The car cannot be driven: recovery, agreeing the destination and getting home

Places of relative safety

The Highway Code says that if you need to stop because of a breakdown or an incident, you should try to stop in a place of relative safety. Sources: ^[1]

It defines a place of relative safety as somewhere you, your passengers and your vehicle are less likely to be at risk from moving traffic, and says the safest place to stop is a location designed for parking. Sources: ^[1]

On motorways and other high-speed roads, the Highway Code says the safest place to stop is a service area, and lists lay-bys, emergency areas and hard shoulders as other places of relative safety. Sources: ^[1]

It warns that hard shoulders provide less protection than other places of relative safety because they are so close to high-speed traffic. Sources: ^[1]

It says you and your passengers should, where possible, keep well away from your vehicle and moving traffic, because moving traffic could otherwise collide with your vehicle and force it into you. Sources: ^[1]

A place of relative safety is where you, your passengers and your vehicle are less likely to be at risk from moving traffic.

Be aware that hard shoulders provide less protection than other places of relative safety because they are so close to high-speed traffic.

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales): motorway and other high-speed-road breakdowns

These actions are for Great Britain. If you are on a Northern Ireland road, do not use the Great Britain instruction not to return: Northern Ireland rule 275 says that after using the emergency telephone you should return and wait near the vehicle, well away from the carriageway and hard shoulder; the fuller Northern Ireland branch is below. Sources: ^{[2] [1] [9]}

The Highway Code says that if your vehicle develops a problem you should leave the carriageway at the next exit or pull into a service area if possible. Sources: ^[1]

National Highways says not to stop in a live lane unless absolutely necessary. Sources: ^[5]

If you cannot leave the carriageway, the Highway Code says to move into the left lane, pull into an emergency area or onto a hard shoulder if you can, stop as far to the left as possible leaving space to exit the vehicle with your wheels turned to the left, stop just beyond an emergency telephone if you can, switch your hazard warning lights on, and use sidelights if it is dark or visibility is poor. Sources: ^{[1] [5]}

It then says to exit the vehicle by the side furthest from traffic if it is safe and possible to do so, ensure passengers do the same, put on high-visibility clothing if you have it and it is within easy reach, and get behind a safety barrier where there is one while staying alert to unseen hazards such as sudden drops, uneven ground or debris. Sources: ^{[1] [5]}

It says not to stand anywhere your vehicle could be forced into you if moving traffic collides with it, not to return to your vehicle even if it is raining, cold or dark, not to attempt repairs, and not to place a warning triangle on the carriageway. Sources: ^{[1] [5]}

It says to keep passengers away from the carriageway and children under control, and that animals must be kept in the vehicle or, in an emergency, under control on the verge. Sources: ^[1]

For help, the Highway Code says to use the free emergency telephone to obtain advice and assistance, contact a breakdown recovery service, always face the traffic when you speak, tell them if you are a vulnerable motorist such as disabled, older or travelling alone, and wait well away from your vehicle and moving traffic, behind the safety barrier where there is one. Sources: ^[1]

National Highways gives 0300 123 5000 as the number to call for advice and assistance if you have stopped in an emergency area, lay-by or on the hard shoulder, as an alternative to the free emergency telephone. Sources: ^[5]

To identify your location, the Highway Code lists pressing the SOS button if your vehicle has one, using a mobile telephone mapping application, or quoting the numbers and letters on marker posts or driver location signs at the edge of the road. Sources: ^{[1] [5]}

The Highway Code says that to rejoin from a hard shoulder you should build up speed, indicate and watch for a safe gap, and that to leave an emergency area you must use the emergency telephone provided and follow the operator’s advice, because a lane may need to be closed for you to rejoin safely. Sources: ^[1]

National Highways says not to exit an emergency area without speaking to National Highways first. Sources: ^[5]

exit your vehicle by the side furthest from traffic, if it is safe and possible to do so, and ensure passengers do the same

DO NOT return to your vehicle even if it’s raining, cold or dark

DO NOT attempt repairs on your vehicle

DO NOT place a warning triangle on the carriageway

Do not stop in a live lane unless absolutely necessary.

Do not exit an emergency area without speaking to National Highways first.

