What to do if your car breaks down
The first steps are always the same: move the car to a safe place, turn on your hazard lights, put on a safety vest before exiting the car, and place the warning triangle behind it. Only then start thinking about what's broken — and call +372 5610 1515, the dispatcher will guide you further over the phone.
The first 60 seconds
- Turn on hazard lights immediately, even before the car stops.
- Move the car off the road, if it's still moving. A hard shoulder is better than a driving lane, an exit is better than a shoulder, a gas station or parking lot is best. Roll further by inertia if the engine died.
- Put on a safety vest while sitting in the car. Not after exiting. On a dark highway, a pedestrian without a vest is essentially invisible.
- Warning triangle at least one hundred meters behind on the highway, ten meters in the city. Even further behind a bend, hill, or bridge.
- Move yourself away from the road, behind the barrier or to the edge of the ditch. Do not stand behind the car or between two cars.
- If someone was injured or the car is blocking traffic, call 112. Towing comes later.
Only now: what's broken
Write down or remember three things — the dispatcher will ask for exactly these:
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Where are you | Road number and kilometer post, or street and house number |
| What car | Make, model, year, driven axle, transmission type |
| What happened | When it started, what sound, if anything is leaking, if a warning light is on |
Symptom and probable solution
| Symptom | See |
|---|---|
| Won't start, lights dim | Dead battery |
| Won't start, lights bright, hear a click | Starter not working |
| Tire flat or punctured | Tire service |
| Ran out of fuel | Out of fuel |
| Car in ditch or snowdrift | Car in ditch |
| Keys locked in car | Door locked |
| Traffic accident | Accident assistance |
| Not moving under its own power | Towing service |
All situations in one table: service triage.
Three things not to do
Do not drive further if a red warning light came on. Red means "stop immediately" — oil pressure, coolant, charging. Driving further will turn a couple-hundred-euro fault into an engine repair.
Do not let a random passerby tow you with a rope. An incorrect attachment point will rip out the towing eye or break the front bumper, and no one will cover that damage.
Do not crank the starter ten times in a row. If the car didn't start after three attempts, it won't start after the tenth either — you're only adding to a dead battery.
What you get on the phone
An estimated price and arrival time already during the call, before anyone drives out. Towing service in Tallinn city center starts at 65 €, in Harjumaa 75 €, night and weekend surcharge is 0 €. Elsewhere, the dispatcher will state the price during the call — see towing service price and how quickly help arrives.
Frequently asked questions
What do I do first?+
Hazard lights on, car off the road, vest on, triangle behind. Only then diagnosis and call.
Should I wait in the car or outside?+
On the highway, it's safer outside the car, behind the barrier. In the city and on a quiet street, waiting in the car is fine.
Do I have to know what's broken myself?+
No. It's enough if you describe what you see, hear, and feel.
A red warning light came on. Can I make it home?+
Don't try. A red light means stop — call immediately.
Do you come at night?+
Yes, 24/7. A night call is not more expensive: the surcharge is 0 €.
See also
The dispatcher answers immediately and sends the nearest helper.