It can be a stressful time when your car stops working, and you don’t know what to do with it. Once you have moved the car safely back home (contact a breakdown service if necessary) here are some things you can do.
Ask your dad
When your car stops working, the first thing you need to do is find out if it can be fixed. If you are strapped for cash, you should contact someone who will be able to come and have a look at it.
Most people decide to ring their dad who will take a look at their car for them. He will be able to decide what you should do next, and may know someone else who will be able to fix it for your cheaply. You may need him to give you lifts till its sorted!
Find a mechanic
A top thing you should do when your car stops working is to contact a mechanic. Look online for someone reliable who will be able to check your car to see why it’s stopped working. They will be able to tell you whether it can be fixed or whether you need to buy another vehicle. You may be able to contact a garage who will be able to arrange for your car to be picked up.
Call your car insurance
If your vehicle has stopped working and can’t be fixed because of reasons out of your control, you may be able to claim on your car insurance. Ring them up and explain the situation and see if there’s anything you can do. You can also look in your insurance documents and see if you are covered. They may be able to send you a hire car which you can use until your old car is fixed. Or if it can’t be fixed, they can lend you a hire car, till they provide you with the value of the old one.
Buy a new car
After your old car has been looked at and you have been told there’s nothing they can do; it’s time to look for a new vehicle. You should look around and test different cars till you find one which you love. If you can’t afford to pay for your car, you may need to get a loan to pay for it. It can be hard getting a loan with bad credit, but it’s possible. Whichever loan you go for, you need to ensure you can afford to pay back the monthly repayments. It might be best to borrow money from your parents, if they can afford to, and pay them back, rather than a loan company.
Stick to public transportation
If nothing can be done to save your car and you’re not in a position to buy another one, it might be time to turn to public transport. You will be surprised that there are many benefits to getting the bus or train. For one, it can often be cheaper than paying petrol and car insurance. And you can make most of the time you’re traveling by getting on with work or reading a great book.
Remember to keep calm as it will all work out okay!
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