Car travel far from home: Common breakdown reasons & prevention tips

Highways England data states there are approximately 224,000 car breakdowns on UK motorways[1] every year. That’s an average of 25 per hour. Some of the most common reasons for car breakdowns are:

• Flat tyres
• Battery failure
• Engine overheating
• Incorrect oil level
• Running out of fuel

Although sometimes breakdowns can’t be avoided, there are a number of things you can do to safely reduce the risk including performing basic maintenance checks, keeping up to date with MOTs and servicing and . This blog post offers advice on how to keep your car in full working order before heading out on a long drive.

Reasons for car breakdowns

Flat Tyres

Flat tyres can result from:

• Underinflation.
• Worn-out tread.
• Road hazards. 

Almost one in 10[2] drivers don’t feel confident checking and topping up their tyres. Before setting off, inspect your tyres to ensure a smoother journey. If you’re unsure they’re correctly inflated, seek professional assistance.

Check your tyre tread depth is above the legal minimum of 1.6mm. Failure to do so can lead to a £400 fine, 12 penalty points and potentially even a driving ban[3].

If you experience a flat tyre while driving, pull over to a safe location, switch on your hazard lights, and call roadside assistance if you cannot change it yourself. Leaving your car in a dangerous position could result in three penalty points[4]. 

Battery failure

Heavy use of features including air conditioning or lights can lead to battery failure on long journeys. If your battery is worn out, this can also cause disruption. Driving with an unsafe battery could result in a £2,500 fine and three penalty points for driving a car in unsafe conditions[5].

If you’re worried about battery failure, look out for signs of corrosion and avoid using features like air conditioning. Make sure your lights are turned off when the engine is. If you’re still unsure, get your battery checked by a professional.

If your battery goes flat when you’re away from home, stay safe by pulling over to a secure location. If your hazard lights work, turn them on to alert other drivers. If they don’t, use reflective triangles or another warning signal to make your vehicle visible.

Call roadside assistance or a nearby recovery service for help. If you have jump leads and know how to use them, you can try jump-starting the car with the help of another vehicle.

Engine overheating [6]

Your engine can be more susceptible to overheating while on a longer drive. Keep an eye on your temperature warning light. If it lights up, you might have a problem with the engine or cooling system.

• Make sure you regularly check and top up your coolant.

If steam starts to come out of your engine or you see a warning light, pull over as soon as it is safe to do so and contact roadside assistance. You should never open the radiator cap if the engine is still warm. Any other issues or questions? Get it checked by a professional.

Incorrect oil level

Having too little or the wrong type of oil can cause serious damage to your car. Despite this, around one in 10[1] drivers claim they aren’t confident checking or topping up their engine oil.

Before heading off on a long journey, make sure you check your oil level. Make sure the engine is cold and follow the below:

• Pull out the dipstick.
• Wipe it clean.
• Reinsert it.
• Pull out the dipstick again to see how much oil is left (there will be markings for minimum and maximum oil levels).

If you’re still unsure, contact a professional. If you experience a breakdown due to low or faulty engine oil, safely pull over, turn on your hazard lights, and call roadside assistance or a recovery service for help.

Running out of fuel

Keep an eye on your fuel levels while on a long journey. When you plot your route, make note of service stations and other places where you can fill up. If you run out of fuel on the motorway, you could be fined up to £100 and receive three penalty points for stopping dangerously or illegally [7].

To avoid this, always monitor your fuel gauge. If you run out of petrol, safely pull over, turn on your hazard lights, and call roadside assistance for help.

What should I do if I break down on a motorway? [8]

It can be very dangerous to break down on a motorway, especially if you’re not near a junction or are far from home or your destination.

It’s important to remain as calm as possible and follow these tips to stay safe:

• Drive left: If possible, leave at the next junction or service area. If this is not possible, move your vehicle onto the hard shoulder or nearest emergency area. Once your vehicle is static, put on your hazard lights to alert other drivers
• Exit the vehicle: As long as it is safe to do so, leave the vehicle from the passenger side and move to a secure area. Keep a safe distance from your vehicle and traffic and put on hi-vis or reflective clothing, if you have any.
• Contact Emergency Services: Call your breakdown provider, roadside assistance or use the emergency phones located along the motorway to arrange recovery.
• When it’s not safe to leave your vehicle: Stay in your vehicle, keep your seatbelts and hazard warning lights on, and call 999 immediately.

You can use what3words to determine your exact location, although breakdown providers often have tracking if you contact them and use their app.

Any other road safety travel tips?

Ensure you have breakdown cover or roadside assistance and read our What to do When Your Car Breaks Down post. Check the terms and conditions to make sure it covers getting you and your vehicle where you want to go, in the event of a breakdown. This could be an onward journey or back to your home.

Some breakdown policies cover you to continue your journey via a hire car or public transport (or may even put you up in a hotel overnight) but check the policy wording. Depending on the level of cover, some may only take your car to a local garage. This will leave you making your own arrangements for the rest of the journey.

If you don’t have cover or want to upgrade to the next level (e.g. to ensure you have national recovery), this is possible but it might be at a premium price. Contact an established breakdown provider for more information on how to to this or to arrange the upgrade.

Pack the basics in your car in case of a breakdown:

• Hi-vis clothes.
• Spare clothes.
• Food and drink.
• Blankets.
• Accessories.
• Torch.

Wherever you’re driving to, you will need insurance. If you’re borrowing a car or sharing the journey, why not consider temporary car insurance? Our policies are fully comprehensive and flexible, meaning you not only have peace of mind while on the road but also only pay for the time you need.

Sources

[1] https://www.carbase.co.uk/news-and-features/car-news/how-many-cars-break-down-each-year

[2] From results of a survey carried out between 02.12.2024 – 05.12.2024. The respondent’s demographic

profile was determined by natural fallout as there is no reliable data available to represent the national

population. All data is based on this survey unless otherwise stated.

[3] https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/driving-offences/

[4] https://www.gov.uk/penalty-points-endorsements/endorsement-codes-and-penalty-points

[5] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/annex-5-penalties#penaltytable

[6] https://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/advice/top-ten-breakdown-causes

[7] https://www.theaa.com/about-us/newsroom/aa-warns-drivers-of-low-fuel-gamble

[8] https://nationalhighways.co.uk/road-safety/driving-on-motorways