What to do if your Vehicle Breaks Down
Authored by Jacob Koester
Most of us have been there at one time or another. Your vehicle breaks down, and you’re stuck on the side of the road, unsure of exactly what to do, or who to call.
No matter how well maintained you keep your vehicle, there is always a chance of this happening. Flat tires, dead batteries, and even accidents can all pop up unexpectedly.
If you are driving a City Rent a Truck vehicle, and find yourself in this situation, don’t stress. This blog will outline everything you need to do, to get that vehicle back on the road.
911 for Emergencies
This may seem obvious, but if you need emergency assistance, always call 911 first.
The safety of you and those around you is the most important thing, so if you are in immediate danger make this your first option.
Call a City Representative
If it is not a medical emergency, the first thing you should do after safely pulling over, is contact a City Rent A Truck Rental Representative.
Between the hours of 8am-5pm Monday through Friday, and 9am-Noon on Saturdays, they are your go to for assistance. Your rep will quickly assess the situation and let you know what you need to do from there.
You can find the contact information for all 3 stores here.
Ford Roadside Assistance
Your Rental Rep is a great place to start in the event of a non emergency breakdown, but if you are calling in after hours you may not be able to get a hold of anybody.
If this is the case call Ford Roadside Assistance at 1-800-241-3673. They are available 24/7 and will meet you where you are.
What they will ask:
When you call they will ask for your location, vehicle make/model/color, license plate number, VIN number (pictured below), and reason for the call.
What services are included?
Battery jump start, fuel delivery, winching, lockout assistance, flat tire change, and vehicle towing.
Will it cost you money?
Ford Roadside Assistance is free for vehicles under warranty, which includes all gas vehicles under 60,000 miles or 5 years, and all diesel’s under 100,000 or 5 years, whichever comes first. The vast majority of City Rent A Trucks fleet will be under warranty during your rental.
Towing
If your vehicle needs to be towed they will take it to the nearest Ford Dealer for free if it is under 35 miles. If the Ford Dealer is more than 35 miles away you will have to pay for each additional mile.
Mopar (RAM) Roadside Assistance
Mopar Roadside Assistance is who you need to call if you are driving one of our Dodge vehicles. You can reach them at 1-800-521-2779 and they are available 24/7 as well.
Mopar’s roadside Assistance is very similar to Ford’s with some slight variations that are detailed below.
What they will ask:
Name of vehicle owner, VIN number, type of vehicle, license plate number, Mileage (Odometer reading), location, and the nature of your problem.
What services are included?
Battery jump start, fuel delivery, winching, lockout assistance, flat tire change, and vehicle towing.
Will it cost you money?
Mopar assistance is covered under warranty for gas vehicles up to 60,000 miles or 5 years, and diesel vehicles up to 100,000 miles or 5 years, whichever comes first. The vast majority of City Rent A Trucks fleet will be under warranty during your rental.
Towing
If your vehicle needs to be towed they will take it to the nearest Dodge dealership for free, as long as the vehicle is covered under warranty.
Conclusion
No matter which of these options is taken, make sure to keep your rental representative in the loop. Even though there may be no charges, they will still need to know what has happened to the vehicle, and where it is if it has been towed.
Be sure to contact us if you have questions about any content in this blog. You can also visit the following websites: Ford Roadside, or Mopar Roadside for more information on their services. Thank you, and safe travels!
