Electric vehicles (EVs) are very reliable, but like petrol and diesel cars, they can still break down. The good news is that you’re fully covered with roadside assistance from the RAC as part of your Motability Scheme package. This guide explains how to stay safe, what to do if a breakdown happens, and the support that’s available to get you moving again.
While EVs are designed to be dependable, it’s natural to feel unsure about what to do if something goes wrong, especially when it comes to charging or roadside recovery.
This guide will take you through every step, from staying safe and contacting the RAC on the myRAC app, to understanding what’s included in your cover. Whatever car you drive, we’ve got practical tips to help you feel calm, confident and supported if a breakdown happens.
- What to do if your EV breaks down
- Your RAC cover as a Scheme customer
- If your EV runs out of charge
- If something else caused your EV to break down
- How to lower your chances of breaking down
- EVs are very reliable
What to do if your EV breaks down
Most of the steps below apply to all vehicles, not just EVs. The most important thing is to keep yourself, animals, and passengers safe.
If you can, pull over somewhere safe and well away from traffic. If you’re on a motorway, leave at the next exit and stop at a service station if possible. If you’re on a smart motorway, follow our steps to stay safe.
-
Pull over: If you have less time to react, pull onto the hard shoulder instead, far to the left and well away from traffic. Never stop in your lane unless you absolutely need to
-
Make sure people can see you: Switch your hazard lights on and turn your wheels to the left. If it’s dark, use your sidelights so that people can see you
-
Move to a safe place: Exit your vehicle on the side farthest from traffic, with your passengers. Put on high-visibility clothing and, if you can, get behind a safety barrier
-
What to do about animals? Leave any animals inside your car, including service dogs. Stay alert and aware of other vehicles, and never return to your own vehicle, even if it’s raining or cold
Never place a warning triangle on a motorway; it is extremely dangerous. On a minor road, you can put one 45 metres behind your vehicle.
If you find it’s not safe to leave your vehicle, call 999 straight away and ask for the police. Or press the SOS button inside your vehicle, if it has one.
Your RAC cover as a Scheme customer
Remember, breakdown cover is part of your all-inclusive package. You just need to let the RAC know what’s happened, and they’ll come out to give you EV roadside assistance.
You can tell them in the myRAC app. It’s the quickest and easiest way to get help, and the app will tell the RAC exactly where you are, even if you’re not sure.
They’ll start finding a patrol for you straight away. You’ll get a confirmation call and a text, plus regular updates on your patrol’s arrival.
Or you can call RAC Motability Assist on 0800 73 111 73 , and they’ll send someone out to you as soon as possible. Remember to have your details ready, like your location and what’s wrong.
You can use what3words to help you figure out where you are. It’s a simple tool to help you find, share and save your location.
If your EV runs out of charge
If your EV’s battery has gone flat, this is covered by your all-inclusive package on the Scheme. The RAC will tow you to the nearest charge point, so you can top up and get moving again.
The RAC also have an EV Boost service that can help. This is a mobile van with a portable charger on board, so they can top your EV up on the spot, wherever you’re stranded. They’ll give you enough to get yourself to a nearby charge point.
Just to reassure you, ‘out of charge’ breakdowns do not happen often. The AA say only 1.4% of EV breakdowns in 2024 were due to out-of-charge breakdowns. And they expect the figure to drop to 1%, which is the same as running out of petrol or diesel.
Remember to check your battery before you start your journey, and you’ll lower the chances of this happening to your EV.
And the electric infrastructure in the UK has already improved greatly, according to EV Charger Post. This makes it even easier for you to make sure you are fully charged. In 2023, there were 16,602 new chargepoints installed, according to Zapmap.
If you’re curious how long EV batteries last before they need replacing, the answer is a long time. According to Energy Saving Trust, they generally last 10 to 20 years, depending on different factors.
If something else caused your EV to break down
If the problem lies elsewhere, like you’ve got a puncture, we cover these for you too. If your 12V battery is low, this is different from the EV battery you charge.
One thing your RAC patrol might say is that your vehicle needs a minor software update. These free updates can be from home, allowing cars to be updated ‘over the air’ without having to visit a dealer.
With all of these, the RAC will support you in the same way they would a petrol or diesel vehicle, which can both suffer the same faults.
How to lower your chances of breaking down
There are plenty of things you can do to reduce the chances of your EV breaking down:
- Extend your battery’s overall life by only charging to 80%. And try to keep it above 20%
- Plan your charging stops ahead of time, including checking which chargepoints are working and available. Then you’ll never be caught short
- Look after your tyres and always update your software when your EV needs it
And remember to pack a blanket, a hi-visibility jacket, and a phone power bank too. These make any breakdown safer.
EVs are very reliable
We’ve shown you what happens if your EV breaks down and how reliable they are. Here’s everything we’ve covered. Click the image to download the myRAC app:
The main thing to remember is we’re here to support you with breakdowns all day, every day. So you’re never on your own.
That means wherever you are, even if your vehicle stops working on your drive, an expert from the RAC will come out to help. And it’s all covered as part of your all-inclusive package on the Scheme.
Sign up for our electric car series
It’s our exciting email series for anyone looking to learn more about electric cars. We’ll explain how they work and show you what life with one could look like. You’ll get one email each week for eight weeks.
