Broken down at night? Here's exactly what to do
A breakdown after dark is unsettling, but a clear head keeps you safe. Here's the step-by-step — on the motorway or a quiet side street — and who to call.
The first 60 seconds
- Steer as far to the left and off the road as you safely can — a lay-by, side road or verge is ideal.
- Put your hazard lights on. At night, keep sidelights on too so you can be seen.
- Put on a hi-vis if you have one — keep one in the door pocket, it's worth its weight after dark.
- Get yourself and passengers somewhere safe before you start making calls.
If you're on a motorway
- Pull onto the hard shoulder as far left as possible, wheels turned left.
- Get everyone out through the left-hand doors and wait behind the barrier, up the bank and away from the carriageway.
- Do not sit in the car on a hard shoulder, and never use a warning triangle on a motorway.
- On a smart motorway with no hard shoulder, aim for an emergency refuge area, exit or services. If you can't and you're stuck in a live lane, keep seatbelts and hazards on, stay put and call 999.
- For motorway assistance, National Highways is on 0300 123 5000.
If you're on a side street or rural road
- Get the car as far off the road as possible and keep hazards on.
- A warning triangle can go at least 45 metres behind the car on the same side — but only if it's safe to place it.
- On an unlit rural road, staying in the car with seatbelts on can be safer than standing in the dark near a bend. Use your judgement.
- If you feel vulnerable — alone, late at night — say so when you call. Breakdown and recovery services prioritise people who feel unsafe.
Then call for help
Once you're safe, call your breakdown or recovery service — or a 24/7 mobile mechanic. Many roadside problems (a flat battery, a blown fuse, a wheel change, a fuel issue) can be sorted where you sit, without a tow. We answer around the clock across Gloucestershire, so if you're local, call us and we'll come to you.
Common questions
What should I do first if I break down at night?
Get the car off the road or as far to the left as you safely can, put your hazard lights on (and sidelights, so you're visible in the dark), and get yourself somewhere safe before you make any calls. Position and visibility first, phone second.
Should I stay in the car or get out?
It depends where you are. On a normal road, if it's safe to get out and stand away from traffic, do so. On a motorway hard shoulder, get everyone out of the left-hand doors and wait behind the barrier, up the bank — never sit in a car on a hard shoulder.
Can I use a warning triangle on the motorway?
No — never use a warning triangle on a motorway; it puts you in danger walking into live traffic. On other roads you can place one at least 45 metres behind the car, on the same side, if it's safe to do so.
Who do I call if I break down on a motorway?
For motorway assistance you can reach National Highways on 0300 123 5000. If you're in immediate danger — for example stranded on a smart motorway with no hard shoulder and unable to reach an emergency area — call 999.
What if there's no hard shoulder (a smart motorway)?
If you can, keep going to the next emergency refuge area, exit or services. If you can't and the car stops in a live lane, keep your seatbelts on, hazards on, stay put and call 999 — do not get out into moving traffic.
Do you come out at night in Gloucestershire?
Yes — we genuinely answer 24/7. Once you're safe, call us and we'll talk you through it and get to you as quickly as we can anywhere across Gloucestershire.
Stranded in Gloucestershire? Call us
We answer 24/7 and come to you — roadside fixes, diagnostics and recovery advice across Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud, Tewkesbury and the Forest of Dean.
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