Practical Guide to Managing a Car Break Down
Most university towns have a good amount of public transport available, however it can often be more beneficial to have a car of your own.
Owning your own car means that it’s less likely for you to be late to lectures, you will never have to carry a stack of heavy books around for miles on end and you are able to travel home with ease.
However, what do you do if your car breaks down while you’re at university? GoMotorTrade has the answers!
Stay Safe
If you have broken down on a motorway or any other form of main road then the first thing you need to remember is to stay safe. Hopefully, if you have broken down on the motorway you will have been able to get over to the hard shoulder where you can wait for help.
It is of the utmost importance that you never stay in your vehicle when waiting for help, as if someone clips your car you could end up being injured.
The best thing to do is to get out of your car and stay behind the safety barrier until help arrives. For this reason, it may be advisable to always keep a spare coat and an umbrella in your car, otherwise you could get very cold and wet while you are waiting!
Know what cover you have
Car insurance is not the most exciting thing in the world, however if your car breaks down you will really appreciate it. Knowing the level of cover you have is therefore essential, as it will determine how much help you will get should you break down.
For instance, some car insurance policies come with free breakdown assistance, while others don’t: if you have the latter then it is essential you arrange breakdown cover separately otherwise if you break down you won’t be able to call for help.
When choosing a breakdown cover policy you also need to be careful as some have stipulations such as they will only come help you if you are a quarter of a mile away from your home or that they will only tow you for a certain amount of miles.
Fixing your Car
One of the first things that will go through your head when your car breaks down is ‘how much is this going to cost to fix?’ If you were involved in an accident and it wasn’t your fault then the repairs may be covered by the other party’s insurance provider, however if it was your fault you will need to claim on your car insurance.
If your car has a fault that was not caused by an accident then you may have to bite the bullet and find a mechanic to fix your vehicle. When looking for a mechanic make sure that they are reputable and are covered by a comprehensive motor trade insurance policy.
It is often wise to ask for quotes from a number of garages before choosing one to repair your car, that way you can get the best price available.