The Highway Code — Breakdowns and incidents

National Highways — driving on motorways (breakdown advice)

If you cannot get out, or cannot reach a phone

The Highway Code says that if you are unable to exit your vehicle, or if you have not stopped near a free emergency telephone, you should call 999 immediately and ask for the police, or press your SOS button if your vehicle has one and ask for the police. Sources: ^[1]

National Highways gives the same instruction where you cannot get the vehicle to the left lane or a place of relative safety: stay in your vehicle, keep your seatbelts and hazard warning lights on, and call 999 immediately asking for the police. Sources: ^[5]

National Highways says the emergency services can alert National Highways so that motorway lanes can be closed and other help such as a traffic officer sent. Sources: ^[5]

Rule 279 of the Highway Code says that a driver with a disability that prevents them following the motorway breakdown advice should switch on hazard warning lights, stay in the vehicle with the seat belt on, and call 999 immediately and ask for the police, or press the SOS button. Sources: ^[1]

It recommends that people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired register for the 999 text service before making a journey. Sources: ^{[1] [5]}

if you are unable to exit your vehicle or if you have not stopped near a free emergency telephone, call 999 immediately and ask for the police. Alternatively, press your SOS button if your vehicle has one and ask for the police.

On an ordinary road: the warning triangle rule is different

The Highway Code says that if your vehicle breaks down you should get it off the road if possible, warn other traffic with hazard warning lights if it is causing an obstruction, and help other road users see you by wearing light-coloured or fluorescent clothing in daylight and reflective clothing at night or in poor visibility. Sources: ^[1]

It says to put a warning triangle on the road at least 45 metres, or 147 feet, behind the broken-down vehicle on the same side of the road, or to use other permitted warning devices, taking great care when placing or retrieving them, but never to use them on motorways. Sources: ^[1]

It says to keep sidelights on if possible when it is dark or visibility is poor, not to stand or let anybody else stand between the vehicle and oncoming traffic, and at night or in poor visibility not to stand where you will prevent other road users seeing your lights. Sources: ^[1]

On obstructions, the Highway Code says that if anything falls from a vehicle onto a motorway or other high-speed road you must not remove it yourself but should stop in a place of relative safety and call 999, while on other roads you should only remove obstructions if it is safe to do so. Sources: ^[1]

Annex 6 of the Highway Code says that if you have a flat tyre you should stop as soon as it is safe, and only change the tyre if you can do so without putting yourself or others at risk, otherwise calling a breakdown service. Sources: ^[4]

put a warning triangle on the road at least 45 metres (147 feet) behind your broken-down vehicle on the same side of the road, or use other permitted warning devices if you have them. Always take great care when placing or retrieving them, but never use them on motorways

If you have a flat tyre, stop as soon as it is safe to do so. Only change the tyre if you can do so without putting yourself or others at risk - otherwise call a breakdown service.

Northern Ireland: a separate Highway Code, and a different instruction

GOV.UK states that The Highway Code applies to England, Scotland and Wales. Sources: ^[2]

nidirect publishes The Highway Code for Northern Ireland, whose rule 274 gives the same breakdown actions on ordinary roads, including the warning triangle at least 45 metres behind the vehicle and never on motorways. Sources: ^[9]

The Northern Ireland code’s motorway rule differs from the Great Britain one on what to do after you have called for help: it says to walk to an emergency telephone on your side of the carriageway following the arrows on the posts at the back of the hard shoulder, then return and wait near your vehicle, well away from the carriageway and hard shoulder. Sources: ^[9]

If the vehicle cannot be moved onto the hard shoulder, Northern Ireland rule 277 says not to place a warning device on the carriageway, to switch on hazard warning lights, and to leave the vehicle only when you can safely get clear of the carriageway. Sources: ^[9]

The Great Britain code, by contrast, tells you to wait well away from your vehicle, behind the safety barrier where there is one, and not to return to your vehicle. Sources: ^[1]

The Northern Ireland code adds that if you feel at risk from another person you should return to your vehicle by a left-hand door and lock all doors, leaving again as soon as the danger has passed. Sources: ^[9]

Its rule 278 for drivers with disabilities says to stay in the vehicle, switch on hazard warning lights, and display a Help pennant or contact the emergency services and be ready to give your location. Sources: ^[9]

The Northern Ireland code carries the same breakdown towing warning as Great Britain in shorter form, saying that towing a vehicle on a tow rope is potentially dangerous and that you should consider professional recovery. Sources: ^[10]

National Highways says it manages the strategic road network in England, comprising motorways and some A roads, and that local roads are managed by the relevant local authority and London roads by Transport for London. Sources: ^[6]

return and wait near your vehicle (well away from the carriageway and hard shoulder)

In the event of a breakdown, be aware that towing a vehicle on a tow rope is potentially dangerous. You should consider professional recovery.

Flatbed, suspended tow or a rope: what the difference means

The Highway Code places its breakdown towing advice inside rule 98 on vehicle towing and loading, and says that in the event of a breakdown towing a vehicle on a tow rope is potentially dangerous and that you should consider using a solid tow bar or professional recovery. Sources: ^[3]

The same rule warns that it may take longer to build up speed when rejoining a carriageway with a vehicle in tow. Sources: ^[3]

Rule 98 also states that a driver must not tow more than their licence permits, must ensure both the towing vehicle and the trailer are roadworthy, and must not overload either. Sources: ^[3]

Regulation 86 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 limits the distance between a vehicle and something attached to it solely by a rope or chain to 4.5 metres, and to 1.5 metres unless the rope or chain is made clearly visible to other road users from either side. Sources: ^[8]

legislation.gov.uk marks that regulation as extending to England, Wales and Scotland. Sources: ^[8]

Department for Transport guidance for recovery operators says the recommended way to transport an electric or hybrid vehicle is on a flatbed or trailer, or by using dolly wheels, and that the manufacturer’s instructions or the vehicle’s emergency response guide should always be referred to. Sources: ^[7]

The same guidance says further information on towing or pushing a particular vehicle may be found in the owner’s manual, on the vehicle manufacturer’s website, or in that vehicle’s emergency response guide. Sources: ^[7]

For an automatic or four-wheel-drive vehicle, this page does not authorise a generic transport method. Before loading, the method must be checked against the model-specific owner’s handbook or manufacturer recovery instructions rather than left to an unsupported operator choice; for an electric or hybrid vehicle, the Department for Transport expressly says the manufacturer’s instructions or emergency response guide should always be referred to. Sources: ^[7]

In the event of a breakdown, be aware that towing a vehicle on a tow rope is potentially dangerous. You should consider using a solid tow bar or professional recovery.

Where a trailer is attached to the vehicle immediately in front of it solely by means of a rope or chain, the distance between the trailer and that vehicle shall not in any case exceed 4.5 m, and shall not exceed 1.5 m unless the rope or chain is made clearly visible to any other person using the road within a reasonable distance from either side.

Electric and hybrid vehicle recovery methods

Department for Transport guidance for recovery operators says it is not recommended to tow electric vehicles on their wheels, because doing so can generate electrical current and damage the high-voltage systems. Sources: ^[7]

It says the recommended method of transportation is on a flatbed or trailer, or by using dolly wheels, with the manufacturer’s instructions or emergency response guide always to be referred to. Sources: ^[7]

This Department for Transport guidance is written for recovery professionals. It permits towing or pushing an electric or hybrid vehicle on its wheels a short distance out of immediate danger such as a live traffic lane, but only at walking pace, only for the minimum distance needed, only with the transmission in neutral and the parking brake disengaged, and only where the vehicle has not been in a collision and is not visibly damaged. Sources: ^[7]

On a Great Britain motorway or other high-speed road, that recovery-operator provision does not replace Highway Code rule 277: occupants should exit by the side furthest from traffic and get behind a safety barrier where there is one only if it is safe and possible to do so. If it is not safe or possible to exit, National Highways says to stay in the vehicle, keep seatbelts and hazard warning lights on, and call 999 immediately asking for the police; its page gives this branch where the vehicle cannot reach the left lane or a place of relative safety and also where anyone in the vehicle cannot follow the breakdown advice for any reason. Sources: ^{[1] [5]}

On a Northern Ireland motorway, use the Northern Ireland branch instead. Rule 275 says that from the hard shoulder you leave by the left-hand door, use the emergency telephone, then return and wait near the vehicle well away from the carriageway and hard shoulder; if the vehicle cannot reach the hard shoulder, rule 277 says to switch on hazard warning lights and leave only when you can safely get clear of the carriageway. Rule 278 tells a driver whose disability prevents following that advice to stay in the vehicle, switch on hazard warning lights and contact the emergency services or display a Help pennant. Sources: ^[9]

It notes that some vehicles, such as heavy goods vehicles and buses, have a means of disconnecting the drive axles from the electric motors so they can be towed safely on their wheels, and that equipment such as freewheeling hubs and foldable trailers is emerging for the same purpose. Sources: ^[7]

The same guidance treats storage of a damaged electric vehicle as a distinct problem, advising an outside quarantine area, monitoring for up to 48 hours after an incident, and noting that vehicles have ignited weeks after an accident. Sources: ^[7]

It is not recommended to tow EVs on their wheels because this can generate electrical current and damage the HV systems.

