On a motorway with a hard shoulder
- Pull onto the hard shoulder as far left as possible, wheels turned to the left. Hazard lights on, sidelights on if dark.
- Get everyone out of the car by the left-hand doors and behind the barrier, up the bank if there is one. Leave pets in the car unless it is unsafe.
- Do not put out a warning triangle on a motorway.
- Call your breakdown provider. If you have no phone, walk to the nearest emergency phone (arrows on the marker posts show the way); it connects to the control centre and gives your exact location.
- Wait behind the barrier. Do not attempt even a simple repair on the hard shoulder.
On a smart motorway with no hard shoulder
- If the car is still moving, get to an emergency refuge area (orange bays with an SOS phone), the next junction or services. Use the left lane and keep the hazards on.
- If you stop in a live lane, stay in the car with seatbelts on and hazard lights on, and dial 999. Do not get out unless you are certain you can reach the verge safely.
- In a refuge area, use the SOS phone before calling your breakdown provider; the control room needs to know you are there and will help you rejoin safely afterwards.
On an ordinary road
- Get the car as far off the road as possible. Hazards on.
- If you have a warning triangle, place it at least 45 metres behind the car on the same side, unless on a bend where it would cause more danger.
- Decide whether it is safer in or out of the car. On a fast rural road, out and behind a barrier or hedge is usually safer.
- Call your provider with your location: use a what3words reference, a postcode, or the road number and nearest landmark.
What the provider will ask
- Your name, policy or membership number and a contact phone.
- Vehicle registration, make, model and colour.
- Exact location and direction of travel.
- What happened and any warning lights.
- Whether anyone is vulnerable (children, disabled passengers, pregnant, elderly) — this can affect priority.
If you do not have cover
You can buy instant cover from most providers by phone, with a joining fee for an immediate call-out, or call an independent recovery operator and pay directly. On a motorway without cover, the emergency phone will put you through to the police or National Highways, who can arrange a recovery to a safe place at a fixed statutory charge.