If you are going to be driving a lot, particularly on the motorway you should have some form of breakdown cover and also be aware of what you should do in the event of an emergency.
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1. Before you pay for any breakdown cover check your warranty to see if you are already covered. If you have just bought a new car and had breakdown cover on your previous car, contact your policy provider. Most are prepared to suspend cover for the period where you will be covered by the warranty. If you don’t have breakdown cover on a warranty, check to see if it is included in your insurance policy.
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2. Check the small print of any breakdown cover you use. Some will guarantee to get you home while others will only bring you to the nearest repair centre. Obviously most people would opt for the first one, even if the fee is slightly higher.
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3. Be prepared for a breakdown. It is sensible to carry a bottle of water, some warm and/or waterproof clothing, some nutritious snacks and a book in your boot at all times. You may not breakdown but could be caught in a major traffic jam on the M6 or M1. This is especially important if you are travelling with young children or an elderly relative.
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4. You should also have a warning triangle in your boot so that you can alert people that you have a problem. You should always turn on your hazard lights but sometimes other cars do not see them until it is too late. Placing a reflective triangle some distance from the car acts as an early warning system.
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5. If you break down, particularly on the motorway, always get your passengers out of the car and standing behind the barriers. It is not unknown for cars to follow you onto the hard shoulder and crash. The occupants of the stationary vehicle usually come off worse. So even if it is raining get out and do not sit on the barrier.
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6. It may not be safe for you to attempt a repair on the motorway. Even if you can change a tyre or fix the problem, if you don’t have a mobile phone you should walk to the nearest SOS phone to alert the Highway Patrol. Using the SOS phone is sensible as the Police can immediately find you. They will ask you for the registration number of your car, the make and colour so have this information with you. If you are using a mobile phone be sure that you are giving your correct location. The Police say that numerous callers have advised they were on the wrong motorway, the wrong exit or the wrong side. You should tell the Police if you are carrying young children, pregnant ladies or anyone requiring medical attention.
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7. If not on the motorway use your mobile to tell the breakdown people where you are. If you have a puncture make sure the ground is firm and level before you start to change it. Be wary of people stopping to offer assistance particularly if you are in a quiet area or you are female and alone.
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8. If you have filled up with petrol rather than diesel or vice versa do not start your car. Call the breakdown people and arrange to be towed. You can cause serious damage to the car which probably won’t be covered by your insurance policy.
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9. Dont allow anyone to jump start your car without first checking the handbook. Some modern cars do not take kindly to this process. If a battery is damaged you run the risk of spraying acid everywhere so be careful.
If you do breakdown and haven’t yet arranged cover you can call one of the many providers who will almost certainly be prepared to put cover in place immediately but do a comparison of the service providers to see which offer the best deal for the cover you require.