avoiding the soccer mom minivan

Better Safe Than Stuck: 2 Ways To Be Prepared If Your Car Breaks Down

No one likes the thought of their car breaking down. Even if you are a careful driver who takes good care of your vehicle, it could still happen to you at some point. It is important to have a plan in place if you end up stranded in an unusual area without the ability to get your car to start. You never know if your car will break down, but having a plan ahead of time will make the ordeal less stressful and easier to get through.

1. Put Your Own Car Safety Bag Together

Can you imagine being stranded in the cold weather or stuck on the side of a major highway with your kids during a time when everyone is feeling hungry? If you have to wait a while before a mechanic arrives to assist you with your car troubles, it is important to have a few important items. These are some of the items you should consider packing in your car bag:

  • Large flashlight
  • Blankets
  • Small snacks (peanut butter crackers, cookies, saltines)
  • Bottled water

The large flashlight is good to have if you get stuck in your vehicle late at night, the blankets can keep you warm if the heat is no longer working because the car turned off completely and the small snacks will come in handy if you or the passengers in the vehicle start to get hungry or thirsty while waiting. If you did not have a bag like this available, you might be cold, hungry, and downright miserable for several hours.

2. Have the Number to the Mechanic Stored in Your Phone

It is important for you to know who to call when you are having car trouble. The mechanic may be able to travel to you to help with the problem or have a tow truck come to get your vehicle and bring it back to the shop. If you do not have the number of a mechanic available, it will take that much longer for you to get the help you need. Before choosing a random mechanic and putting their number in your phone, consider doing a bit of your own research ahead of time.

Look into mechanics in the area who can provide a variety of services. You want to make sure the person who works on your vehicle has experience and will be able to figure out what caused it to stop working altogether. Damaged car batteries are just one of the many reasons a vehicle could potentially stop working at random.

Even if you have a new car and drive well, it is better to be prepared than to get stuck on the side of the road without anything at all, including a car bag and the number to a reliable mechanic. If you are prepared ahead of time, you will not have to feel nearly as stressed if a situation like this does occur when you are driving. For more information, contact local professionals like Professional Automotive.


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