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Originally Posted On: https://www.recoverymanchester.net/breakdown-tips-from-500-recoveries
Breakdown Advice: 500+ Recoveries Worth of Time and Money-Saving Tips
Why?
Breaking down on the road is something most drivers hope to avoid, but when it happens, knowing what to expect can make the whole experience much smoother. As a breakdown recovery driver with over 500 recoveries under my belt, I’ve seen it all—from simple flat batteries to more complex issues like locked wheels or cars stuck in tricky places like multistorey car parks.
In many cases, a breakdown can turn into an unnecessarily stressful and expensive ordeal simply because drivers aren’t aware of a few key details. My goal with this guide is to help you understand what to do when your vehicle breaks down, so you can save yourself time, avoid extra costs, and make the whole recovery process as easy as possible. Whether it’s understanding how to check if your car rolls, knowing the importance of sharing your exact location, or something as simple as locating the towing eye, these tips will help you be better prepared when things don’t go as planned.
Circumstances Matter
One of the first things to think about when your car breaks down is where exactly you’ve parked. For example, if you’re in a multistorey car park or a place with height restrictions, check the height limit. Most tow trucks can’t get in or out of these places with your car loaded. Trust me, it happens more often than you’d think. So, make sure you tell your recovery driver if you’re in one of these spots.
It’ll save both you and the recovery team a lot of time. You don’t want to wait for a truck that can’t even reach your car, and they don’t want to waste a trip. Sometimes, special equipment or a different type of vehicle might be needed to get your car out, so giving us a heads-up from the start can prevent extra delays and costs.
Does it Roll? Not drive, roll!
When I ask if your car rolls, I don’t mean if it drives. I’m not asking about the engine or whether it can move under its own power. I’m asking if it can physically roll—like, can it be pushed or winched without the engine running? Most people think I’m asking if it drives and will say something like, “No, it doesn’t because the clutch is gone.” But here’s the thing: even if the clutch is shot and the car won’t drive, it can usually still roll.
It’s really important to know if your car can roll, because it saves a ton of time. If your car rolls, we can use a standard tow truck. But if it doesn’t, and you tell me upfront, I can bring the right equipment, like skates or car dollies, which are used to move cars that can’t roll. This way, you don’t have to wait for the wrong tow truck, and I don’t make an unnecessary trip.
Keep in mind, if the car doesn’t roll, it can’t be loaded onto a truck without those skates or dollies. Some recoveries cannot even recover a vehicle that doesn’t roll.
Let’s get into more detail why most cars don’t roll and what you might be able to do about it.
1 – Does It Shift to Neutral & Can the Parking Brake Be Released?
This is one of the most common reasons a car won’t roll, especially if it has an electronic parking brake or an automatic gearbox. A lot of the time, the problem is a flat battery. Most cars won’t let you shift to neutral if the battery’s dead. So, if you can’t shift to neutral because of a battery issue, let your recovery driver know. I always carry an external battery and jump leads for exactly this reason.
But what if the battery is fine and it still won’t shift to neutral? Some cars have a manual release for this. You might find videos on YouTube showing how to do it for your specific car model. In some cases, there’s a hidden lever under the shift knob cover that you can pull or twist to shift the car manually. There’s also an app I use called SHIFTLOCK, which has guides on how to shift specific cars into neutral. It’s not free, but for £6.99, it can be worth it.
Most of the time, once you’ve got some power in the battery, you should be able to release the parking brake and get the car rolling.
2 – Are the Wheels Blocked?
Sometimes, even if you’ve released the parking brake and shifted to neutral, the car still won’t roll because the wheels are blocked. This usually happens when the car has been sitting unused for a while, and the brakes get stuck to the wheels. It’s pretty common, and can be frustrating when the car looks like it should move, but doesn’t.
In some cases, once I start winching the car, the wheels can unlock themselves after moving just a short distance. But if that doesn’t work, we’ll need to use skates or dollies to get the car onto the truck. If the wheels are completely seized up and won’t budge, there’s no way to load the car without that special equipment.
3 – Have You Been Involved in a Small RTC (Road Traffic Collision)?
If your vehicle has been in even a minor accident and one of the wheels took a hit, there’s a good chance it might not roll properly. Damage to the suspension, steering, or the wheel itself can prevent the car from moving, even if everything else seems fine. It’s important to check if the car still rolls by giving it a push. Sometimes, the car might look okay at first glance, but once you try to move it, you’ll realize there’s an issue.
If you notice that it doesn’t roll, let your recovery driver know right away. This information can save both you and them a lot of time. When a car won’t roll because of accident damage, we need to bring extra equipment like dollies to move it onto the truck. Trying to load a damaged car without the proper gear can make things much harder and risk damaging it further, so it’s best to check this early. The more details you can give upfront, the smoother the recovery will be.
4 – Do you have the key?
Almost forgot about this one. This one’s easy to overlook, but it’s crucial. Quite a few times, when I asked for the key, the customer seemed genuinely surprised “Oh, I didn’t know you need the key!” Trust me – we do! Without it, we can’t put the car in neutral, release the parking brake, or even unlock the steering wheel. It’s not like the movies where we can just lift any car and drive away.
Location and Distance: Know Where You Are
One of the most crucial things to do when breaking down is to know your / your vehicle’s exact location. This might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people can’t provide this basic information.
Here’s something that happens more often than you’d think: I’ll get a call from someone saying, “I’m on Oak Close, and I need towing to that garage behind Morrisons”. Trust me, even after 500+ recoveries, I still have to chuckle at this. Think about it – there are probably dozens of Oak Closes, and don’t get me started on how many garages are “behind Morrisons”.
It’s not that people are trying to be difficult – we all tend to think of our local area as the only one that exists. But when you’re dealing with recovery drivers who cover large areas, “the garage everyone knows about” or “that big roundabout with the trees” just isn’t enough to go on. This is exactly why sharing your location digitally is so important – it eliminates any confusion and gets help to you faster.
So, before calling breakdown recovery, take a moment to:
1. Find Your Exact Location
– Open Google Maps on your phone
– Note down the postcode of your current location
2. Decide on Your Destination
Your first thought might be “let’s go home” but if you already know which garage you want your vehicle taken to, and they have space outside (even after hours), request delivery directly there and we will transport your car to your chosen garage. This saves you money by avoiding a second recovery fee from your home to the garage later.
3. Why Exact Distances Matter for Your Wallet
Here’s something many drivers don’t realize: being vague about distances can cost you money. As a recovery driver, when someone enquires about city-to-city estimates like “Leeds to Manchester,” I have to assume the maximum possible distance and price accordingly. Why? Experience has taught me that when people say “it’s just a quick drive” or “only about 40 miles,” the actual distance is often much longer.
For example, I recently had a caller claim their destination was “only about 40 miles away”. After getting the exact postcodes, it turned out to be 57 miles—quite a difference! This isn’t about assuming bad faith; it’s about ensuring everyone gets accurate quotes and knows exactly what to expect.
How to Share Your Location
There are several easy ways to share your exact location:
– Via text message: Use the “+” button to share your current location
– Through WhatsApp: Use the location sharing feature
– Google Maps: Drop a pin on your location and share it
– If you’re not with your vehicle, find its location on Google Maps, drop a pin, and share that location.
Pro Tip: For those using WhatsApp, save this format for quick contact with recovery services:
https://wa.me/44XXXXXXXXXX
(Replace XXXXXXXXXX with the recovery service’s number, keeping the ’44’ UK country code) then text it to yourself and click on that link it will open the chatbox
In my experience, Google Maps is usually more accurate for sharing your location, especially when you’re on a motorway with overlapping junctions. Apple Maps tends to be less precise in these situations, which can make a big difference. If you’re at one of those tricky motorway crossings, using Google Maps can help avoid a detour that could add another 10-20 minutes just to get to the correct spot.
It happened to me, several times, and it’s not pleasant for either of us. The pin I was given via Apple Maps was showing the customer’s location slightly off, so when I got there I was on the motorway above them 
Don’t Forget About the Towing Eye!
Here’s something most drivers don’t know about – that metal hook hiding somewhere in your boot. After 500+ recoveries, I’d say about 60% of people I help have no idea if they have a towing eye, where it is or even what it is.
It’s usually tucked away with your spare wheel or jack, and it’s worth checking for it before you need recovery. Why? Because it’s not just about saving time (though that’s always nice). Using your car’s proper towing eye is actually safer than having to hook underneath your car to winch it – the last thing anyone wants is their car slipping off the winch or scratching your bumper (which sometimes is inevitable as the car is winched and the metal cable rubs against it)! While any experienced recovery driver knows how to handle a car safely even without a towing eye, having it ready just makes everything smoother and safer for everyone involved.