shouldn’t do #3 — Stop in the middle of the road

It goes without saying that you should avoid stopping in the middle of the road if your car is starting to break down. 

Stopping in the middle of the road puts you and other motorists in danger, as it can lead to car accidents like fender benders and rear-enders.

If you feel your car starting to slow down unexpectedly, do your best to make it to the side of the road. Although some insurance companies offer car breakdown insurance, many insurance companies will not help you with breakdown-related expenses. 

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