What to do when your car breaks down on a Melbourne freeway

Stopping on the Monash, the West Gate or the Ring Road is about as exposed as driving gets. Traffic is fast, gaps are short, and what you do in the first few minutes matters far more than what's wrong with the car. Here's the order to do things in.

1. Get as far left as you can

The moment something feels wrong, such as a warning light, a loss of power or a strange noise, put your hazard lights on and start moving left. RACV's breakdown guide says to move as far to the left of the road as possible on freeways, motorways and highways. If the car is still rolling, use that momentum to reach an emergency lane, a stopping bay or an exit ramp, rather than stopping at the first gap you see.

Once you've stopped, switch off the ignition but leave the hazard lights on.

2. Decide whether to stay in the car or get out

There isn't one right answer, because it depends on how close you are to moving traffic. RACV's advice comes down to this:

• If the car is a safe distance from traffic, stay inside with your seatbelt on while you wait.
• If the car is close to traffic, get out through the passenger door so the car stays between you and the traffic, then stand as far from the road as you can. Bring everyone with you, including children.

RACV also points out that people have been killed in Australia after being hit in an emergency lane or following a breakdown. So don't walk along the freeway looking for help, and don't try to fix the car or change a tyre beside fast traffic. No repair is worth that risk.

3. Know which number to call

Transport Victoria's Transport Operations Centre takes reports of crashes, debris and other problems affecting traffic, 24 hours a day. Its Incident Response Service patrols Melbourne's network, but Transport Victoria says it isn't a roadside assist or towing service. Its job is keeping people and traffic safe, so you'll still need to organise where your car goes next.

4. Work out exactly where you are

Freeways all look the same when you're stressed, and a vague location slows everyone down. Before you call or book, get these straight:

• The freeway name and which way you were heading, for example the M80 Western Ring Road heading towards Greensborough.
• The last exit you passed and the next one coming up.
• Any overpass, sign or landmark you can see from where you are.

If you need to call 000 and aren't sure of your location, the Emergency+ app uses your phone's GPS to help you give the operator the details they need. It's worth installing today, before you ever need it.

5. Book the tow from somewhere safe

When you're out of danger and it's a matter of moving the car, you've got a few choices. If you have roadside cover, call them. If you don't, you can start ringing around tow companies, or you can send one request on RoadM8 instead.

Enter your pick-up and drop-off, or use the current location button for the pick-up, then add your rego and a photo of the vehicle. Independent tow operators near you can then send quotes, so you can see the price before you accept and follow the truck live on the map. Quotes depend on who's available near your pick-up at the time.

One practical point: you don't need a great photo. Take it from a safe spot, and never walk around the traffic side of the car to get a better angle.

You can request a tow anywhere in Melbourne, including the western suburbs, the south-eastern suburbs and the CBD and inner suburbs.

6. When the tow truck arrives

Victorian road rules now cover tow trucks too. Drivers must slow to 40 km/h when passing a tow truck that's stopped or moving under 10 km/h with its lights flashing, on all roads including freeways. That helps, but not every driver will do it, so stay well clear while your car is loaded and follow the operator's directions about where to stand.

If you booked on RoadM8, you'll have a PIN to give the driver in person at pick-up, which confirms your vehicle is going with the right truck.

Set yourself up before it happens

Most of this gets easier with a little preparation. RACV suggests keeping a torch, a first aid kit, a phone charger and a bottle of water in the car, and getting strange noises or warning lights checked rather than hoping they go away. It also helps to save 13 11 70 in your phone, along with the RoadM8 booking link.

If you've had a crash rather than a breakdown, different rules apply. See who tows your car after a crash in Victoria.