These prompts help you organize a breakdown or assistance record after immediate safety has been addressed. Copy them into your own document or notes. Record only what you can obtain safely, and add other details later. A missing photograph is preferable to exposure to traffic or another hazard.
First, contact the appropriate help
For an emergency or immediate danger, call 911 and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. For a non-emergency breakdown, contact the relevant assistance provider. The Michigan State Police roadside-emergency guide is a useful preparation reference. Your immediate response must account for the actual location and conditions.
Location and timing
- Date and local time: note when the problem began and whether the time is approximate.
- Road and direction: record the road name or route number and direction of travel.
- Nearest reference: add an exit, mile marker, cross street, or identifiable place if known.
- Vehicle position: describe whether it is in a travel lane, shoulder, parking area, or another location.
- Relevant conditions: note what you actually observed about weather, light, and the surrounding road.
Vehicle and assistance details
- Vehicle identity: record the make, model, plate, and other details the provider requests.
- Contact reference: keep the membership, rental, or assistance agreement number with your private notes.
- Occupants: tell the provider how many people need assistance and any practical access needs.
- Problem observed: describe the sequence, exact warning message, and changes you noticed.
- Unknown information: mark uncertainty instead of guessing a diagnosis.
Call and service log
- Call time and company: identify whom you contacted and when.
- Representative or reference: keep a name or case number if supplied.
- Instructions received: write down the agreed next action.
- Arrival information: note the estimate and later changes without removing the earlier entry.
- Destination: confirm where the vehicle will be taken and how you will receive updates.
- Authorization: record any agreement required before towing, repair, or other work.
Documents to keep together
- Assistance confirmations and relevant messages.
- Towing documents and the receiving facility’s details.
- Itemized receipts, repair estimates, and invoices.
- Photographs taken from an appropriate, safe location.
- Questions that still need an answer and the person or company to ask.
Review the record later
Add details from a safe place while the sequence is still fresh. Keep observations separate from conclusions about the cause. The record can support a conversation with a provider or repair shop, but it does not determine liability, coverage, or a mechanical diagnosis.
Read what information to keep after a breakdown for more context. For preparation before a future journey, use the before-you-leave checklist.