What to Do if Your Car Breaks Down in a Remote Area

Let's face it nobody plans to break down in a remote area. But when it happens, knowing exactly what to do can keep you safe and get you back on the road sooner. Here's your practical guide to handling this stressful situation.

First Things First Get to Safety

Notice your car acting up? Don't panic. Switch on your hazard warning lights and ease off the accelerator. Look ahead for a safe place to stop ideally a lay-by or hard shoulder. Choose a spot where other drivers can see you clearly, especially if you're on a bend. Recovery vehicles will need plenty of space too, so think about where they can safely park.

Make Sure Others Can See You

You're safely parked - now what? Keep those hazard warning lights flashing. If you've got a warning triangle, place it roughly 45 metres behind your car (only if it's safe to do so). At night, your interior lights can help make you more visible to passing vehicles and recovery services.

Stay Put It's Safer

Remote areas can be dangerous, especially at night or in bad weather. Your car is your shelter, so stay inside with the doors locked. Need to get out? Use the passenger side door to stay away from passing traffic. Keep your seatbelt fastened while you wait it's an extra safety measure if someone happens to bump into your stationary vehicle.

Get Help on the Way

Ring a breakdown recovery service straight away. Know where you want your car taken, may it be your local garage, your driveway, or a repair centre. No mobile signal? Don't worry. Your phone's GPS might still work even without service, so you can pinpoint your location for when you do get through.

Watch Your Battery

Your car's battery is precious when you're stranded. Switch off anything you don't need the radio, air con, heated seats. Just keep those hazard warning lights going. Feeling chilly? Run the engine for 10 minutes each hour, but only if your exhaust pipe isn't blocked and you can get fresh air into the car.

Your Emergency Kit is Your Best Friend

This is why keeping a few essentials in your boot makes sense:

• A decent torch with spare batteries
• A warm blanket (you'll thank yourself later)
• Water and some snacks
• A basic first-aid kit
• A high-visibility jacket

Keep Your People in the Loop

Got signal? Let family or friends know where you are. Share your location if you can, and stay in touch with your breakdown recovery service. Remember unless you've called them yourself, think twice about accepting help from passing motorists.

Breaking down isn't fun, but it doesn't have to be a nightmare either. Stay calm, stay safe, and have a reliable breakdown recovery service number saved in your phone. It's that simple.

Here at Recovery Newcastle, we keep things straightforward. We do one thing, and we do it well - vehicle recovery. When you're stuck in the middle of nowhere, you need someone who'll get to you quickly and get your car exactly where it needs to be whether that's your trusted garage, your driveway, or your local repair centre. We're here 24/7, our recovery vehicles are equipped with the latest GPS tracking, and we typically reach you in 45 minutes. No fuss, no complications just reliable recovery when you need it most.

Check our new X update on what to do if you need a car breakdown recovery in a remote area.