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Having your car break down is a situation everyone dreads. When your car stops working, it is not only inconvenient; it can also be highly stressful. Thankfully, your car breaking down is not an event you experience daily. However, a vast number of cars do break down each year. Research shows that 69 million vehicle breakdowns occur annually in the United States. The impact of these breakdowns on both the economy and the lives of individuals is significant. Billions of dollars are spent each year on vehicle repair costs following a breakdown, and millions of working days are lost. So there is no question that your car breaking down is an event you want to avoid at all costs. But how can you minimize the chances of your vehicle breaking down, and how can you be prepared if it does? Read on to find out how to be prepared for a car breakdown and how to prevent it from happening in the first place:

Keep Up With Vehicle Servicing

Prevention is essential to avoid the inconvenience of a car breakdown, and there are a few ways to do this. One of the most important things you can do to minimize your chances of a vehicle breakdown is to get your car serviced regularly. Regular vehicle servicing can help to keep your car in the best possible condition and also help detect any issues before they become a bigger problem. So, being sure to schedule annual servicing to get your car checked over and ensure it is running safely could save you the hassle of a vehicle breakdown.

Update Your Phone With Useful Contacts

One of the most stressful parts of breaking down is being unsure who to call when it happens. Contacting someone that you know can come along and rescue you from a breakdown situation is really reassuring. But, amid the panic of breaking down, you may not know who to call. Adding the number of your local auto repair shop to your phone is a helpful place to start, as they should be able to complete the repair of your vehicle. However, this won’t be too much help to get your car off the highway and to the repair shop. Adding the number of a reliable tow truck company to your contacts list is a big help. The tow truck company will be equipped to get your car off the highway and to a place of safety before transporting it to a repair shop to get fixed.

Prepare an Emergency Kit

The trouble with a vehicle breakdown is that you never know when it is going to happen. So, it is safer to ensure you are always prepared for a breakdown scenario. Packing an emergency kit to keep in your vehicle is an excellent way to have everything you need ready for you to use if a breakdown occurs. Items to consider adding include a flashlight, warm clothes, a blanket, a first aid kit, and a jump starter.