When your car breaks down, help can’t come quickly enough. Minutes can feel like hours, but understanding what really happens during a roadside emergency can help you decide whether to stay with your vehicle or move to a safer spot. AAA reports an average of 21 minutes for help to arrive, though other providers note longer waits. The good news is that most common roadside repairs don’t take long, about 10-15 minutes to change a tire and 5-10 minutes for a jump start.

Every Endurance auto protection plan includes 24/7 roadside assistance with towing, jump-starts, lockout help, and more, so you’re never stranded when the unexpected happens. Whether you’re close to home or hundreds of miles away, Endurance connects you with trusted service providers to get you back on the road quickly and safely.

Keep reading to learn how to stay safe during a breakdown and what to expect from roadside assistance timing, whether you rely on Endurance or another provider.

Safety First: Where to Stop and How to Be Seen

Safety is always the top priority during a vehicle breakdown; fixing the problem can come later. You and your passengers are at risk from other cars, especially on busy roadways or in areas with limited visibility.

A highway breakdown is especially dangerous due to inattentive drivers, overcorrection risks from motorists startled by a stopped vehicle, and exposure to moving debris. One study by the Michigan State Police estimated that 10% of all fatal traffic accidents involved roadside emergencies.

Ideally, you can pull into a parking lot, but depending on the location and the type of problem, that may not be possible. Look for a shoulder safety area on a highway, stay belted in the car, and turn on the hazard lights. If it’s dark, leave on the exterior lights if they function, so you’re more visible to other motorists, emergency responders, and roadside assistance. Call for help as soon as possible.

If you must leave the vehicle (reasons why this might be necessary are covered below), always keep the car between you and the road. If available, a guardrail can act as an additional buffer; wait on the other side.

Realistic ETAs: Jump-Starts, Tire Swaps, Lockouts, and Tows

Once the initial surprise of a breakdown passes, it’s essential to have a realistic perspective about the arrival of roadside assistance and how long repairs might take. Armed with this information, you’ll know where to wait for help. Having the proper mindset also involves knowing what roadside help can and cannot do. The focus is on simple services like jump starts, tire changes, and lock-outs. If you’ve got more significant problems, expect to be towed to a repair shop.

• Arrival Time: Regardless of the car trouble, help can’t begin until the service provider arrives. AAA says its members have an average wait time of about 20 minutes, while Geico reports that the typical customer can expect service within 60 minutes. If the breakdown occurs in a rural area or involves heavy traffic or bad weather, you’ll be waiting longer.
• Jump-Start: Modern jump boxes have replaced jumper cables, speeding up the process of recharging a battery. Once connected, these devices typically need less than 10 minutes to enable a car to start (assuming the problem is only battery-related).
• Tire Change: Assuming you have a properly inflated, readily accessible spare and no complicating factors (like vehicle location or a missing lug nut key), tire change time usually runs less than 15 minutes. This is bread-and-butter work for roadside service technicians. They’ll have professional tools and know the correct lift point for the vehicle.
• Lockout Service: While an experienced specialist can often solve a lockout in 10-20 minutes, more advanced security systems can extend the required time or may result in being towed to a dealership.
• Fuel Delivery: Emergency fuel delivery usually takes the same timeframe as a standard service call (about 20-60 minutes), but is one of the quickest roadside fixes. Adding a few gallons of gas (what most providers bring) only takes a few minutes.
• Tow ETA: This represents your longest and most complex wait time. Many service calls initially dispatched for simple problems (such as dead batteries or flat tires) involve technicians arriving in standard service vehicles rather than full tow trucks. When these quick fixes fail or the problem is more serious than reported, a second call brings the actual tow truck, doubling your total wait time.

Stay or Leave the Vehicle: A Simple Decision Guide

Each breakdown situation is unique, so deciding whether to stay with the vehicle or wait elsewhere requires careful thought. Here’s a look at what to consider:

Stay in the car if:

• The location offers good visibility and wide shoulders.
• The weather is tolerable.
• Help is on the way and can be tracked.
• You’re better protected in the cabin than outside in an alternate location.

