What to do if your rental car breaks down

On a motorway with a car from PRO Rent a Car.

• First of all, remember that the hard shoulder is only for emergencies, not for making calls, having a stretch or toilet stops
• If it is an emergency and you can’t get off the motorway, pull on to the hard shoulder
• Make sure you stop as far to the right as you can with the wheels turned to the right
• Put your hazard lights on. If it’s dark or foggy, keep your sidelights on too
• You and any passengers should get out of the vehicle using the right-hand (passenger) door and move up the bank or stand behind the barrier
• Leave animals in the car
• Wear a reflective jacket if you have one, but don’t put a warning triangle on the hard shoulder
• Don’t attempt even a simple repair. Call Pro Rent A Car
• If you feel at risk from another person, return to your vehicle by a right-hand door and lock all doors; leave your vehicle again as soon as you feel this danger has passed
• If you have a disability which prevents you from following the above advice, keep your seatbelt on, switch on your hazard warning lights and use a mobile phone, if you have one, to call us or the emergency services

If you can’t get to the hard shoulder, stay in your vehicle unless you can be absolutely sure it's safe to leave it. Put your hazard lights on, keep your seatbelt on and call the emergency services. Never try to fix your hired car on a motorway. On a smart motorway If you break down on a smart motorway where the hard shoulder has been converted into a traffic lane, follow these steps:

• Use an emergency refuge area, motorway service area or leave at the next junction
• If this isn’t possible, try and get the vehicle off the carriageway
• If you have to stop in a traffic lane, turn on your hazard lights as soon as possible
• If you’re in the right-hand lane, and it’s safe to do so, get out of the vehicle on the right-hand (passenger) side and wait behind the barrier
• Call us
• If you can’t get out, or you’re in another lane and it isn’t safe to leave therental car, stay in the car with your seatbelt on and dial 112

On a road

• Move your car hireoff the road if you can, but watch out for soft verges that could make it tricky to get going again
• Put your hazard lights on; if it’s dark or foggy, keep your sidelights on too
• Wear a reflective jacket which you can find in the trunk of the car
• If you think your vehicle could be hit by other traffic, make sure all your passengers are out of the vehicle and away from the road
• If it’s safe to do so, put a warning triangle at least 30 m behind your vehicle
• Don't stand between your vehicle and oncoming traffic
• If you need our help, call Pro Rent A Car

Re-joining the carriageway Build up speed on the hard shoulder first and watch for a safe gap in the traffic