Reserved for the discerning few. You are not most drivers - and you do not weigh three quotes before you call.
Car Recovery London FAQ
Everything you'd want to know about our service before you call. 43+ questions across pricing, services, coverage, payment, safety and membership comparisons.
Common Questions
35-min average response · 24/7
Pricing questions.
How much is a jump-start in London?
Our jump-start service is from £80 per call-out. Capped at £250 for unusual scenarios (multi-storey access at peak hours, very large diesel vehicles). The fixed price is quoted before any driver leaves.
How much is a standard breakdown recovery?
Off-peak rate (10am-9pm) is from £120 for cars under 1,700 kg, with 8 miles of recovery distance included. Beyond 8 miles, a fixed per-mile rate applies (typically £3-£4/mile, quoted at booking).
How much for accident recovery?
Post-collision accident recovery is from £250 per recovery. Includes winching, loading, transport up to 12 miles, scene photographs, and an itemised insurance invoice issued the same day. Most insurers settle the recovery fee directly under your claim.
How much for van recovery?
From £180 for an unloaded van; from £280 for a loaded van (carrying tools, stock, parcels, or cargo). The loaded rate covers a heavier-duty truck, longer loading time, and additional goods-in-transit insurance.
How much is a fitted battery replacement?
From £250 supplied and fitted. Includes OEM-spec battery, OBD coding (where required by the vehicle), charging-system check, and a 12-month warranty. AGM batteries for high-spec stop-start cars are at the upper end of the price range.
How much for prestige car transport?
From £450 per transport for an enclosed-trailer move within Central London. Longer routes (London to Surrey, Manchester, Edinburgh) are quoted on the specific job - fixed total before dispatch.
How much for auction collection?
From £350 for collection from a London-area auction site. Distant auctions (Edinburgh, Cardiff, Newcastle) are quoted higher to reflect the longer route.
Do you charge a separate call-out fee?
No. The price quoted is the total. There's no separate call-out fee, no diagnostic fee, no waiting time fee.
Are prices different at night or weekends?
No surcharge for weekends, bank holidays, or evening hours. Out-of-hours dispatch (typically midnight-6am) carries a small uplift on the standard rate, which is quoted before any driver leaves.
Do you charge extra for ULEZ or Congestion Charge?
No. Our entire fleet is Euro 6 ULEZ-compliant, so we don't pay ULEZ daily charges and don't pass them onto customers. Recovery vehicles are exempt from Congestion Charge during a live recovery.
Is there a minimum charge?
Yes - our minimum charge is £80 (the jump-start rate), which applies to any call-out that turns into a roadside fix. If recovery is needed instead, the higher rate applies but the £80 is credited against it.
Service questions.
What types of vehicles do you cover?
Every petrol and diesel passenger car, plus all common van types (Sprinter, Transit, Luton, Crafter, Iveco Daily, Movano, Vivaro). Prestige vehicles up to supercar level. Classic cars. EVs and hybrids for jump-starts and 12V battery replacement.
Can you jump-start an electric vehicle?
Yes, on the 12V auxiliary battery (which powers lights, locks and infotainment). EVs and hybrids both have 12V auxiliary batteries that can flatten and need jumping. We do not service the high-voltage traction battery.
Do you handle accident recovery?
Yes. Same dispatch process as breakdown recovery; price depends on vehicle damage and recovery complexity. We coordinate with police if the scene needs clearing first. Insurance-paid accident recovery is also routine - we can bill insurers directly with your authority.
Can you collect a non-runner from an auction?
Yes - non-runners are routine for our auction collection service. We winch-load with wooden dollies under the wheels to protect tyres and suspension. Common scenario: BCA Blackbushe, Copart Sandy, Manheim - all routine.
Will you transport a Ferrari/Lambo/McLaren?
Yes - our prestige transport service uses enclosed trailers with hydraulic tilt, soft straps, and full insurance certificates emailed before pickup. Suitable for any supercar, classic, or low-ride vehicle.
Can you fit AGM batteries on stop-start cars?
Yes - we stock AGM, EFB and standard batteries daily. Coding via OBD is included on every fit. Most modern Audis, BMWs, Mercedes, VWs, Volvos and Land Rovers require AGM and BMS coding.
Do you take cars to scrap?
Yes - we transport non-runners to scrap or recycling facilities at our standard recovery rate. Useful if a non-compliant car can't be driven through ULEZ to a scrap dealer without paying daily charges.
Do you handle motorbikes?
Yes - motorcycle recovery is available on our enclosed and open trailers, with motorcycle-specific tie-down equipment. Quoted separately based on the bike type and route.
Will you recover a car that's misfuelled?
Yes - misfuelling (typically petrol in a diesel) needs the car to be moved to a fuel-decontamination specialist without driving on the wrong fuel. We work with several London-area decontamination specialists. Standard recovery rate applies.
Do you handle locked-out customers?
We're not specialist locksmiths, but we can help with: (a) recovery to a locksmith if a key has been lost, (b) jump-start through a locked car if the keyfob battery is the issue. For lockout-only situations, a dedicated London locksmith is usually faster and cheaper.