Leave for a safer location when:

• The car is stopped close to the road and in a limited visibility area.
• You’re exposed to extreme weather (extreme heat or cold, storms).
• Your location is high-risk (curved roadway, hilly terrain, construction zone).
• A safer location is within reasonable walking distance (and can be reached safely).
• The vehicle shows smoke, fire, leaks, or other hazards.

It’s generally safer to stay in the car than to stand nearby and be exposed to traffic. Inside, the car’s exterior acts as a protective barrier. However, as outlined above, there are exceptions. During a breakdown, stay alert to roadside and environmental conditions. If you feel unsafe or the situation changes, don’t hesitate to leave for a different location, but only if it’s safe to do so and is nearby.

Info That Speeds Help: Location, Photos, and Wheel-Lock Key

While waiting for breakdown help to arrive can seem to take forever, there are ways to speed up the process. Provide key details upfront to speed support.

Precise Location Details

The more accurate location details you can provide, the sooner help will arrive. If possible, start with a precise address or GPS coordinates from your smartphone. Otherwise, share the nearest marker, exit, or cross street, plus direction of travel or a landmark.

Vehicle Information

The roadside assistance service will need your car’s make, model, year, and color. You may also be asked if your vehicle has all-wheel or four-wheel drive, requiring a flatbed truck for towing.

Wheel-Lock Key

One of the most significant roadblocks to changing a tire is a wheel lock without its key. Ideally, you should locate the key before you call for help. You may find it in the glove box, center console, or spare tire area. Tell the service provider if the key is missing; the technician may have a generic key or recommend towing the car to a garage that can remove the lock.

Photo Support

Your roadside assistance request may be helped by photos to support any unusual conditions. This step might be helpful if your car is stuck in a hard-to-access location or has abnormal damage.

Battery and Key Status

If a jump start is involved, mention the age of the car battery and if you’ve experienced any recent electrical issues. For lockouts, specify if the key is lost or inside the car. However, if a child or pet is locked inside, you may want to call 911 for immediate help opening the vehicle.

A Minimal Kit That Cuts Wait Time

A vehicle emergency kit can be invaluable and even prevent the need to call roadside assistance. A few tools can address common breakdowns:

• Safety flares or emergency flashers
• Portable jump starter with an integrated flashlight and USB charging ports
• Basic hand tools (screwdrivers, pliers, adjustable wrenches)
• Work gloves, safety goggles, and rain ponchos
• Duct tape

Tire Sealant

Adding Fix-a-Flat or a similar item to your emergency kit can be helpful. However, these products are temporary fixes and may have drawbacks. For example, a tire treated with a sealant may require cleaning to be properly repaired, and some repair shops won’t work on these tires.

Beyond the Emergency Kit

Store roadside assistance numbers in your phone and keep physical copies of insurance cards and warranty information in your glove compartment. When cell service fails, hard copies become your lifeline.

After the Tow: First-Hour Paperwork to Handle

If your car does require towing, there are a few initial considerations that can make the repair process smoother.

• Photographs: Take pictures of the car upon arrival at the repair shop to establish its condition.
• Extended Warranty: If the breakdown is mechanical, contact your extended warranty or vehicle service contract provider, like Endurance, to initiate a claim for covered repairs.
• Insurance: While a collision or comprehensive policy may not pay for repairs, coverage may reimburse towing and related costs. Some companies offer mechanical breakdown insurance.
• Repair Facility: Review the repair shop’s policies for estimates, authorizations, labor rates, and warranties.
• Transportation: Arrange alternate transportation. Some car insurance companies and extended warranty providers offer rental car coverage and trip interruption protection.

Advantages of an Auto Protection Plan

Breakdowns can happen anywhere, but with Endurance, you’re never alone on the road. From 24/7 roadside assistance to comprehensive repair coverage, every plan is designed to keep you protected and moving forward with confidence, no matter what happens next.

Endurance plan holders also enjoy rental car reimbursement, trip interruption, and the freedom to choose any licensed facility for covered repairs.

Learn more by requesting a FREE quote or see your price and plan recommendations through our online store. Endurance plan advisors are also available at (800) 253-8203.

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