What to do if…
your car won’t start and you are stranded in an unfamiliar place

What to do now

1. Decide whether this is a traffic danger.

   • If you are in a live lane, on a blind bend, partly blocking fast traffic, or somewhere vehicles could hit you easily, keep your seat belt on, put hazard lights on, call 999 or 112, and ask for the police.
   • If you are already off the road, in a car park, at a petrol station, in a lay-by, or on a quiet street, stay visible and move to the next steps.

2. Make the car visible without putting yourself in the road.

   • Switch on hazard warning lights.
   • If it is dark or visibility is poor, use sidelights if you can.
   • Put on a high-vis or reflective layer if you have one and it is within easy reach.
   • If the car can be moved safely without pushing into traffic, move it to a safer place such as a marked bay, lay-by, service area, or well-lit area away from bends.

3. If you are on a motorway or slip road, follow motorway breakdown safety.

   • If the car is still moving and you can leave at the next exit, reach a service area, or reach an emergency area, do that rather than stopping in a live lane.
   • If you must stop, go left if you can, use the hard shoulder or an emergency area where available, and stop as far left as possible.
   • If it is safe and possible to get out, leave by the side furthest from traffic and wait well away from the vehicle, behind a safety barrier if there is one.
   • If you cannot get left or cannot get out safely, stay in the vehicle with seat belts and hazard lights on, call 999 or 112, and ask for the police.

4. Call the right help.

   • Call your breakdown provider, or your insurer if roadside assistance is included. Say clearly if you are alone, travelling with children, disabled, older, unwell, or feeling unsafe.
   • If you are on a motorway, major road, trunk road, or need traffic-management help as well as recovery, use the relevant road operator contact if it is safe to do so:
     • England: National Highways, 0300 123 5000.
     • Scotland: Traffic Scotland, 0800 028 1414.
     • Wales: Traffic Wales, 0300 123 1213.
     • Northern Ireland: for an immediate emergency call 999 or 112; for a serious threat to life or safety involving the road, DfI Roads lists 0300 200 7899 for emergency out-of-hours contact.
   • These road operators do not replace your recovery service; they can help with road safety, traffic information, or urgent road hazards.

5. Give a location that help can find.

   • Look for the road number, direction of travel, junction number, last exit, motorway marker post, driver location sign, nearby business name, car park name, petrol station name, or landmark.
   • Send a map pin to your breakdown provider or to someone you trust if you can.
   • If you are using an emergency phone on a motorway, face traffic while you speak and stay alert to moving vehicles or debris.

6. Choose a safer waiting place.

   • On a motorway or fast road, wait well away from the vehicle and moving traffic if it is safe to get out.
   • If you are not near fast traffic and feel safer inside, stay in the locked car with your seat belt on.
   • Keep children close and away from the carriageway.
   • Keep your phone usable: reduce screen brightness, use low power mode, and send one clear message to someone you trust with your location and who you have called.

7. Deal with offers of help carefully.

   • It is usually safer not to get into a stranger’s vehicle.
   • If someone offers to wait nearby while you call recovery, keep your phone, keys, and wallet with you.
   • If you accept a simple jump-start in a public, well-lit place, stop if anything feels wrong and do not hand over your keys unless you are sure who is helping you.