us Transport & mobility emergencies turn signals stopped working • blinkers not working • indicators not working • no turn signals before driving • signal lights failure • hazards work but blinkers don’t • both turn signals out • one side blinker out • fast blinking turn signal • turn signal bulb blown • fuse for turn signals • turn signal switch not working • arm signals for driving • hand signals when blinkers fail • noticed before leaving • can’t signal lane change • safe to drive without signals • pre-trip light check

What to do if…
your indicators or turn signals stop working and you notice before setting off

Short answer

If your turn signals aren’t working, the safest choice is to not drive until they’re fixed. If you must move the car a short distance to get it repaired, use hand-and-arm signals and keep the trip low-risk (daylight, short, slow roads).

Do not do these things

Don’t start a normal trip thinking other drivers will “figure it out.”
Don’t use hazard lights as your “turn signal” for turns or lane changes while moving.
Don’t take high-speed roads, complex interchanges, or heavy-traffic routes if you can’t reliably signal.
Don’t drive at night or in bad visibility if you’ll need to rely on hand signals.
Don’t keep fiddling with the stalk/switch while moving; troubleshoot while parked.

What to do now

Stop and decide if you can delay the trip.
If it’s not essential, don’t drive. Reschedule, rideshare, public transit, or ask someone for a lift.
Do a quick parked check (60–120 seconds).
- Test left, right, and hazard lights.
- Walk around the vehicle (or ask someone) to see what’s actually lit: front/rear and any side signal repeaters (if equipped).
- Notice patterns: one side out vs both sides, and whether hazards still work.
If it looks like a simple bulb issue and you can safely fix it, do that first.
A “fast blink” is commonly associated with a bulb outage on many vehicles. If you’re not confident, skip repairs and move to step 4.
Arrange repair before you travel.
- Book a shop or mobile mechanic.
- If you have roadside assistance, this is a reasonable “safety equipment failure” call.
If you must drive only to reach repair/help, reduce risk aggressively.
- Go daylight-only, shortest practical route, slow/local roads, avoid multi-lane merges and complex interchanges.
- Increase following distance and avoid last-second lane changes.
Use recognized hand-and-arm signals if your signal lights aren’t functioning.
Driver handbooks commonly show that you can signal with hand-and-arm positions when signal lights don’t work (or can’t be seen). The standard signals are:
- Left turn: left arm straight out.
- Right turn: left arm out, bent upward at about 90°.
- Slow/stop: left arm out, bent downward.
  Hold the signal long enough to be seen, then complete the maneuver smoothly.
If turn signals and hazard lights are both out, treat it as “do not drive” unless you can safely get help where you are.
That can indicate a broader electrical issue, and you’ll have less ability to warn others.

What can wait

You do not need to diagnose the wiring, relay, or module right now.
You do not need to research your exact state’s repair rules before you make the safe decision to delay driving.
You do not need to make long-term decisions about the vehicle today.

Important reassurance

Catching this before you set off is a good outcome — it gives you choices. Feeling rushed is normal; pausing and choosing the safer option is the point.

Scope note

This is first-step guidance to prevent a bad first move and get you to repair/support safely. Exact legal requirements can vary by state, so later steps may need local confirmation.

Important note

This is general safety information, not legal advice or a mechanical diagnosis. If you cannot communicate turns and lane changes clearly, delaying the trip and getting the signals repaired is the safest choice.

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What to do if…your indicators or turn signals stop working and you notice before setting off