“When you’re on the road, anything can happen,” says Danica Patrick, retired professional race car driver and experienced road tripper. “Being prepared for a breakdown is just as important as planning your route or packing your bags. It’s all about staying safe and getting back on track as quickly as possible.”

Thanks to her racing background, Danica knows a lot about cars and the open road. She began her racing career at ten, competing in karting. By 16, she moved to England to hone her skills before returning to the U.S. Danica’s early IndyCar accomplishments include becoming the first female driver to lead the legendary Indianapolis 500 race in 2005 and ultimately finishing fourth at this 89th running of the Indy 500 and later earning her Rookie of the Year honors. In 2008, she became the first woman to win the Indy Japan 300.

Danica transferred her pretty intense motorsports experience to NASCAR in 2012. The next year, she again made history as the first woman NASCAR driver to win a pole position in the Daytona 500. Her racetrack exploits included driving the #10 “GoDaddy” Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. Although 2018 marked her last year in competitive racing, Danica remains a fixture in motorsports and an inspiration to aspiring female racers.

Danica Patrick also shares her wealth of knowledge with everyday drivers. In this case, it’s how to deal with one of the most stressful situations any motorist can face: a car breakdown. Keep reading as Danica offers insights on how to stay safe, assess the situation, get help, and leverage extended warranty coverage to get back on the road quickly. Afterward, you’ll be ready to handle a breakdown like a pro!

How to Handle a Vehicle Breakdown

[Download breakdown guide: Imagen o PDF]

Step 1: Get Off the Road Safely

While staying safe is intuitive for most drivers, Danica remarks that the stress of a breakdown can be distracting, often overwhelming the usual common sense instincts. Safety always has to be the top priority.

Follow these three initial steps at the first sign of a breakdown:

Turn on Your Hazard Lights

As soon as you realize you’re having car trouble, turn on your hazard lights. This alerts other drivers to your situation and minimizes the chance of being struck by a vehicle that’s operating at a normal speed. Do this before you start pulling over, as it gives other drivers more time to react and move away from your vehicle.

Pull Over Safely

Remain calm and immediately look for a safe place to pull over. Ideally, this is on the right shoulder of the road, as far away from traffic as possible. If you’re on a busy roadway, it’s better to exit if you can do so safely, even if it means driving a bit further. In urban areas, try to find a parking lot or a side street with less traffic (just stay close to the main road for personal safety and easier visibility to roadside assistance).

Stay Inside the Vehicle

Once you’ve pulled over safely, it’s important to stay inside your car, especially on a busy road or highway. Your vehicle provides a safety barrier between you and other traffic. Avoid the temptation to exit the car on a high-traffic route to make repairs or inspect for damage; you’re too vulnerable to being hit by a car. If you absolutely must exit the vehicle, do so from the passenger side to avoid oncoming traffic and get as far away from the road surface as possible. Also, keep your seatbelt on while you wait for help. In the unlikely event that another vehicle strikes your stopped car, wearing your seatbelt can prevent serious injury.

Step 2: Check Your Vehicle’s Condition

After ensuring your immediate safety, the next step is to assess what might be wrong with your car. From inside your vehicle, you can perform a quick assessment and note issues for your upcoming trip to the mechanic:

 Step 3: Call for Assistance

Once you’ve ensured everything is safe and performed an initial assessment of the situation, it’s time to call for help. It’s also important to have resources lined up before an incident happens. She adds that trying to find a towing service at midnight or in the middle of bad weather can increase the stress significantly. Instead, purchase a contrato de servicio de vehiculo (VSC), also known as an extended warranty, or sign up for an auto club. VSC providers, like Endurance Warranty, offer standard benefits like roadside assistance that include towing and rental car reimbursement.

Pro Tip: Unless the remedy for the breakdown involves something minor, like a tire change, jump start, or empty gas tank, you should expect your car to be towed. More elaborate fixes are left to mechanics.

Locate a Repair Shop

Before contacting anyone for help, you’ll want to have an idea of where to take your car for repairs if that proves necessary. If you’re local, then the logical place is a trusted mechanic or a familiar dealership. Otherwise, you’ll want to start researching your options. Endurance Warranty customers can choose any licensed repair shop and take advantage of our partnership with RepairPal to locate a repair facility nearest to their location.

Request Roadside Assistance

If you have roadside assistance through an extended warranty, insurance company, or a separate auto service like AAA, now is the time to use it. Keep the contact information and policy/membership number stored in your phone and written down in the glove box as a backup. When you call, be prepared to provide your location, a vehicle description, and details about the problem. The Aplicación para teléfono inteligente Endurance includes a quick connect feature to request roadside assistance.

