What to Do If Your Car Breaks Down in the Middle of a Highway?
A car breakdown on a high-speed expressway like the PLUS or LPT isn't just an inconvenience — it's a high-risk safety event. Your response needs to be calm and quick. There's not much room for error when traffic is moving at 110km/h. At PolicyStreet, we want to give you the exact steps to handle this safely.
Immediate Safety Steps
The moment you sense a loss of power or mechanical failure, steer the vehicle toward the emergency lane immediately. Don't wait for the car to stop completely. Once stationary:
Activate Hazard Lights: This is your primary signal to other high-speed motorists.
Exit Safely: All passengers should exit through the left-side doors (away from traffic) and wait behind the guardrail. Never wait inside or behind the vehicle.
Deploy Warning Triangles: Place your triangle as far back as safely possible — commonly advised at 45–50 metres — to give fast-moving traffic enough time to react.
Navigating Professional Assistance
The quickest way to get help is through the PLUS App, which lets you request SOS assistance and share your location directly — so you don't have to read out the kilometer marker over the phone. If you prefer the traditional route, the PLUS emergency hotline remains 1-800-88-0000.
PLUS provides free towing for cars to the nearest toll plaza or Rest & Service Area (R&R). From there, you'll need your own insurer-appointed tow truck or roadside assistance to reach a repair workshop. You can check your insurer's dedicated 24/7 hotline and find an approved panel workshop on our Roadside Assistance page.
Drive+ : Your Reliable Safety Net
This is where Drive+ becomes useful. Our membership is designed to ease the hassle of car ownership. If your breakdown is battery-related, Drive+ members get a RM40 battery replacement voucher as part of their Loyalty Rewards.
Check out more PolicyStreet Drive+ benefits via our Terms and Conditions page.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I use a private tow truck on the PLUS highway?
You can, but it's highly recommended to wait for the official PLUS patrol or your insurer's appointed tow truck. The General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM) has publicly warned that some unofficial tow operators send vehicles to workshops that pay them the highest commission — which can mean inflated repair bills and complications with your insurance claim.
2. Does my insurance cover towing costs from the highway?
Most comprehensive car insurance policies include a towing benefit, but the cap varies by insurer — some limit it by ringgit amount (e.g. RM200–300), others by distance (e.g. up to 100–150km round trip). If your preferred workshop is beyond that limit, you'll bear the extra cost yourself.
3. Is it safe to stay in the car if it’s raining during a breakdown?
No. Despite the weather, the risk of a rear-end collision in the emergency lane is extremely high. Use an umbrella and stay behind the guardrail on the grass verge until help arrives.
4. How do I verify if a tow truck is sent by my insurer?
Always call your insurer's official hotline directly — you can find each insurer's verified 24/7 number on our Roadside Assistance page. Your insurer will confirm the tow truck's plate number and the driver's contact details. Never hand over your keys to a tow truck driver who "just happened to pass by."
