A breakdown can happen to anyone at any time. Knowing exactly what to do in the first few minutes after your car stops moving can make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a dangerous situation. Here is what to do.
Step 1: Get Off the Road Safely
If your car starts sputtering, losing power, or showing warning lights, your first priority is to get off the travel lanes. Signal and move to the right shoulder as smoothly as possible. If you are on a freeway, try to reach an exit ramp or a wide shoulder area. Avoid stopping in travel lanes or on narrow bridges.
Step 2: Make Yourself Visible
Once you are stopped safely, turn on your hazard lights immediately. If you have road flares or reflective triangles, place them 50-100 feet behind your vehicle. At night or in low visibility conditions, visibility is everything.
Pro tip: Stay inside your vehicle with your seatbelt on if you are on a freeway. More accidents involving broken-down vehicles happen when people stand outside their car near traffic.
Step 3: Assess the Situation
From the safety of your vehicle, take a moment to identify what happened. Is a warning light on? Do you hear a sound? Did you hit something? Understanding what might have gone wrong helps the tow driver prepare the right equipment before arriving.
- Check your dashboard for warning lights (temperature, oil, battery, tire pressure)
- Listen for unusual sounds -- grinding, hissing, or clicking
- Look in your mirrors to see if anything looks visibly wrong
- Do not attempt to drive on a flat tire -- it can destroy the rim within a few hundred feet
Step 4: Call for Help
Call a towing company right away. When you call Next Level Towing at (916) 234-8697, tell us your location as precisely as possible -- the nearest cross streets, highway mile marker, or a nearby landmark. Tell us what happened so we bring the right truck. We aim for fast response to Sacramento area locations.
Step 5: Wait Safely
If you are on a busy freeway, the safest place to wait is outside your vehicle on the other side of a guard rail, away from traffic. On city streets, staying inside with the doors locked is usually fine. Keep your phone charged and be ready to guide the driver when they call.
Pro tip: Tell the dispatcher your exact location when you first call, then stay in that location. Moving around makes you harder to find and can create confusion when the driver arrives.