What to do if your car breaks down.
Find out what to do if your car breaks down. And how to get help from the RAC with our Breakdown Cover.
Published: 20 January 2026
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What is a car breakdown?
If your car suddenly won’t start, or it stops working properly while you’re driving it, then you’ve broken down.
It usually means your car won’t move, or it’s not safe to drive, and you can’t go any further without fixing it or getting help.
Examples of a breakdown include:
- a flat tyrea flat tyre
- an electrical faultan electrical fault
- a flat batterya flat battery
- engine troubleengine trouble
Here’s what to do if your car breaks down. And how breakdown cover could help to get you going again.
What to do if your car breaks down
If your car breaks down, the important thing is to keep calm and stay safe. And then get help. And remember to follow the rules set out in The Highway Code.
- Pull over safely - Slow down and pull over to a safe place. On faster roads, aim for a lay-by or emergency area.Pull over safely - Slow down and pull over to a safe place. On faster roads, aim for a lay-by or emergency area.
- Use your warning lights - Put your hazard lights on to alert other drivers. Use your sidelights if it’s dark or visibility’s poor.Use your warning lights - Put your hazard lights on to alert other drivers. Use your sidelights if it’s dark or visibility’s poor.
- Get out safely - Get everyone out by the passenger-side doors. Stand behind a barrier, if there is one, and stay well away from traffic.Get out safely - Get everyone out by the passenger-side doors. Stand behind a barrier, if there is one, and stay well away from traffic.
- Place a warning triangle - Place it at least 45m behind the car, on the same side of the road as you, if it’s safe to do so. But please note: don’t use a warning triangle on a motorway - it’s not safe.Place a warning triangle - Place it at least 45m behind the car, on the same side of the road as you, if it’s safe to do so. But please note: don’t use a warning triangle on a motorway - it’s not safe.
- Call for roadside breakdown assistance - Report your breakdown to your provider if you have breakdown cover. Or call a local garage for a tow or to get help.Call for roadside breakdown assistance - Report your breakdown to your provider if you have breakdown cover. Or call a local garage for a tow or to get help.
You should only try to make minor repairs to your car if it’s safe, and you’re able to do so.
If you have Tesco Car Insurance with Breakdown Cover, you can find out how to report a breakdown with the myRAC app.
Your car emergency kit
If you break down, having a car emergency kit can help, especially at night or in winter. You can find out more in our guide - What to include in your car emergency kit.
What to do if you break down on a motorway
If your car breaks down on a motorway, get yourself to safety as quickly as possible and call for help.
Breaking down
- Pull off the road - Try to leave at the next exit or head for a motorway service station. If you can’t...Pull off the road - Try to leave at the next exit or head for a motorway service station. If you can’t...
- Pull onto the hard shoulder - Stop as far left as you can. Turn your wheels left, pointing away from the motorway.Pull onto the hard shoulder - Stop as far left as you can. Turn your wheels left, pointing away from the motorway.
- On smart motorways - Aim for an emergency refuge area (ERA). Use the SOS phone to alert control.On smart motorways - Aim for an emergency refuge area (ERA). Use the SOS phone to alert control.
- If you’ve stopped in a live lane - Call 999 immediately, if you can’t reach the hard shoulder or an ERA.If you’ve stopped in a live lane - Call 999 immediately, if you can’t reach the hard shoulder or an ERA.
- Use your warning lights - Put your hazard lights on to alert other drivers. Use your sidelights if it’s dark or visibility’s poor.Use your warning lights - Put your hazard lights on to alert other drivers. Use your sidelights if it’s dark or visibility’s poor.
Staying safe
- Get out safely - Get everyone out on the passenger side of the car.Get out safely - Get everyone out on the passenger side of the car.
- Stand behind the barrier - Stay well away from the traffic and move up the bank if possible.Stand behind the barrier - Stay well away from the traffic and move up the bank if possible.
- Don’t use a warning triangle or attempt repairs - It’s not safe.Don’t use a warning triangle or attempt repairs - It’s not safe.
Getting help
If you’re stuck in a live lane on the motorway, call 999. Otherwise:
- Call a breakdown service - Once you’re safely out of the car, report your breakdown to your provider. If you don’t have breakdown cover, call a local garage or national breakdown cover for help. If you don’t have a phone, or can’t get a signal, use the SOS phone on the hard shoulder.Call a breakdown service - Once you’re safely out of the car, report your breakdown to your provider. If you don’t have breakdown cover, call a local garage or national breakdown cover for help. If you don’t have a phone, or can’t get a signal, use the SOS phone on the hard shoulder.
- Give your exact location - Look for marker posts and junction numbers if you’re getting help by phone. Or share your location in your breakdown app.Give your exact location - Look for marker posts and junction numbers if you’re getting help by phone. Or share your location in your breakdown app.
