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What are some tips for how to jump start a dead battery without another car?

I’m going on a road trip and I’m so freaked out about the possibility of getting stranded. What are some tips for how to jump start a dead battery without another car?

avatar
Bonnie Stinson · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
There are two strategies for how to jump start a dead battery without another car: a portable jump-starter (for automatic cars) or a push-start (for manual cars).
If you have an automatic transmission and you don’t have a portable jump-starter, you’re out of luck. Call
AAA
for a tow or try to flag down a passing vehicle with jumper cables.
If you find yourself with a dead battery on an empty road—and you have a manual transmission—you could try push-starting instead of
jump starting
with a donor vehicle.
Here are the basic steps to push-starting:
  • Turn the ignition to ‘ON’ from the driver’s seat.
  • Press the clutch and shift to 2nd gear.
  • Press the brake pedal and release the parking brake simultaneously.
  • Ask a friend or stranger to push the vehicle.
  • Once you’re moving at around five mph, release the clutch abruptly and see if the engine engages.
While you’re preparing for your road trip, now might be a good time to make sure you’re happy with your
car insurance
coverage. The
Jerry
app can help you add protections like roadside assistance, just in case disaster hits while you’re out on the road.
View full answer 
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