Broke Down on NLEX, SLEX or Skyway? What to Do

Expressways are the most dangerous place in Metro Manila to break down. Traffic is fast, and on the elevated sections there’s often nowhere to stand. Do these in order.

1. Get the car out of the lane

If the car still rolls, steer onto the shoulder or the emergency bay as far from traffic as you can. Turn your wheels away from the road, put on the handbrake, and switch on your hazard lights.

If you can’t get off the lane, stay in the car with your seatbelt on. On a flyover or an elevated section with no shoulder, the car is safer than the road.

2. Set out your early warning device

If you can walk safely behind the barrier or along the shoulder, set your early warning device (the reflective triangle) well behind the car. On a fast expressway, farther is better, so place it as far back as you can safely walk to give drivers time to react. Don’t do it if it means walking in a live lane.

3. Call the expressway patrol first

NLEX, SLEX, the Skyway, CAVITEX, NAIAx and the other toll roads each have their own patrol and hotline. Look for it on the roadside signs, on your toll receipt, or in your RFID app. Their patrol clears the main road, often by moving your car to the next exit or a safe bay. On most expressways, only the operator’s own units work on the main carriageway.

4. Arrange your tow from the exit

Once you know which exit or bay you’ll be moved to, call us. We’ll meet you there and take the car wherever you want it: home, your mechanic, or the casa. Tell dispatch:

which expressway, which direction, and the exit
your car’s make, model and whether it’s automatic or AWD (it’ll need a flatbed)
where it should go

We give you the price on the call, including any expressway tolls.

If it’s a flat tire or an empty tank

Expressway patrols often handle tire changes and fuel on the main road themselves. If they can get you moving, you may not need us at all. If they can’t, the plan is the same: they move you off the road, and we take it from the exit.