What to Do When Your Car Breaks Down in South Africa

Move out of danger first

A breakdown becomes more serious when the vehicle stops in a live lane, at night, or near a blind rise. Your first priority is to reduce the risk to people, not to diagnose the vehicle. If the car still has momentum, indicate early and move to the shoulder, a lay-by, a petrol station, or another visible area away from traffic.

Switch on hazard lights immediately. If it is safe, place a warning triangle behind the vehicle and keep passengers behind a barrier or far away from moving traffic. Do not stand between vehicles or in front of the bonnet on a busy road.

• Turn on hazard lights before getting out.
• Exit on the side away from traffic where possible.
• Keep children and passengers together in a safe place.
• Call emergency services first if anyone is injured or threatened.

Share clear location details

Roadside help is faster when your location is specific. Share the road name, direction of travel, nearest landmark, suburb, kilometre marker, exit number, or a live location pin. On highways, direction matters as much as the road name.

• Example: N1 southbound, just after the Beyers Naude off-ramp.
• Example: Corner of Smith Street and the nearest cross street in Braamfontein.
• Example: Petrol station name, suburb, and pump area if you reached one.

Do only safe checks

If the vehicle is smoking, leaking fuel, overheating badly, or stopped in a dangerous place, do not open the bonnet or crawl around the car. Wait for trained support. If you are safely parked, you can check simple signals such as warning lights, tyre condition, fuel level, and whether the battery has power.

Document the breakdown

Take photos of the vehicle position, warning lights, visible damage, and any unsafe road conditions. This helps with insurance, platform reports, and support follow-up. E-hailing drivers should also preserve trip records and messages linked to the incident.