Most roadside breakdowns are preventable. A little routine maintenance keeps you off the shoulder and on the road — here is what matters most.
A large share of roadside breakdowns trace back to something that routine maintenance would have caught — a tired battery, a worn tire, a low fluid.
Prevention is far cheaper, and far less stressful, than a breakdown. A modest, regular maintenance habit removes most of the risk.
A handful of items account for most preventable breakdowns:
Following your vehicle’s maintenance schedule is the single best habit of all.
Even a well-maintained car can fail — a nail in a tire or a sudden part failure does not care how diligent you are. So prevention is the first layer, not the only one.
Pair good maintenance with a stocked emergency kit and a roadside assistance plan. Then a rare breakdown is a minor event rather than a crisis. RMO MyRoadside provides 24/7 help if you ever need it.
Keep up with routine maintenance — battery, tires, fluids, belts and hoses, and brakes — and follow your vehicle's maintenance schedule. Most breakdowns trace to something maintenance would have caught.
Common causes include a worn-out battery, tire problems, low or neglected fluids, and failing belts or hoses — most of which routine maintenance can catch in advance.
Have the battery tested periodically, particularly before extreme heat or cold, and check tire pressure and tread regularly. Follow your vehicle's maintenance schedule for rotations and service.
It prevents most of them. A large share of breakdowns come from neglected maintenance items, though no amount of upkeep eliminates every risk — which is why a backup plan still helps.
Build complete roadside readiness:
