Technical fault

Technical fault in your car – find the nearest towing service quickly

A technical fault can bring a car journey to a complete halt without warning. The engine may stop while driving, the car may fail to restart after a stop, or a warning may appear on the dashboard that makes it unsafe to continue. A fault can occur on the road, at home, at work, at a filling station or in a shop car park.
When a car breaks down and the journey cannot continue, you will usually need a towing service. You must also work out how the driver and any passengers will continue their journey. HinausSuomi helps you quickly find the towing company operating nearest to your location. The service map and list include all official towing companies in Finland, allowing you to search impartially from one place.

HinausSuomi does not require you to use a particular towing chain, an insurance company partner or a paid membership service. You can view the nearest options on the map and contact your chosen towing company directly. The service is free to use, and HinausSuomi does not require or allow registration.

The car broke down while driving – what should you do?

If the car begins to lose power or a warning light indicating a serious fault appears on the dashboard, try to stop the vehicle in the safest possible place. Do not force the car to continue if the engine temperature rises, you hear a loud mechanical noise, the steering becomes heavy or fluid is leaking from the vehicle.
If the car has stopped at the roadside, switch on the hazard warning lights and warn other traffic with a warning triangle, provided it can be placed safely. On a busy road, your safety and that of your passengers must come first. Liikenneturva advises stopping the vehicle in a safe place, using the hazard warning lights and placing the warning triangle far enough away to alert other road users.

If the vehicle is in a dangerous position, creates an immediate hazard to other traffic or anyone is injured, call the emergency number 112. For an ordinary technical fault with no immediate danger, you can find the nearest towing company on the HinausSuomi map.

The cause of a technical fault cannot always be identified at the roadside

A car can break down for countless reasons. The problem may involve the engine, fuel supply, cooling system, electrical system, alternator, starter motor, gearbox or the vehicle’s control electronics. A broken auxiliary drive belt, fuel pump or sensor can also prevent the journey from continuing.
The symptoms alone do not always reveal what is wrong with the car. A dashboard warning light may be the first sign of a problem, but the actual fault may only be identified through diagnostics at a garage.
The towing company can assess the situation at the scene. In some cases, the problem can be resolved as roadside assistance, for example with a jump-start or another minor measure. If the car cannot be made safe to drive, it will be transported to a garage by a recovery vehicle.

When calling the towing company, describe as precisely as possible what happened before the car stopped. State whether the car stopped while driving, whether you heard unusual noises, whether the engine temperature rose or whether warning lights appeared on the dashboard. Also provide the vehicle make, model, registration number and power source.

Do not continue driving when there are signs of a serious fault

A minor technical problem can become expensive damage if the car is driven for too long. For example, a coolant leak or an overheating engine can cause serious engine damage. An oil-pressure warning light may mean that the engine is not being lubricated normally.
A gearbox malfunction, severe vibration, smoke or a metallic noise are also reasons to stop the car. If the brakes, steering or electrical system are behaving abnormally, do not continue driving simply because the car can still move.
In newer cars, the system may limit engine power and put the vehicle into what is known as limp mode. The car may then be able to move slowly, but this does not automatically mean it is safe to continue for a longer distance. When uncertain, requesting a towing service is the safer option.

In electric and hybrid vehicles, a technical fault may involve the 12-volt system, the high-voltage system or charging. Always tell the towing company if the vehicle is electric or hybrid so that suitable recovery equipment can be sent.

A technical fault can also occur at home

Not all technical faults happen while driving. A car may remain stuck on the drive in the morning, refuse to start in a workplace car park or stop after a shopping trip.
Even when the vehicle is in a safe place, it often needs to be transported to a garage. If the cause cannot be identified or repaired at the scene, the towing company can collect the car and take it to the agreed garage.
Tell the towing company in advance if the fault has occurred in a multi-storey car park or a confined yard. Mention the height restriction, the level where the vehicle is located and whether a recovery vehicle can get close to it. An automatic gearbox, electric parking brake or locked wheels may also affect how the car can be moved.

Find the nearest towing service on the HinausSuomi map

When a car can no longer move, you do not want to spend unnecessary time searching for the nearest towing company. The situation is particularly difficult in an unfamiliar place where you do not already know the local towing providers.
HinausSuomi shows the towing companies nearest to the car’s location on a map. You can view the options in one place and call your chosen company directly. Contact does not go through a compulsory call centre, and using the service does not require an app or a user account.
The nearest towing company may not be in the same municipality as the car. The vehicle may be near a municipal boundary or on a road that a recovery vehicle based in a neighbouring municipality can reach more quickly. HinausSuomi therefore helps you find a provider according to its actual location.

HinausSuomi is free to use. Towing or roadside assistance carried out by the towing company may nevertheless be chargeable unless the vehicle’s insurance covers the service.

How can the driver and passengers continue their journey?

After a technical fault, transporting the car to a garage is not always enough. The driver and passengers must also get home, to the garage, to a hotel or to an onward connection.
Some recovery vehicles can carry a limited number of passengers with the car. This depends on the vehicle, the number of people and safety regulations, so confirm it directly with the towing company.
If all passengers cannot travel in the recovery vehicle, the journey may need to continue by taxi, hire car or public transport. The towing company can often advise on local options, but arranging and paying for onward transport depends on the circumstances and the insurance terms.
Tell the towing company during the call how many people are travelling in the car. Mention any children, pets or passengers who require additional assistance so that the situation can be prepared for as well as possible.

Does comprehensive motor insurance cover towing after a technical fault?

Towing caused by a technical fault is commonly covered by many comprehensive motor insurance policies. Cover may be included under roadside assistance, towing or travel expenses protection when a journey already begun in the insured vehicle is interrupted by a fault.
Depending on the policy terms, insurance may cover necessary and reasonable costs such as towing the car to the nearest suitable garage. Some policies may also cover the driver’s and passengers’ travel expenses. The terms may differ depending on whether towing is ordered through the insurer or directly from the towing company.
It is important to distinguish between towing the car and repairing the technical fault itself. Roadside assistance cover may pay for towing even when the repair of the failed component is not covered. Repair costs caused by normal wear, a gradually developing defect or the vehicle’s own mechanical breakdown are often payable by the owner.

Cover always depends on the insurer, the scope of the policy and the current terms. HinausSuomi is not an insurance company and does not make claims decisions, so we cannot guarantee reimbursement for towing, roadside assistance, taxis, hire cars or other travel expenses. Check the extent of your cover with your own insurer.

Towing assistance for technical faults throughout Finland

HinausSuomi map allows you to search nationwide for help with a technical fault. Towing companies are available in major cities, smaller towns and on roads and main roads between cities.
You can find the nearest towing service in Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Vantaa, Oulu, Turku, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Lahti and Pori. The service also helps in Joensuu, Kouvola, Lappeenranta, Vaasa, Hämeenlinna, Seinäjoki, Rovaniemi, Porvoo, Mikkeli and Salo.
The service is not limited to these localities. Towing companies listed on the HinausSuomi map operate throughout Finland, whether the car stops in a city centre, on a remote cottage road, at home or beside a long stretch of main road.

Request towing quickly after a technical fault

When a car breaks down and it is unsafe to continue the journey, open the HinausSuomi map and check the nearest towing companies. Select a suitable provider and contact the company directly.
The towing company will assess whether the problem can be resolved as roadside assistance or whether the car must be transported to a garage. You can also find out whether the driver and passengers can travel in the recovery vehicle or how onward travel should be arranged.
HinausSuomi is free to use and requires no registration. Find the nearest towing service in seconds and quickly get help for a car stopped by a technical fault.