It’s also a good idea to review your owner’s manual for instructions for proper towing procedures. For instance, all-wheel-drive vehicles require a flatbed tow truck.

Contact a Tow Service

If you don’t have ready access to a roadside assistance service, you’ll need to call a towing company directly. Research reputable tow services and call to check the arrival time and cost for all services. Be sure to ask about all the fees you may be responsible for, including per-mile charges.

Get Emergency Help

In some situations, especially if you’re in a dangerous location or if there’s been an accident, don’t hesitate to call 911. Safety should always be your first concern.

Reach Out to Family or Friends

Call a trusted family member or friend to inform them about your situation. They can provide help or at least know your whereabouts if you’re delayed.

Step 4: Utilize Your Warranty Benefits

An extended warranty or vehicle service contract can make all the difference following a breakdown. But to truly maximize this protection, make sure you understand this coverage and use your auto protection plan — and its benefits — effectively.

Extended Warranty Benefits

Drivers who utilize Endurance for their vehicle protection have access to a wide range of benefits. Every Endurance contract comes with 24/7 roadside assistance that includes towing, lockout, and other services. Other standard perks include rental car reimbursement and trip interruption protection for qualified incidents. Customers can also choose to activate the Beneficios de élite package, which offers up to $2,000 in services like tire repairs and replacements, key fob replacement, and other valuable extras.*

Documenting the Incident

Expand on any notetaking by thoroughly documenting the breakdown. Write down any more details that come to mind, take more photos, and keep records of any services you receive, including towing.

Contact the Warranty Company

Once you’re in a safe location, contact your VSC or warranty provider directly. They can guide you through the next steps, including finding an approved repair shop if necessary and starting the claims process.

Examine Your Coverage

Every extended warranty or contrato de servicio de vehiculo has conditions and limitations. Understanding what’s covered is the key to a successful experience. While waiting for assistance to arrive, review the contract to learn how your car is protected. Endurance customers can access this information from the app.

Temporary Solutions While Waiting for Help

Even with prompt assistance, you may find yourself waiting for help to arrive. Here are a few quick tips for keeping safe and comfortable during this time.

• Stay Hydrated: Always keep water in your car. Staying hydrated is crucial, especially if you’re stranded in hot weather.
• Maintain an Emergency Kit: A well-stocked emergency kit can make a big difference in your comfort and safety during a breakdown. Crucial items include a flashlight, jumper cables, emergency flashers/flares, gloves, first aid supplies, a phone charger/battery pack, and a fire extinguisher. A rain poncho, emergency blanket, and rags or towels can also be useful.
• Stay Visible: If you’re broken down at night, turn on the interior lights to make your car more visible to passing traffic and potential help.
• Conserve Fuel: If the engine is operable, only keep it running for 10 to 15 minutes per hour if you need to stay warm or charge a phone. Ensure the exhaust pipe isn’t blocked by snow or debris to prevent a carbon monoxide buildup.
• Stay Informed: Either through the car radio or your phone, stay updated on any weather or traffic conditions that might impact arriving help.

Step 5: Preventive Measures to Avoid Future Breakdowns

The best way to handle a breakdown is to take steps to minimize the chances of car trouble in the first place. Here’s what you need to consider:

• Regular Maintenance: Regular vehicle maintenance, like cambios de aceite y rotaciones de neumáticos, can catch potential issues before they turn into roadside emergencies.
• Know Your Vehicle: Familiarize yourself with common issues and warning signs in your vehicle. Read the owner’s manual, pay attention to recall notices, and don’t ignore unusual noises or changes in its performance.
• Pre-Trip Inspection: Before any long trip, perform a quick inspection of your vehicle. Check the tire pressure, fluid levels, battery strength, and lights. Start the car and listen for any unusual noises.
• Keep Your Tank Full: Never let the gas tank get too low, especially on long trips. Not only does this prevent you from running out of gas, but it also gives you more options if you need to drive further to find a safe place to pull over.

Choose Endurance for Safety on the Road

Car breakdowns can’t always be prevented, but as Danica Patrick knows, being prepared can significantly reduce the stress and hassle when they occur. Being prepared for car trouble also means having the protection of a vehicle service contract from Endurance.

Learn how Endurance provides peace of mind for daily driving, long trips, and every on-the-road journey. Request a FREE quote or call (800) 253-8203 for personalized service from an Endurance advisor. Explore our tienda en línea for instant pricing and coverage information.

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