Jump-start a car with a flat battery

Use this guide when your car clicks or will not turn over, which is common on the first cold mornings of autumn. You need jump leads or a charged jump pack, a second vehicle with a healthy battery of a similar voltage, and your car's handbook.

Step by step

1. Check the handbook first

   Look up the jump-starting section, as many modern cars have remote jump points under the bonnet rather than direct battery access. Some hybrids and electric cars must not be used to jump another car, and some need a specific procedure. If the battery is cracked, leaking or smells strongly, do not jump it; call a breakdown service.