In case of emergency

In case of emergency

We know it can be stressful when something goes wrong, so we’re here to help.

If your vehicle breaks down

All these steps are in line with the Highway Code Rule 274 which tells you what to do if you break down.

Make sure you're in a safe place

Move your vehicle off the road if possible (watch out for any soft verges). If you're on a motorway and can't turn off at the next exit, pull up onto the hard shoulder. Make sure you stop as far to the left as you can, with the wheels turned to the left.

Put your hazard lights on

Turn on your hazard warning lights. If it’s dark or foggy, keep your sidelights on too.

Stay well away from moving traffic

It’s usually safest to get out of your car (using the doors facing away from passing traffic) and wait behind a barrier. If you’re on a motorway, move up the bank if you can and stay upstream of oncoming traffic. Leave any animals in the car.

Wear a reflective jacket

Put on a high-vis jacket if you have one.

Don’t put a warning triangle on the hard shoulder

If you’re on a motorway, it’s not safe to use a warning triangle. If you’re on a road and it’s safe, you can put a warning triangle at least 45m (50 yards) behind your vehicle.
Left column

If you have breakdown cover from Arval, typically included with the Arval Maintenance package:

Contact our Customer Support team on 0370 600 4499 and select the option for Breakdown.

We may divert you to your warranty provider or we may send out our supplier directly. Either way, we will make sure someone is on their way.

Right column

If you don't have breakdown cover from Arval:

In the first instance, check your manufacturer warranty, as all vehicles do come with some level of breakdown cover, but the policy and length of cover varies. This information can usually be found in the owner’s handbook.

If you have your own breakdown cover in place, please refer to your breakdown provider.

If your vehicle is involved in an accident

Make sure you’re in a safe place and you and any passengers are safe as well.

Don’t admit liability – if the other driver admits liability, write it down and ask him/her to sign it.
Take as much detail as possible – including the names, addresses and contact numbers of all people involved, including independent witnesses.
Make a note of the registration numbers and details of all the vehicles involved.
Where possible, take photos or videos of the incident, including the location and anything else that may be relevant.
CCTV – this is often available in car parks and more often on main roads and motorways. Please review the area to see if the incident could have been captured on camera. If this is the case, please notify your insurer or the Arval Total Care team and we can advise on the next steps to access the information.
If your vehicle is fitted with a dash cam, please extract the information immediately and notify your insurer, or the Arval Total Care team by email at totalcare@arval.co.uk (if you have Arval Total Care or Accident Management). Please do so regardless of who may be at fault for the incident.
Left column

If you have Arval Total Care or Accident Management:

Contact our customer service team on 0370 419 7000 and select the option for Accident. Our friendly team will talk you through what happens next.

Right column

If you don't have Arval Total Care or Accident Management:

You’ll need to contact your vehicle insurance provider to report the accident and to understand their next steps.