Ever wondered what lane to drive in on a freeway or if you can overtake on the left? These are the road rules about driving on freeways in Victoria.
ERA
What to do if your car breaks down in a regional, remote or interstate location in Australia
Help is never far away, even in regional or remote areas. Here’s what to do if your car breaks down in a regional, remote or interstate location in Australia.
During 2025, RACV responded to 867,548 callouts for emergency roadside assistance, roughly a quarter of which were for incidents outside of metro Melbourne in regional or remote areas.
While there’s rarely a good time or place for your car to break down, having it happen on an infrequently travelled country road or in a remote location can be particularly stressful.
Whether you live in regional Victoria, travel for work or are planning a road trip, it’s vital all motorists know what to do if their vehicle breaks down in a regional or remote area – plus what to do if you need emergency roadside assistance interstate.
In this article
What to do if you break down in a regional or remote area of Victoria
There are a few basic steps to take when your car breaks down, regardless of whether it occurs in a metro, regional or rural location.
- Stop in a safe location.
- Turn on your hazard lights if possible.
- Move yourself and passengers to safety.
- Contact roadside assistance for help.
- Wait in a safe location for help to arrive.
Regional and remote locations can have fewer landmarks to help describe your location. This is where the RACV App can be useful to request assistance. The App utilises your smartphone's GPS to pre-fill your location details on Apple iPhones iOS 16 and Android OS 12 and newer models.
Additional precautions for break downs for breakdowns in remote and hard-to-access areas
If you break down in a regional or remote location, take extra care to make your car visible. Stay with your vehicle unless unsafe to do so. Do not wander off and attempt to find help.
You may be able to use the RACV App to request RACV Emergency Roadside Assistance. If the App is unable to locate you, call 13 11 11 to access help. Keep in mind that RACV patrol vehicles cannot access certain tracks, trails and roads that are unsafe or unsuitable for normal two-wheel drive vehicles.
Always have a backup plan if travelling into remote locations as phone and internet connectivity can be patchy. Keep an emergency kit in your car containing bottled water, non-perishable food, a torch with batteries, your car manual, first aid kit, safety gear and more.
Read more: The essential items that should be in every car emergency kit.
What to do if you break down interstate
You can still access RACV Emergency Roadside Assistance if your car breaks down interstate, including in remote or regional areas. Call 13 11 11 to be connected to the reciprocal auto club for the state you’re travelling in.
RACV Emergency Roadside Assistance is available Australia wide and requests for help can be made via the RACV App or by calling 13 11 11.
How to use the RACV App to request emergency roadside assistance
Yes, motorists who break down in Victoria can now access RACV Digital Emergency Roadside Assistance via the RACV App. Requesting emergency roadside assistance via the App is quick, easy and allows you to receive live updates so you stay in control of your request.
Simply open the app, select ‘Broken Down?’ and follow the prompts to request emergency roadside assistance.
The App uses your device’s location to place your vehicle and you can make specific adjustments to your location by dragging and dropping the pin on the map (similar to using a rideshare service). You can also add notes to help your patrol driver find your exact location.
You also have the option to select what your vehicle’s problem is (if known) as well as how many passengers you’re travelling with.
Your device must have either Android 12 or iOS 16 (or newer models), as well as the latest version of the RACV App to access RACV Digital Emergency Roadside Assistance.
Alternatively, you can still call 13 11 11 to request emergency roadside assistance.
Can I use the RACV App to request emergency roadside assistance in regional or remote locations?
When you request emergency roadside assistance in the RACV App, the App will check your location. If you’re in an area that can’t be serviced through the App — such as a freeway, a track or trail with weight limits, or a private access road — you’ll be directed to call RACV on 13 11 11.
You can also call 13 11 11 anytime you need help.
When requesting RACV Emergency Roadside Assistance through the RACV App you can select whether you're towing anything, such as a caravan.
How to help prevent breakdowns
It is rare for a vehicle to break down spontaneously. You can help prevent your car breaking down by:
- having your vehicle regularly serviced by a professional
- maintaining correct tyre pressure, especially when travelling long distances
- staying alert to hazards when driving
- not ignoring warning lights on your dashboard, or changes to how your vehicle’s driving ability (e.g. strange noises, a lack of power etc).
If you have any concerns about your vehicle while driving, pull over and park in a safe location before using the App or calling to request roadside assistance.
Frequently asked questions
Breakdown help is available no matter what time of day or night, with RACV Emergency Roadside Assistance available 24/7.
If your car breaks down at night, it is vital to prioritise safety. Visibility is reduced at night, both for you and for other motorists. Where it is safe to do so, stay in your car with the doors locked and hazard lights on while waiting for roadside assistance to arrive. Consider keeping a car emergency kit in your vehicle.
RACV Emergency Roadside Assistance includes electric vehicles (EVs) at no extra cost.
Drivers on Victorian roads must slow down to 40km/h per hour when passing stationary or slow-moving emergency, law enforcement, and roadside assistance vehicles (such as RACV patrol vans) with flashing lights. This is according to Road Rule 79A, which applies to police vehicles, emergency vehicles, enforcement vehicles, and VicRoads Incident Response Service vehicles. It was extended to include accident towing, breakdown towing, roadside assistance, Peninsula Link Incident Response, Eastlink Incident Response and Transurban Incident Response vehicles from July 1, 2025.
Even non-Members can call RACV Roadside Assistance for help. Call us on 13 11 11 to sign up on the spot and start accessing roadside assistance immediately.