The recommended method of transportation is on a flatbed or trailer, or by using dolly wheels, but the manufacturer’s instructions or ERG should always be referred to for further information.

Who turns up, and what your cover actually buys

The Highway Code recommends, for emergency use, carrying a mobile telephone containing emergency contacts such as breakdown assistance, and high-visibility clothing. Sources: ^[3]

National Highways suggests keeping warm clothes, a hi-vis jacket, a torch and your breakdown cover details in the car, and taking any medication you need, a charged mobile phone, and food and water on a long journey. Sources: ^[5]

National Highways says not to stop to assist another vehicle that has broken down or been involved in a collision, and to call National Highways or 999 instead if there is an immediate risk to life. Sources: ^[5]

What to do

• Recovery normally reaches you by one of three routes: an add-on to your motor insurance, a standalone breakdown membership, or a recovery firm the garage or the police arrange on your behalf. Only the first two are arranged in advance by you.
• Check now, not at the roadside, whether your cover is attached to you, to a named vehicle, or to the policyholder only, and whether anyone else who drives the car is covered.
• Check whether it includes recovery to a destination of your choice or only to a nearby garage, and whether passengers and onward travel are included.
• If you have no cover, you are buying a service at the roadside under time pressure. Ask for the total, including any out-of-hours, mileage or storage element, before you agree.
• If a recovery arrives that you did not arrange, establish who instructed it and who is paying before the vehicle is loaded.

OBDCode UK does not recommend, rank, compare or receive commission from any recovery organisation, breakdown provider, insurer or garage.

Before loading: agree the destination in writing within cover, police or road arrangements, and safe, feasible options

This section is practical guidance rather than a statement of law. There is no official UK page giving every motorist an unrestricted choice of destination. The available destination depends on the recovery cover or contract, any police or road-authority arrangement, the vehicle’s condition, and what is safe and feasible. The point is to ask what options are available and record the destination agreed before loading.

What to do

• Before loading, ask for the destination to be confirmed and agree it in writing, within your breakdown cover, any police or road-authority recovery arrangements, and the destinations that are safe, feasible and open to receive the vehicle.
• If a garage is proposed, ask for its name and address rather than accepting only a description such as our local one. Whether another destination is available depends on the cover or recovery arrangement and the safe, feasible options.
• Ask whether your chosen garage is covered and able to receive the vehicle. If it is not, ask which permitted destination or secure storage option is available; do not assume that home or another workshop is available.
• Ask what happens if the destination is closed on arrival: where the vehicle will be left, whether it is secure, and who holds the keys overnight.
• Get the destination, price and who is paying confirmed in writing or by text before loading, even if it is only a message on your phone.
• Ask whether any storage charge starts on arrival, and when.
• Being recovered to a garage is not authorisation to diagnose or repair. Say so explicitly if anyone suggests the vehicle will be looked at.

Once it is sitting on someone else’s forecourt

Whether a garage may refuse to release a vehicle until a bill is paid is a separate question with its own page, and it turns on your contract and your facts rather than on a general rule. The evidence you gather in the first day — photographs, times, names and what you did and did not authorise — is what makes that argument possible later.

What to do

• If the vehicle went somewhere you did not choose, say in writing, that day, that you did not select the garage and have authorised nothing beyond storage.
• Ask what the garage is charging for storage and from when, before a week goes by.

Checklist

• After arrival, photograph the vehicle, the mileage and the fuel or charge level if you are there.
• From the invoice, call record or handover, note the recovery operator’s name, the recovery vehicle, the time and the destination.
• Keep the recovery invoice or membership call reference with the rest of the repair paperwork.
• Confirm in writing what you have and have not authorised: storage only, inspection, diagnosis, or repair.
• Agree the scope and price of any diagnosis before it starts, as you would for any other job.
• Note who holds the keys and the V5C, and do not leave the log book in the vehicle.

Important

The roadside and vehicle-movement safety actions on this page are reproductions or close paraphrases of official guidance from The Highway Code, National Highways, nidirect and the Department for Transport. If a live official source differs from this page, use the live official source. Sources: ^{[1] [3] [5] [9] [10] [7]}