What to Do When Your Car Breaks Down in Malta
- Super Road Assistance
- Mar 10
- 4 min read
A car breakdown is stressful in any situation — but on Malta's busy roads, narrow streets, and high-traffic bypasses, it can feel especially overwhelming. Knowing exactly what to do in the first few minutes can protect you, your vehicle, and other road users.
This guide walks you through every step, from the moment you notice something is wrong to getting your vehicle safely recovered.
Step 1: Stay Calm and Do Not Brake Suddenly
If your car starts losing power, making unusual sounds, or warning lights appear, resist the urge to brake hard. Gradually reduce your speed and keep both hands on the wheel.
On roads like the Marsa bypass, Birkirkara bypass, or the Regional Road — sudden braking can create a serious risk to vehicles behind you. Signal early, slow progressively, and steer to safety.
Step 2: Move to a Safe Location
As soon as it is safe to do so, move your vehicle as far off the road as possible. In Malta, your options will usually be:
• A hard shoulder or lay-by on main roads
• A side street or parking area in urban areas
• The roadside verge on rural roads
If your car cannot move at all — for example, after a collision or sudden mechanical failure — switch on your hazard lights immediately and stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt fastened until it is safe to exit.
Important: Never stop in a tunnel. If your car begins to fail while in a tunnel, try to exit before stopping. Malta's road tunnels have emergency lay-bys — use them if you must stop.
Step 3: Switch On Your Hazard Lights
Turn your hazard lights on as soon as you sense a problem — even before you have stopped. This alerts other drivers early and significantly reduces the risk of a rear-end collision.
If you have a warning triangle, place it approximately 50 metres behind your vehicle on the road (where it is safe to do so). In Malta, carrying a warning triangle is a legal requirement.
Step 4: Get Out of the Vehicle Safely — Or Stay In
This depends on where you are:
If you are on a quiet road or in a car park
Exit the vehicle from the passenger side (away from traffic) and wait on the pavement or grass verge, well away from the carriageway.
If you are on a busy road or bypass
Stay inside the vehicle with your seatbelt fastened. It is often safer to remain in the car than to stand on a fast-moving road. Call for assistance from inside.
If you are in an unsafe position after an accident
If there is any risk of fire or you are in immediate danger, exit the vehicle quickly and move well away from the road. Otherwise, stay inside and wait for emergency services.
Step 5: Call for Roadside Assistance
Once you are safe, call for professional help. This is the most important call you will make.
When you call Super Road Assistance, have the following ready:
• Your exact location — a street name, landmark, or WhatsApp map pin
• Your vehicle make, model, and colour
• What happened — breakdown, flat tyre, accident, dead battery, out of fuel
• Where you need the vehicle taken, if applicable
Super Road Assistance operates 24/7 across Malta and Gozo. Average arrival time is 15–30 minutes. Call +356 7713 1071 or share your location on WhatsApp for the fastest dispatch.
Step 6: Keep Yourself Visible and Stay Alert
While you wait for the recovery vehicle:
• Keep your hazard lights on
• Stay away from the road — wait behind a barrier if one is available
• Keep your phone charged and with you
• Do not attempt to repair the vehicle yourself on a busy road
• If it is night time, use the torch on your phone to increase your visibility to other drivers
Step 7: Do Not Accept Help From Strangers Offering to Tow You
Unfortunately, breakdowns can attract opportunists offering unofficial towing. Accepting a tow from an uninsured or unqualified driver risks further damage to your vehicle and leaves you with no protection if something goes wrong.
Always use a professional, insured recovery service.
Common Breakdown Causes in Malta
Understanding why breakdowns happen can help you prevent them. In Malta, the most frequent causes include:
• Dead or weak batteries — accelerated by summer heat
• Flat or damaged tyres — caused by road surfaces and kerbs
• Overheating engines — especially in peak summer temperatures
• Running out of fuel — particularly on longer Gozo trips
• Locked out of the vehicle — keys left inside or lost
If any of these happen to you, Super Road Assistance provides specialist help for each situation — from battery jump starts and flat tyre changes to emergency fuel delivery and car lockout assistance.
What to Do if You Break Down in Gozo
Breaking down in Gozo presents additional challenges, particularly near the Mgarr ferry terminal or on Gozo's narrower rural roads.
Super Road Assistance covers all of Gozo, including Victoria, Xaghra, Nadur, Marsalforn, and the ferry area. Response times in Gozo are typically 20–35 minutes depending on location. As always, call ahead and share your exact position by WhatsApp for the fastest response.
Quick Reference: Breakdown Checklist
1. Stay calm — reduce speed gradually
2. Switch on hazard lights immediately
3. Move to a safe location off the road
4. Place warning triangle 50 metres behind (if safe)
5. Stay inside on busy roads; exit away from traffic on quiet ones
7. Wait safely and keep hazard lights on
Stuck right now? Super Road Assistance is available 24/7 across Malta and Gozo. Call +356 7713 1071 or send your location on WhatsApp for immediate dispatch. Average arrival: 15–30 minutes.
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