Dealing with a Car Breakdown in Spanish
Estimated time: 5 minutes
Listen to the conversation
Select any word to jump to that point in the audio.
Move, scroll, or play the audio to load the transcript.
In this Spanish conversation, a driver calls roadside assistance after the car breaks down on the highway. Read the dialogue to practice natural Spanish for describing a vehicle problem, explaining your location, confirming that you are safe, giving identifying details, and understanding what to expect while waiting for roadside help.
Spanish Conversation
Roadside Agent: Asistencia vial, buenas tardes. ¿En qué podemos ayudarle?
Roadside Agent: Roadside assistance, good afternoon. How can we help you?
Driver: Hola. Mi coche se apagó en la carretera y ya no enciende.
Driver: Hi. My car shut off on the highway, and now it won't start.
Roadside Agent: ¿Está detenido en un lugar seguro?
Roadside Agent: Are you stopped in a safe place?
Driver: Sí. Alcancé a orillarme y tengo las intermitentes puestas.
Driver: Yes. I managed to pull over, and my hazard lights are on.
Roadside Agent: Muy bien. No salga del vehículo si está cerca del tráfico.
Roadside Agent: Very good. Don't get out of the vehicle if you're close to traffic.
Driver: Estoy detrás de la barrera, así que creo que estoy bien.
Driver: I'm behind the barrier, so I think I'm okay.
Roadside Agent: Perfecto. ¿Me puede dar su ubicación?
Roadside Agent: Perfect. Can you give me your location?
Driver: Estoy en la carretera a Cuernavaca, pasando una gasolinera. El letrero más cercano dice kilómetro 42.
Driver: I'm on the highway to Cuernavaca, just past a gas station. The nearest sign says kilometer 42.
Roadside Agent: Ya lo ubiqué. ¿Qué pasó antes de que se apagara?
Roadside Agent: I found your location. What happened before the car shut off?
Driver: Empezó a perder fuerza y se encendió una luz en el tablero. Luego el motor se apagó.
Driver: It started losing power, and a warning light came on. Then the engine stopped.
Roadside Agent: ¿Intentó volver a encenderlo?
Roadside Agent: Did you try starting it again?
Driver: Una vez, pero solo hace clic.
Driver: Once, but it just clicks.
Roadside Agent: Está bien. Mejor no lo intente de nuevo.
Roadside Agent: Okay. Better not to try again.
Driver: ¿Pueden mandar una grúa?
Driver: Can you send a tow truck?
Roadside Agent: Sí. Hay una disponible a unos treinta minutos.
Roadside Agent: Yes. There's one available about thirty minutes away.
Driver: Perfecto.
Driver: Perfect.
Roadside Agent: ¿A qué taller quiere llevar el vehículo?
Roadside Agent: Which repair shop do you want the vehicle taken to?
Driver: No conozco ninguno por aquí.
Driver: I don't know any around here.
Roadside Agent: Podemos llevarlo a un taller afiliado en Cuernavaca.
Roadside Agent: We can take it to one of our affiliated shops in Cuernavaca.
Driver: Está bien. ¿Eso está cubierto por mi asistencia?
Driver: That's fine. Is that covered by my roadside assistance?
Roadside Agent: Hasta veinte kilómetros sí. El taller queda dentro de esa distancia.
Roadside Agent: Up to twenty kilometers, yes. The shop is within that distance.
Driver: Perfecto. ¿Tengo que pagarle algo al operador?
Driver: Perfect. Do I need to pay the tow operator anything?
Roadside Agent: No por el traslado cubierto. Si hubiera algún cargo adicional, se lo informan antes.
Roadside Agent: Not for the covered tow. If there is any additional charge, they'll tell you beforehand.
Driver: Entendido.
Driver: Understood.
Roadside Agent: El operador le va a llamar cuando esté cerca. ¿Este número termina en 1842?
Roadside Agent: The operator will call when he's nearby. Does this number end in 1842?
Driver: Sí, es este mismo.
Driver: Yes, this is the right number.
Roadside Agent: Listo. Manténgase en un lugar seguro y espere la llamada.
Roadside Agent: All set. Stay in a safe place and wait for the call.
Driver: Gracias por la ayuda.
Driver: Thanks for your help.
Roadside Agent: De nada. La grúa ya va en camino.
Roadside Agent: You're welcome. The tow truck is already on its way.