Any vehicle can break down, even a new one and it’s never ideal. If you’re renting one to move house or on a road trip, a breakdown can really put a spanner in the works. All our vans and cars at Skipton Self Drive a regularly maintained by our in-house team of mechanics, so it has to be said that breakdowns are incredibly rare. Thankfully!
Knowing how to handle the situation is crucial to ensure a smooth resolution and getting back on the road as quickly as possible. In this blog, we’ll guide you through the steps to take if your rental vehicle breaks down.
Pull Over Safely
If your hire car or van breaks down, the first thing to always do is get it out of the way of traffic. If there’s an area to park or a hard shoulder or layby that you can pull into, then do that. If not, pull over off the road as far as you can.
Put the hazard lights on and get everyone out of the car and away from the road, using the doors facing away from the road.
Also, leave the front wheels pointing away from the road, this will make the car less likely to roll out into traffic if someone runs into it.
If you are on a motorway’s hard shoulder, position yourself over the side of the barrier or up the verge if there is one.
If it’s too dangerous to get out the car, make sure everyone keeps their seatbelts fastened, put on the hazard lights and call the police.
Get Help
Once everyone is as safe as possible, the next step is to call a breakdown service. All our vehicles have breakdown cover. You will be provided with a phone number for roadside assistance. This can be found in the windscreen of the vehicle or the glove box. Details are also found on your Rental Agreement.
Make sure you read the T&C’s when renting your vehicle. A top tip is to take a picture on your phone of any numbers you might need, so you can call them straight away.
Repaired and Back on The Road
The breakdown service will either be able to fix your car on the spot or recover it back to our workshop. Depending on the problem, it may be possible for it to be taken to a garage near the location for them to repair.. If your hire vehicle can’t be repaired in reasonable time, options for a replacement will be discussed. The circumstances will be assessed at the time.
Will You Be Charged?
At Skipton Self Drive, roadside assistance and recovery is included in the price of your rental. The hirer is responsible for any costs for mechanical repairs that are caused by a failure to heed warning lights and gauges, carelessness, neglect or deliberate misuse. Examples include but are not limited to; driving through flood water, loosing keys, filling with the wrong fuel, burnt out clutch etc. These repair costs are not covered by any insurances.
Avoiding Breakdowns
You can’t avoid breakdowns, entirely but you can reduce the risks.
- Check the oil and fluid levels.
- Check that all the warning lights go out when you start the car.
- Check the tyres for any damage to both the tread and side walls.
- Check the type of fuel, and which side the filler is on.
- Check the clutch feels right and gears shift smoothly.
- If there is anything you are unsure about ask the staff.
If a warning light comes on once you are on the road, stop as soon as you can and contact us to be advised on whether to continue driving.
Every vehicle we provide comes with full tank of fuel. It doesn’t need to be returned with a full tank. We will refill it when it’s returned. If the refill is less than two litres, we credit back the full deposit to the hirer’s car (subject to there being no additional charges).
Any fuel over two litres, the cost is deducted from the deposit and the remaining balance refunded. We only charge standard fuel pump prices for fuel. We do not penalise or charge any admin fee to customers that don’t return vehicles with a full tank.
Conclusion
While a breakdown may seem like a significant setback, staying calm, contacting us promptly, and following the necessary steps can turn the situation around. Prioritising safety and understanding your rights and responsibilities are imperative.
If you’re looking to rent a vehicle, get it touch with our team here today!
