A car breakdown is stressful, but the first few minutes are simple if you take them in order: get safe, be seen, work out where you are, then call for help.
Get safe
- Pull over as far to the left as you can, off the road if possible.
- Switch on your hazard lights. Also leave your sidelights on if it’s dark or foggy.
- If you’re next to traffic, get out on the passenger side instead.
- Then move everyone away from the road and up the verge if there is one.
- On an ordinary road, put a warning triangle at least 45 metres behind the car if you have one and it’s safe to do so. However, never use one on a motorway.
Work out where you are
A road name, a junction, a shop or a pub nearby all help. The quickest way is to press the Share location button on our website, which sends us a map pin.
Decide who to call
- If anyone is hurt, or you’re stuck in a live lane, call 999.
- If you have breakdown cover, call your provider.
- Otherwise, call a local recovery firm. You don’t need a membership before you call us.
What to tell the recovery firm
- Where you are.
- What you’re driving.
- What happened: it won’t start, it cut out, a warning light, a flat tyre or an accident.
- Whether the car still rolls and steers.
- Where you want it taken.
With those five answers we can give you a price and an arrival time on the spot.
What not to do
- Don’t try to fix the car at the edge of a fast road.
- Never stand between your car and the traffic.
- Don’t keep restarting an engine that has overheated.
- Never accept a tow on a rope from a passer-by. It’s easy to damage the car, and automatics and electric cars shouldn’t be towed that way at all.
On a motorway?
The rules are stricter there. Read our motorway breakdown guide.
Need help now? Call 07778 348703. We’re open 24 hours a day, and we’ll tell you the price and how long we’ll be before you book.
Read more about car breakdown recovery, roadside assistance and what to do when your car won’t start.
Still deciding? Then read our Google reviews – our customers rate us 5.0.
Why drivers choose Ozzy’s
Ozzy’s Breakdown Recovery is a local, fully insured 24/7 emergency vehicle recovery and rescue company covering Berkshire, South Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Surrey. 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 near you
Emergency recovery and vehicle rescue near you, across Berkshire, South Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Surrey, 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 – one call covers them all
Broken down? 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 – broken down and need help now? We come out day and night.
- Emergency towing – a tow truck when you need one, 24/7.
- Vehicle rescue – stuck, stranded or can’t move safely.
- Roadside recovery – we load your vehicle where it has stopped.
- Towing service – 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 – car stopped at home, at work or at the roadside? From £75.
- Car towing and tow truck service – we move your car to a garage, your home or any address in the UK.
- Roadside assistance – help where you’ve stopped, day or night.
- Jump starts and flat battery call-outs – from £60.
- Car won’t start? We come to you, and take it to a garage if it still won’t go.
- Accident recovery – damaged cars loaded carefully with a winch and wheel skates. From £150.
- Motorcycle and motorbike recovery – strapped down properly on our truck. From £85.
- Van and light commercial vehicle recovery – up to 3.5 tonnes GVW. From £110.
- Electric vehicle (EV) recovery – carried on our flatbed with all four wheels off the road.
- Flatbed recovery and vehicle transport – for low, classic, sports and non-running cars.
- Flat tyre recovery – no spare? We take the car to a tyre shop you choose.
- Stuck, non-runner and winch-out recovery – won’t roll, locked wheels or stuck in mud.
- Campervan and motorhome recovery – from £150.
- Motorway recovery – M4, M3 and M25. From £150.
- 24 hour breakdown recovery – nights, weekends and bank holidays.
- Pay as you go breakdown cover – no membership. Pay only when you need us.
- Business and fleet recovery – 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.
