This post was written as part of the Allstate Influencer Program and sponsored by Allstate. All opinions are mine. As the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, Allstate is dedicated not only to protecting what matters most–but to guiding people to live the Good Life, every day.
With the holidays getting closer by the second, more of us are spending time on the road. Whether you’re traveling to friends and family for a feast or taking a much-needed break from your daily lives to get away from it all, chances are you’ll be hopping in your car for a road trip this season! While we all hope we make it to our destination without any issues, as someone who has dealt with breakdowns way more often than I’d like to admit, I know that sometimes our cars have other plans.
Today I’m sharing a few of my favorite tips for staying safe when your car breaks down, plus some information about an app that you’ll definitely want to download before you hit the road: Allstate’s Good Hands Rescue® app!
Staying safe when your car breaks down
Get to safety & make sure other drivers can see you
The first thing you need to do when your car breaks down is make sure that you’re either safely off the road or extremely visible to other drivers. If you can, try to drive or coast your car onto the shoulder of the road. Put on your emergency blinkers and pop your hood (it’s a universal sign for “my car is broken right now”).
Download the Good Hands Rescue® App!
While I recommend downloading the app before you hit the road, if you do suddenly find yourself broken down and don’t already have it, head to the App store or Google Play on your phone and get Allstate’s Good Hands Rescue® app. It’s going to help you so much with every other tip here! The app is completely free to download and you don’t need to be an Allstate customer to use it. You only pay for services that you use.
Call for help
Once your car is safely off the road (or in a position where others can see you without crashing into you), call for help right away. Don’t get out of your car and try to fix it yourself. Especially since I can get help right away and even let them know which tire needs replacing by using the Good Hands Rescue® app.
With just the push of a few buttons, you can let Allstate know whether you need fuel delivered, a jump start, a tire change or even just help getting back into your car! Hey, you’d be surprised how many times I’ve almost locked my keys in because I was so overwhelmed with other things!
Another great thing about the app is that it can track your location through the GPS in your phone. That way, you don’t have to try to remember what mile marker or landmark you passed most recently or try to give someone directions when you’re stressed out. I’m notoriously bad at giving directions under the best circumstances, let alone when I’m broken down on the side of the road and in panic mode.
Alert your friends and family
Once you’re safe & secure and help is on the way, call someone to let them know what happened. Not only does this prevent your friends and family from worrying about you, it’s just a good idea to make sure someone knows where you are in case your phone dies.
Fortunately, this is super easy with the Good Hands Rescue® app! You can send an alert easily with a few clicks.
Learn from your “mistakes”
I’ve learned from my breakdowns over the years. Before I take a road trip, I make sure my oil is fresh, my fluids are filled and my tires are properly inflated. While you can’t predict or prevent every type of breakdown, doing a little road trip prep on your car can save you from heartache on your journey. Trust me, it’s worth taking the extra time and spending a few extra dollars now to make sure you arrive safely!
I hope that all of your journeys are safe, fun and uneventful (in the good way!) this holiday season. However, should something come up and you find yourself on the side of the road with a car that just won’t go any further, following these tips will help keep you stay safer while you wait for assistance to arrive.
I highly recommend getting Allstate’s Good Hands Rescue® app. As much as I hope you never have to use it, it’s like an extra layer of security for those road trips!
You’ve approached the issue of car trouble in a very logical step by step process. I appreciate your article.
Thanks for sharing all the great tips,being prepared is so important!
Keep a blanket in the trunk or in the back. Never know if you’ll have to bare the cold or protect yourself from rain or something.
With travelling sure to increase this time of year, these are some timely tips. Thanks for sharing.
I can’t love this enough. This is a situation that terrifies me just thinking about it. This app sounds amazing.
Sounds like a very practical list of things to have on hand or know if yo every have a breakdown or lock yourself out the car. Thanks for sharing
What a great app! I am thankful that I have OnStar so when my car breaks down, depending on what it is, they are either notified right away or I can reach out to them. This is great for those in cars who do not have this option.
This is my worst nightmare! Thank you for these excellent tips!
It is smart to alert friends and family. Any precautions you can take to stay safe while you wait for help, should def. be taken!
I hate it when my car breaks down. Thanks for the tips
I have had my share of break downs. It isn’t fun. It can be quite scary if there’s no one you can call to come and get you. This app would be a great thing to have.
Looks like there is an app for everything, but this Good Hands app by far, is something we really need to have. Thanks for sharing the information. I’m downloading it now.
This sounds like an amazing App. I will have to make sure both of my kids download it as well
These is really great tips for people who have car. These one is very helpful to us nice idea and nice thing!
Good Hands Rescue® app looks really neat.
This is such an important, but often overlooked, topic!!
This is a very useful app! Perfect for emergencies!
That app is so cool. I’ve been locked out of my car before and it was in a pouring thunderstorm.
I definitely need the Good Hand app, One of my biggest fears on the road is breaking down and getting stranded with the kids. This sounds like a real life saver!
This is great advice. Honesty, this is a big fear of mine with 2 kids in the car.
This looks like a great app. I wish I would have had it when my husband broke down in the middle of nowhere.
Wow, this fantastic app is a must for any driver! You never know when an emergency situation may arise
Okay so I need this App in my life! I had no idea something like this existed but I feel much better about long drives alone now.
I’m installing this app now! You never know when you could need something like it.
I could have used this app yesterday. Our car battery died in a parking lot, three hours from home, in the rain.
Sounds like a good app and looks like very informative
That Good Hands app sounds amazing. There’s nothing worse than breaking down and feeling helpless and alone.
It’s nice to have an app at your fingertips when you do have car trouble. No one wants to be sitting by the road alone. This tool definitely provides peace of mind.
These amazing tips is very useful for everybody especially for the drivers.. Must be aware about this.
Thank you for sharing this awesome and very informative tips. This is very helpful.
That is pretty awesome! I love that there’s now a way to get help when your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere! It’s definitely useful!