6 Things To Keep In Mind When Paying For An Emergency Car Breakdown

We all hate car breakdowns, and if you don’t have insurance cover or some provision for paying for the expenses, you are in big trouble. Of course, you can still get help, but you will end up paying a hefty amount. So, it’s good to be prepared.

You can get breakdown cover with some standard bank accounts. Hence, the first call you should make is to your bank to see whether you are already covered. Breakdown cover may be part of your car insurance, so take a look at that as well.

The first thing to do when you have a car breakdown is to ensure that you and your passengers, if any, are safe. Since they are inevitable, treating emergency car breakdown coverage as monthly expenses a good idea.

6 Things To Remember If Your Car Breaks Down

Your car doesn’t have a particular place to break down, and different scenarios can occur. Here are a few of the possible car breakdown scenarios and how to approach them:

1. A Car Breakdown At Home

If your car breaks down at home, sometimes trying to pay for coverage at that time can attract penalties.

Although many people feel they can do without breakdown cover, it is always better to buy car breakdown coverage before your car breaks down. By anticipating the possibility of a breakdown, you save money.

If your car breaks down at home, it is the least inconvenient scenario. You can make alternative travel plans and have your car attended to in the meanwhile. But be ready to wait for more than 24 hours for a repair technician to see your vehicle.

2. Roadside Breakdowns

This is the worst-case scenario, but it happens to the best of us. Always carry the relevant documents and information about your car service station and your breakdown coverage.

If your car breaks down at the roadside, take all necessary precautions and call for help. Depending on the weather conditions, you would have to make alternative provisions to care for children or pets.

If your breakdown cover includes roadside assistance and an option of a replacement vehicle in case of emergencies, you’ll be well on your way to the destination.

3. Car Breakdowns That You Can Fix

All car breakdowns do not need a car mechanic to fix. If you have a flat tire or a loose contact in your battery, you can deal with the problem yourself. Your car manual will have a troubleshooting section which you can refer to for fixing the car yourself.

You need to carefully assess your car when it breaks down. Use your logical reasoning and the information in your car manual to decide whether you can fix it. When in doubt, don’t attempt to repair it but get professional help.

4. Getting Help From Strangers

When you finally get help, there are a few precautions you need to take. The first thing to be wary of is being approached by strangers who claim to know something about cars. The person may be genuine, or they may have ulterior motives.

Even if a person is genuinely out to help you, it is not advisable to readily accept help. Firstly, there is always the possibility that the stranger will try to take advantage of your situation. They could rob you or worse.

Then, even if a person can do something towards fixing the problem, tampering with the car could void the warranty. The best approach is to refuse politely, and at the most, take the person’s help to push the car to the side.

5. When Help Arrives

Even when you finally get help, you need to consider certain things. First off, keep all your paperwork ready. You should always carry the relevant documents with you in your car. Check today if you have them accessible in your vehicle.

The mechanic will assess the damage and identify the possible cause of the breakdown. Get confirmation if they will fix it at the location or tow it to a garage. If your car will be towed to the garage, get the full details of where your vehicle is to be taken.

Before the tow truck takes your car to the shop, be sure to remove all valuables from it. Ask the mechanic for the tentative time required to repair your car and proceed to your original destination using alternative transport.

6. Consider The Possibility Of An Emergency Breakdown

The best way of dealing with an emergency breakdown is by considering the possibility well before it occurs. From the day you buy your car, you need to expect a breakdown, and it happens when you least expect it.

In the UK, there are several breakdown cover providers. But you don’t want to be looking for any of them after you face an emergency car breakdown. Instead, have cover in place before the eventuality.

Breakdown cover providers offer different monthly packages. The monthly cost will vary from company to company. Depending on the package you choose, they will provide technical assistance and even a taxi and hire car in some cases.

However, a breakdown cover provider may not cover 100% of the repair costs, which can go up to hundreds of pounds. Thus, it’s best to opt for on-demand personal loans for car repairs from a reliable credit lender.

By paying for your car repairs through a loan, you can also keep your car insurance provider’s no-claim bonus intact.

Always Be Prepared For An Emergency Car Breakdown

Keeping in mind these six tips that we have provided here can help you handle an emergency car breakdown with minimum stress. One way you can have quick access to money in an emergency is by registering with a reliable lender. 

Look for services with flexible and transparent borrowing and easy and affordable monthly instalments for repayment. Many financial aid institutions offer interest-free loans without any hidden fees. Just pay an annual fee, and you will be eligible for a loan.

You never know when your car is going to break down. But by doing everything that one is supposed to do in an emergency and being prepared in advance, you will certainly get peace of mind.