If your vehicle breaks down and you need to call a tow truck for help, you'll probably just feel relieved to know that help is on the way. You may assume that there's nothing that you need to do other than hand over the car keys and pay the driver for their services. However, because your car will likely be at the mechanic's shop for at least a few days, you'll need to do a bit of preparation before the tow truck arrives. Here's what you need to do before your towing provider arrives. 

Get Your Daily Use Items

Many people jokingly say that they "live out of their car" -- and with everything that is kept in cars today, it's not too far from the truth! Whilst waiting for the tow truck, go through your car to collect everything you use on a daily or near-daily basis. This can include things like the following:

• Eyeglasses
• Sunglasses
• Hand lotion
• Hand cleaning wipes
• Snacks
• Extra pairs of shoes
• Jumpers or other clothing items
• Mobile phone charger

​You probably keep some or all of the items above in your car for convenience's sake -- and you don't want to be reaching for something you need whilst driving in a rental car that has none of your personal items in it! If possible, collect all your personal daily use items in a single bag, which you can then transfer to your home or to a rental car. 

Don't Forget the Boot

You may not have looked at everything accumulated in your car's boot in some time -- but now is the time to do so, before the tow truck arrives. While you might not need to remove everything in the boot, you should examine it all and remove anything you can conceive of needing in the next few weeks. It's not uncommon for people to use their car boot as a type of makeshift storage unit these days -- and it may surprise you to see just how much you've accumulated. 

Items to Leave Behind

While you need to remove most if not all of your personal items, there are a few things that are best left in your car when the tow truck arrives. There's usually no need to remove auto care and maintenance items like booster cables and tool kits. Those items usually aren't needed unless you're in your own vehicle, so they can stay safely in your car until you're behind the wheel once again. 

Call your local towing service for help as soon as your car breaks down, and then use the tips above to ensure you have everything you need. You can easily collect the items you need in only a few minutes, which means the wait for the tow truck will go by faster than you think.