- Provide full details - to either the police or the breakdown service provider.Provide full details - to either the police or the breakdown service provider.
- Tell them if you’re a vulnerable driver - for example, if you’re older, disabled, alone or with children.Tell them if you’re a vulnerable driver - for example, if you’re older, disabled, alone or with children.
- Wait near your car - until help arrives.Wait near your car - until help arrives.
Rejoining the motorway
If you get help on the hard shoulder, be careful getting back into your car and take care when you drive off.
- Build up your speed on the hard shoulderBuild up your speed on the hard shoulder
- Watch for a safe gap in the traffic before rejoining the carriagewayWatch for a safe gap in the traffic before rejoining the carriageway
- Signal clearly and keep checking in your mirrors.Signal clearly and keep checking in your mirrors.
There could be other vehicles on the hard shoulder, so bear this in mind before you start.
What to do if you break down without breakdown cover
If you don’t have breakdown cover, you can still get help if you break down.
First, get to a safe place and follow the steps above - what to do if you break down.
Then arrange for help. You can call one of the following:
- a national breakdown provider - you can call for roadside assistance and pay a one-off fee. Some providers offer help on a pay-per-use basis.a national breakdown provider - you can call for roadside assistance and pay a one-off fee. Some providers offer help on a pay-per-use basis.
- a local garage - you call for a tow to the garage, where your car will be repaired. Bear in mind, costs can be higher out-of-hours and for towing.a local garage - you call for a tow to the garage, where your car will be repaired. Bear in mind, costs can be higher out-of-hours and for towing.
- Tesco Insurance - if you’re a Tesco Car Insurance customer, but don’t have Breakdown Cover. We can still help you, but you’ll need to pay for help.Tesco Insurance - if you’re a Tesco Car Insurance customer, but don’t have Breakdown Cover. We can still help you, but you’ll need to pay for help.
If you breakdown without breakdown cover, it might be worth thinking about for the future. It can work out cheaper and quicker than relying on ad-hoc recovery.
What is breakdown cover?
Breakdown cover is insurance you buy in case something goes wrong with your car, either close to home or out on the road. It can give you protection and peace of mind, knowing you’ll get help quickly if your car breaks down.
You can take out breakdown cover directly with a breakdown provider. Or you can add it to your car insurance policy, usually for an additional cost.
Our Breakdown Cover is provided by the RAC. And includes 24-hour roadside assistance across the UK.
What does roadside assistance coverage include?
Roadside assistance cover can help to get you moving again or get you and your car to a safe place.
With Tesco Car Insurance and Breakdown Cover, roadside assistance coverage includes:
- 24/7 roadside assistance from the RAC24/7 roadside assistance from the RAC
- help if you break down more than a quarter mile from home.help if you break down more than a quarter mile from home.
- repairs at the roadside by a qualified technicianrepairs at the roadside by a qualified technician
If your car can’t be repaired at the roadside, the RAC will tow you to a safe place or a garage within 10 miles.
If you’re planning a trip abroad, we also offer cover for driving in certain European countries. Usually including roadside help and recovery while you’re away.
How Tesco Insurance Breakdown Cover can help
It’s important to be prepared when you go out in your car, whatever time of year it is. But if you do run into trouble, our Breakdown Cover could help.
Depending on the level of cover you choose, our Breakdown Cover can include:
- 24/7 UK roadside assistance from the RAC24/7 UK roadside assistance from the RAC
- Home StartHome Start
- Vehicle recoveryVehicle recovery
- Travel supportTravel support
You can add Breakdown Cover for an additional cost when you buy Tesco Car Insurance. Or you can add it on later.
Roadside breakdown assistance: get help with Tesco Car Insurance
If you have Tesco Car Insurance with Breakdown Cover, make sure you get the myRAC app from the RAC.
With this handy app, you can:
- Report your breakdown to the RACReport your breakdown to the RAC
- Find your cheapest local fuelFind your cheapest local fuel
- Get reminders for your tax, service and MOTGet reminders for your tax, service and MOT
If your car breaks down, you can also call our partners at the RAC:
Lines are open 24/7 and calls may be recorded.
Please note, you'll need to know your registration number or your postcode when you call.
Help for Car Insurance customers
If you’re a Tesco Car Insurance customer, find out how to manage your policy, get in touch or make a claim.
Important information
Tesco Car Insurance is arranged and administered by Tesco Insurance and is underwritten by Tesco Underwriting Ltd.
Tesco Insurance Breakdown Cover is provided, administered and underwritten by RAC Insurance Ltd.
You’ll find complete details of the cover, monetary limits, exclusions, excesses and terms in our policy documents.
Learn more about Car Insurance
Compare our Gold, Silver and Bronze comprehensive cover and save money with your Clubcard. For drivers aged 21 and over.