Vehicle Breakdown
If your campervan breaks down, pull over safely and call the rental company's on-road assistance team. Here's what happens next.
What to do?
If anyone is injured or you're in danger, call 000. Otherwise, pull over where it's safe and call your rental company's on-road assistance team as soon as possible.
Each rental company has its own on-road assistance number. You'll find it on your rental documents. Some rental companies include access to the local Royal Auto club or an equivalent. The team knows its vehicles and will guide you through getting back on the road as quickly as possible. They may be able to troubleshoot the problem over the phone, or arrange a repair and direct you to a local repairer.
If you have a flat tyre, you don't need to change it yourself. Call the on-road team and they'll arrange assistance.
How likely are breakdowns?
Rental companies check and maintain their vehicles, but there's always some risk of a problem during a hire. A campervan combines a car and a house, so issues can arise with either. Rental vans are on the road almost constantly, so they build up kilometres quickly. Older vehicles carry a higher risk of problems.
The most common issues are with the engine, the batteries, flat tyres, air conditioning and awnings. Our guide to when things go wrong explains each one and how to reduce the risk. For problems inside the van, such as the water pump or toilet, see utility failures.
Next steps
- When things go wrong: first steps and common issues
- Petrol: avoiding running out of fuel in remote areas
- Vehicle inspection and demonstration: checking the van before you leave the depot
Part of During Your Trip in the Campervan Hire Handbook.