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Car won’t roll, won’t steer or has no keys? We can still load it
A normal recovery needs a vehicle that rolls, steers and has the keys in it. When it doesn’t, most people get told “we can’t take that”. We can. Our truck carries four wheel skates, a winch and low-approach ramps, so a car with locked wheels, seized brakes, a jammed gearbox or no keys at all goes onto our flatbed without a single wheel turning.
We do this work every week across Reading and surrounding areas: cars stuck in Park with a dead battery, automatics that won’t come out of gear, wheels seized after months on a driveway, handbrakes locked on, steering locks with no key, and vehicles with a collapsed suspension corner. Call 07778 348703, tell us what’s wrong and where it is, and we’ll give you a free quote and an arrival time before you book.
Call 07778 348703
How four wheel skate recovery works
A wheel skate is a small steel dolly with its own wheels. We jack each corner of your vehicle, slide a skate under the tyre and lower the vehicle onto it. With all four skates in place the car rolls on the skates, not on its own wheels, so it can be winched up the ramps and strapped down on the flatbed without the brakes, gearbox or steering being involved at all.
- Locked or seized wheels – brakes stuck on, seized bearings, a car that hasn’t moved in months.
- Stuck in Park or in gear – automatics with a dead battery or a failed gear selector.
- No keys – lost keys, keys locked inside, a steering lock that won’t release.
- Electric vehicles – EVs with no power that can’t be put into neutral or tow mode.
- Accident damage – a bent wheel, a wheel that’s come off or a corner that’s collapsed.
Skate recovery takes longer than a straight winch-and-load, so it is priced on top of the normal call-out. We tell you the full price before we set off, so there are no surprises when we arrive.
Non-runner recovery in Reading, from a Reading team
You’ve found a local recovery team covering Reading, Berkshire. Around Reading we’re usually with you in about 30–45 minutes, day and night, 365 days a year. We recover non-runners from driveways, garages, car parks, side roads, the A33, the A329 and the M4 at junctions 10, 11 and 12, and from Caversham, Tilehurst, Woodley, Earley, Whitley, Southcote and the town centre.
Wherever the vehicle needs to go, we’ll take it: your usual garage, a bodyshop, a dealer, your home or a salvage yard. We can take your vehicle anywhere in the UK.
Non-runner and skate recovery questions
Can you recover a car that won’t roll at all?
Yes. We lift it on four wheel skates, so it rolls on the skates instead of its own wheels, then winch it onto the flatbed. The wheels never need to turn.
Can you move a car with no keys?
Yes. With no key the steering lock and handbrake can’t be released, so we use skates under all four wheels. You’ll need to show us you’re the owner or have the owner’s permission.
My automatic is stuck in Park. Can you still take it?
Yes. If the shift lock release doesn’t work, we put the car on skates and load it as it is.
Is skate recovery more expensive?
It costs more than a standard recovery because of the extra time and equipment. We quote the full price before you book: call 07778 348703.
Do you recover electric cars that won’t go into neutral?
Yes. We lift them on skates so all four wheels are off the ground, which is the safe way to move an EV with no power.
Related recovery services in Reading
- Stuck, non-runner and winch-out recovery – won’t roll, locked wheels or stuck in mud.
- Heavily damaged and write-off car recovery – crash damage loaded with winch and skates.
- Electric vehicle recovery – carried with all four wheels off the road.
- Accident recovery – from £150.
- Flatbed recovery and broken-down vehicle transport – for low, classic and non-running cars.
Don’t get stranded. Call 07778 348703 now, get your free quote and get it moving, 24/7.
Our vehicle recovery services
Why drivers in Reading and surrounding areas choose Ozzy’s
Ozzy’s Breakdown Recovery is a local, fully insured 24/7 emergency vehicle recovery and rescue company covering Reading and surrounding areas. Call 07778 348703 for a free quote – we’re usually with you in 30–45 minutes.
Fully insured
Public liability and vehicle in transit insurance. You are covered.
Free quote first
You know the price before we set off. No membership and no monthly fee.
30–45 minute response
Usually with you in 30–45 minutes, day or night, every day of the year.
Local emergency recovery in Reading and surrounding areas
Emergency recovery and vehicle rescue near you, across Reading and surrounding areas and the roads around it, day and night. Wherever you’ve broken down, call – we can help.
Any car, van or bike
A solution for every car, every light commercial vehicle and every van – up to 3.5 tonnes GVW.
Pay your way
Card payment link, Klarna pay in 3 or Clearpay pay in 4.
Every recovery service we offer in Reading
Broken down in Reading? Don’t get stranded. Call 07778 348703 now, get your free quote and get moving – we’re usually with you in 30–45 minutes, day or night. We can take your vehicle anywhere in the UK.
- Emergency recovery in Reading – broken down and need help now? We come out day and night.
- Emergency towing in Reading – a tow truck when you need one, 24/7.
- Vehicle rescue in Reading – stuck, stranded or can’t move safely.
- Roadside recovery in Reading – we load your vehicle where it has stopped.
- Towing service in Reading – cars, vans and motorbikes on our flatbed tow truck.
- Breakdown recovery near me – send your location and we come to you.
- Tow truck near me – local towing, day and night.
- Breakdown recovery in Reading – car stopped at home, at work or at the roadside? Call-out from £75.
- Car towing and tow truck service in Reading – we move your car to a garage, your home or any address in the UK.
- Roadside assistance in Reading – help where you’ve stopped, day or night.
- Jump starts and flat battery call-outs in Reading – from £60.
- Car won’t start in Reading? We come to you, and take it to a garage if it still won’t go.
- Accident recovery in Reading – damaged cars loaded carefully with a winch and wheel skates. From £150.
- Motorcycle and motorbike recovery in Reading – strapped down properly on our truck. Call-out from £85.
- Van and light commercial vehicle recovery in Reading – up to 3.5 tonnes GVW. Call-out from £110.
- Electric vehicle (EV) recovery in Reading – carried on our flatbed with all four wheels off the road.
- Flatbed recovery and vehicle transport in Reading – for low, classic, sports and non-running cars.
- Flat tyre recovery in Reading – no spare? We take the car to a tyre shop you choose.
- Stuck, non-runner and winch-out recovery in Reading – won’t roll, locked wheels or stuck in mud.
- Campervan and motorhome recovery in Reading – call us for a price.
- Motorway recovery near Reading – M4, M3 and M25. From £150.
- 24 hour breakdown recovery in Reading – nights, weekends and bank holidays.
- Pay as you go breakdown cover in Reading – no membership. Pay only when you need us.
- Business and fleet recovery in Reading – for company cars and vans.
We cover Berkshire, South Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Surrey. Not sure what you need? Call 07778 348703 and tell us what’s happened – we can help. You can also see our starting prices.