Coverage questions.
Do you really cover all 32 London boroughs?
Yes - every borough, every postcode, every day. From the City of London (EC1-EC4) and Westminster through inner-zone boroughs to outer London like Hillingdon, Bromley, Havering. Response times vary by zone (25 minutes Central, up to 60 minutes outer), but every postcode is covered.
Do you cover the M25?
Yes - the M25 between J25 (Enfield) and J30 (Lakeside) is in our standard service area. Beyond those junctions we still respond, but the price reflects the longer route.
What about Heathrow and the M4 corridor?
Yes - Heathrow and the M4 to J3 are routine. Most M4 calls are commercial vehicles, but we also handle passenger car breakdowns and prestige transport from Heathrow.
Can you reach me in a multi-storey car park?
Yes. We have low-clearance recovery vehicles for car parks where standard flatbeds can't fit, plus portable lithium jump-pack technicians who walk in on foot for battery jobs. NCP, Q-Park, APCOA all routinely accessible.
Do you cover gated estates and private property?
Yes - provide the gate code or intercom contact at booking and we'll handle access. Gated estates in Mayfair, Belgravia, Knightsbridge, Hampstead are routine for us.
Will you respond to the Blackwall Tunnel?
Approach-road breakdowns yes (direct call-out). In-tunnel breakdowns are TfL's responsibility first - they'll recover to the tunnel exit, then we take over.
Can you handle smart motorway recovery?
Yes - motorway recovery requires Highways England to secure the scene first. Once the lane is closed, we're typically on scene within 25 minutes. Only call 999 if there's an immediate threat to life; otherwise call us directly and we coordinate with Highways England as needed.
Payment questions.
What payment methods do you accept?
Card (chip-and-PIN, contactless), Apple Pay, Google Pay, cash, bank transfer, and business invoice. Same payment options across the whole fleet.
Do you charge a card surcharge?
No. The price is the same regardless of payment method.
Can I pay later if I don't have a card on me?
Yes - we can email a payment link or invoice link. We never refuse a recovery on the basis of payment timing; getting you to safety comes first.
Do you do business credit accounts?
Yes - we work with several London-area trade customers (dealers, hire fleets, courier networks) on credit-account terms with 30-day invoicing. Contact us at dispatch@carrecoveryinlondon.co.uk to set up.
Will you VAT-invoice me?
Yes - same-day VAT invoices for business customers. Email format with our VAT number, your registered business address, and a line-by-line breakdown.
Is there a deposit?
No deposit required for standard call-outs. For pre-booked prestige transports more than 7 days in advance, we may ask for a 25% deposit to reserve the trailer.
Safety & insurance questions.
Are your drivers insured?
Yes - public liability £5m, goods-in-transit £150,000 per vehicle (top-up available for higher-value cars), trade plate insurance for moving customer vehicles, and PHV for drivers carrying customers between locations.
Are your drivers DBS-checked?
Yes - every customer-facing employee has been DBS-checked. We also reference-check, hold full UK driving entitlement (Cat C+E for heavy recovery, Cat B for technicians), and verify training records.
Will the recovery vehicle be ticketed for parking during my recovery?
Recovery vehicles are exempt from parking enforcement during a live recovery, including in residents' zones, on yellow lines and red routes. We time-stamp the loading window photographically as evidence.
Will you damage my prestige car during loading?
Loading is the highest-risk phase of any prestige transport. We use hydraulic-tilt enclosed trailers (under 9 degree ramp angle), soft wheel straps (never on bodywork), and walk-around condition reports before and after loading. We do not load any prestige vehicle in less than 20 minutes - anyone doing it faster is doing it badly.
What if my car is damaged during recovery?
Our goods-in-transit insurance covers damage caused during recovery. Photo documentation at pickup and delivery is standard process, and any damage that wasn't pre-existing is covered. Process is straightforward - notify us within 48 hours and we coordinate with our insurers.
Membership comparison questions.
Is membership cheaper than your pay-as-you-go pricing?
Depends on usage. AA Joint cover is around £204/year; RAC Standard around £180/year. If you have one breakdown per year, we're cheaper. If you have three or more, membership wins. UK average is one breakdown every 18-24 months - making us cheaper for most drivers.
Can I have both AA cover and use you?
Yes - many London drivers do exactly this. AA for nationwide fallback, us for fast London-specific dispatch when speed matters. The combined annual cost is still typically lower than top-tier AA cover alone.
Will my insurer reimburse me if I use you?
Sometimes - comprehensive insurance often includes 'breakdown to nearest garage' cover. The reimbursement depends on policy specifics. We provide receipts in the standard format insurers accept; you submit them via your normal claims process.
Do you offer your own membership scheme?
We don't sell annual membership. Our model is fixed pay-as-you-go pricing, which removes the incentive to up-sell on every call-out. Customers get the same price whether they call once a year or once a week.
Where to go next.
Need recovery now?
Tap below to call our 24/7 dispatch. Average arrival in Central London is 35 minutes - fixed price, no membership, fully insured.