A breakdown almost never happens at a convenient time. The good news: the first few minutes matter most, and they’re completely within your control. Here’s the simple plan we walk Orlando drivers through every week.
1. Get yourself somewhere safe first
If the car is still moving, ease off the gas and coast toward the right shoulder or the nearest exit. Turn on your hazard lights early — before you slow down — so traffic behind you understands what’s happening. On a busy stretch like I-4 or the 408, getting fully off the travel lanes is more important than where exactly you stop.
Once stopped, stay buckled and assess. If you’re on a narrow shoulder with fast traffic, it’s often safer to remain in the vehicle with your seatbelt on than to stand beside the road.
2. Make yourself visible
Keep the hazards running. If you have a reflective triangle or flares and it’s safe to place them, set them well behind the car to give approaching drivers more warning. At night, an interior dome light on can help responders spot you.
When you call us, tell us three things: where you are (an exit number or cross street is perfect), what the car is doing, and whether everyone is safe. That’s enough for us to head your way.
3. Decide: quick fix or tow?
Not every breakdown needs a tow. A dead battery, a locked door, or a flat can often be handled roadside so you’re moving again in minutes. A no-start that turns out to be electrical, an overheating engine, or anything involving an accident usually does need a tow — and forcing it can make the repair worse. When you’re not sure, describe what you’re seeing and we’ll help you figure out the right call.
4. Call a crew that actually answers
This is the part most people get wrong in the moment — they call the first national number they find and end up on hold. As a small, owner-operated Orlando crew, we pick up the phone ourselves. You talk to the person who’s coming to get you, day or night, and we’ll give you a straight answer on timing.
