No matter how old a person gets, the parent-child relationship never stops. If you are the parent of a young adult, they may find themselves needing your support, both emotionally and financially. If your child has found themselves stranded on the roadside with a broken car, here is how you can solve their issue from hundreds of miles away.

Call in a tow truck

If your child is on your insurance and the insurance includes towing services, you can call a tow truck to their location. If possible, call the tow truck company in their city and put them on a three-way call so that they can describe their exact location. If they are not on insurance that includes towing services, you can still call a tow truck for them and provide your credit or debit card information to pay for the tow. While the tow truck service is being dispatched, remain on the line with your child to make sure they remain safe.

Have the truck towed to a mechanic

Instead of having the car towed to your child's home, ask to have the car towed to a mechanic shop that you or your child trust. Once the mechanic looks over the car and explains the issue to your child, have a conference with your kid about the cost of fixing the vehicle and how long the repairs will take. The two of you should talk over whether fixing the car or totaling the vehicle out as a loss would be the best decision.

Talk over a vehicle or repair loan

After you have receive the recommendation from the mechanic, if your child cannot afford either option, consider giving them a loan for what they need. Many young adults may not have enough credit to get a new car, or may not have the down payment that it costs. If the car can be repaired, the funds may not be readily available to your child if they are still building a savings account. If you have the means, offer a loan to your child for the down payment or the cost of repairing the car. Just like a traditional loan, set up terms and loan payments for them to pay you back the money. As you receive each monthly payment, consider sending this money back into an account specifically to help your child during future emergencies. This will mean that both you and your child are prepared during future emergencies.