Car broke down in Orlando? What to do, step by step

1. Get yourself and the car out of danger

If the car is still rolling, signal and move as far right as you can: the shoulder, an exit ramp or a parking lot. Turn on your hazard lights as soon as something feels wrong.

On a busy highway like I-4, it is usually safer to stay buckled in your car with the hazards on than to stand next to traffic. Only get out if you can exit away from traffic and stand well behind a guardrail. If there is smoke, fire or a fuel smell, get everyone out and away from the vehicle, then call 911.

2. Call for help

If anyone is hurt or the car is blocking a travel lane, call 911. For a breakdown on a Florida highway you can also reach the Florida Highway Patrol by dialing *347 (*FHP) from a cell phone. On many Central Florida highways, FDOT Road Rangers patrol to help stranded drivers.

To get the car moved, call a tow company. McCoy Towing is available 24/7 at (407) 305-0088 and can bring the vehicle straight to our repair shop on South Orange Ave.

3. Tell the dispatcher what they need to know

Having this ready makes the call faster:

• Your exact location: highway and direction, nearest exit or mile marker, or a street address
• Year, make, model and color of the vehicle
• What happened: won’t start, flat tire, overheated, accident, warning lights
• Whether the car can roll, steer and brake (this decides the type of tow)
• Where you want it taken

4. Decide where the car should go

A common mistake is towing the car to the closest lot and then paying for a second tow to a shop. If the car needs repair, have it towed directly to the shop that will fix it.

At McCoy Enterprises, towing and repair are handled by one team: we bring the car to our shop, diagnose the problem and explain the estimate. No repair starts until you approve it.

5. While you wait

• Keep your hazard lights on and stay visible
• Take photos of the car and the location if there was damage
• Remove valuables you will need, like keys to your house, medications and chargers
• Florida law requires drivers to move over or slow down for stopped emergency vehicles, tow trucks and disabled vehicles with their hazards on, but do not count on every driver doing it

This guide gives general information. Every vehicle is different: if something feels unsafe, stop driving and call for help.