[header] How to react if your rental car breaks down [title] Stay calm and move out of traffic. [step] Whether your rental car breaks down while stopped in a parking lot or while driving down the freeway, you should never react by panicking. Always stay calm, and keep a level head. 
If you're driving, steer the car to the side of the road and bring the vehicle to a complete stop. [substeps] If you have roadside safety devices, such as flares or reflective devices, set these up on the side of the highway so that oncoming traffic will avoid your car.