My experience of a breakdown in my WAV

In this article, disability writer Shona Louise shares her personal experience of her Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) breaking down on the motorway. She explains what happened, how the RAC helped her through the Motability Scheme’s breakdown cover, and offers tips for managing similar situations.

I’ve been a Motability Scheme customer for four years now. From the moment I got my WAV, I enjoyed new-found freedom and independence. At the back of my mind, I wondered what would happen if I had a breakdown. But when it did happen, I quickly realised there was no need to be worried.

The breakdown service offered by Scheme partner, the RAC, was really great. So, I’m sharing my experience and some tips to help you feel prepared if you ever have a similar situation.  

My first breakdown happened six months after I passed my driving test. My WAV was about 18 months old and my mum had been driving the vehicle whilst I learnt to drive. This was the first time I’d needed to get any kind of breakdown support or advice.

I was driving alone on a motorway during the day when I noticed a problem. My WAV suddenly lost power whilst driving, which was daunting. I knew that it was important to stay calm, so I immediately put my hazards on and made my way towards the hard shoulder.

• Reporting my breakdown to the RAC
• What happened when the RAC arrived?
• How they fixed my WAV roadside
• Being prepared for future breakdowns
• How to protect yourself and passengers in an emergency
• How to prevent breakdowns in your vehicle
• What happens afterwards?

Reporting my breakdown to the RAC

When I had a breakdown for the first time, I contacted the RAC and within seconds I was speaking to someone.

The person I spoke to was really calm, which helped to relax me. One of the first questions they asked me was if I could exit my vehicle to move to somewhere safer. As a wheelchair user, this is something I am not able to do safely on a motorway. Because of this, my breakdown was given the highest level of priority. This was reassuring, as I was worried about being on the hard shoulder for too long.

Once help was arranged, the RAC call handler was happy to stay on the phone with me for as long as I needed. She gave me regular updates on when help would arrive. Eventually, I felt calm enough to end the phone call, and after that, I received updates via text.

I did not use it at the time, but I know that the best way to contact the RAC is to download the myRAC app for quick assistance and updates. I was not aware of the app before my breakdown, but I’ve now downloaded it for future use.

What happened when the RAC arrived?

The updates I received were really reassuring, as I knew help was on its way. Within 45 minutes, an RAC patrol arrived to support me. I explained the problem as best as I could with my limited car knowledge. I was worried I would not explain it properly, but the RAC were able to understand what I meant.

The patrolman took a general look at my vehicle and connected it to his laptop. He explained everything as he went, showing me that he was not able to find any problems.

How they fixed my WAV roadside

Taking another look at my vehicle, we noticed that the handbrake had switched itself on. I had not turned it on myself as it’s a small, out-of-reach button. For some reason, it had switched itself on, which caused the loss of power.

I felt a bit silly, thinking maybe I had done something wrong or should not have called for help. He reassured me straight away that I likely had not caused the problem and that getting in touch was the right thing to do.

He said that if the problem occurred again, I should arrange to have my vehicle looked at. But he was confident that this was likely a one-off problem and that I was safe to continue my journey. I was nervous about driving again, so he offered to follow me until the next junction of the motorway. This way, I knew that help was just behind me if it happened again.

I continued with my journey with no problems and the issue never happened again.

Being prepared for future breakdowns

My first experience with a breakdown has left me feeling more confident in case it happened again. Knowing that the Motability Scheme and the RAC make it quick and easy to get help has reduced all my worries about having a breakdown. When you join the Motability Scheme, you know the help is out there, but experiencing it first-hand really shows you how supported you are.

Knowing what to do during a breakdown is important. Having the myRAC app downloaded before you need it is always helpful, but here are some other tips to make it a smooth experience:

How to protect yourself and passengers in an emergency

Staying safe during a breakdown is key, especially if you’re on a busy road like a motorway. The safest option is to exit your vehicle and stand behind a barrier, but we know some people with disabilities  cannot do this. Follow these tips to keep yourself and your passengers safe during a breakdown:

• Get your vehicle as far from moving traffic as possible, like the hard shoulder

• Turn your hazards on and switch your engine off

• If some of your passengers can leave the vehicle, then they should as this is the safest option for them

• If you’re on a motorway with an active hard shoulder lane, call 999, then RAC Motability Assist

• If you cannot exit your vehicle, let RAC Motability Assist know this when you speak to them 

Find out more about what to do if you break down in your vehicle

How to help prevent breakdowns in your vehicle

Not every breakdown can be avoided, but there are things you can do to keep your vehicle in good working order. Your worry-free lease package comes with regular services, as well as routine repairs, a WAV annual check and MOTs.

It’s important to keep up to date with these, as your WAV supplier can spot any problems early. Regular services like oil changes and monitoring your tyre’s health can also help avoid problems later down the line. If you spot a problem with your vehicle or have a warning light come on, speak to your WAV supplier or contact the RAC through the myRAC app.