24 Hour Vehicle Recovery in London for Cars and Vans
24 hour car and van recovery, breakdown help and jump starts across all London postcodes
CityGrip provides vehicle recovery across London, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for cars, vans and 4x4s. Call 07960 200253, tell us where you are and what has happened, and we agree the price on the phone before we set off. Car recovery is from £80 and a jump start from £60. If another driver caused the crash, recovery can be arranged at no upfront cost to you.
- No call-out fee
- Price agreed first
- Fully insured operators
- Phone lines open 24/7/365
Not your fault? Recovery arranged at no upfront cost to you
If another driver caused the crash, CityGrip can arrange recovery at no upfront cost to you, and the claim is handled through citygripclaims.co.uk. The costs are claimed from the at-fault driver’s insurer. Whether you are given a replacement vehicle depends on the circumstances of your claim. If liability is disputed, what you owe depends on the agreement you sign, so read it before you sign. See what you are entitled to.
- Recovery arranged at no upfront cost
- Costs claimed from the at-fault driver’s insurer
- Replacement vehicle depends on the circumstances
Driving a van? See van recovery in London. Flat battery? See jump start in London or the 24 hour jump start page.
A flat battery at 3am, a breakdown on a busy junction or a collision can happen anywhere on London’s road network, at any hour.
Our Vehicle Recovery Services in London
Recovery, breakdown help, jump starts, fuel and tyres from one phone number, day or night.
Car Recovery & Towing
Cars, vans and 4x4s recovered and transported, locally or long distance. See car towing in London.
Breakdown & Roadside
Roadside help to get you going, or a recovery if the vehicle cannot be fixed. See roadside assistance.
Jump Start & Battery
Flat battery boosted on the spot, with honest advice on whether it needs replacing. See jump start in London.
Fuel & Wrong Fuel
Out of fuel or misfuelled? We deliver the right fuel or drain and flush the tank. See fuel delivery and wrong fuel.
Tyre Change
Roadside wheel change or transport to a tyre fitter when there is no usable spare. See mobile tyre fitting.
Accident Recovery
Accident recovery after a collision, with the vehicle taken where you choose. If the crash was not your fault, see the non-fault section above.
Which vehicles we recover in London
Cars, vans, 4x4s, and electric and hybrid vehicles. Tell us what you drive when you call so we can arrange the right equipment.
Cars and 4x4s
From small hatchbacks to large SUVs, recovered on equipment suited to the vehicle.
Vans and light commercials
Vans recovered for sole traders, couriers and fleets, locally or long distance. Tell us the van and any load when you call so we can arrange suitable equipment. See van recovery.
Electric and hybrid
Tell us on the call if yours is electric or hybrid so we can arrange the right equipment. More detail in the FAQ below.
Accident-damaged vehicles
Damaged or immobile after a collision? Vehicles that cannot be driven are recovered carefully, and our non-fault accident guide explains what you are entitled to.
Vehicle recovery in every London postcode
We recover cars, vans and 4x4s in every London postcode, from the City and West End to the outer boroughs, day and night. Call 07960 200253 and tell us where you are.
What happens when you call for vehicle recovery
From your call to a recovered vehicle, in four simple steps.
1. Call us
Tell us where you are in London, what the vehicle is (car, van, 4x4, electric or hybrid) and what has gone wrong.
2. Agree the price
We agree the price on the phone before we set off. It depends on the vehicle, the distance and the time.
3. Fix or recover
If we can get you going at the roadside we will. If not, we safely load and recover your vehicle.
4. Drop off
We take your vehicle where you choose: home, a garage or onward. You pay the agreed price by card or bank transfer and get a receipt.
What to do if you break down in London
These steps are for ordinary London roads (Highway Code rules 275 and 276). On a motorway the advice is different, so follow the motorway steps lower down this page.
Get off the road and warn others
Get the vehicle off the road if you can. If it is causing an obstruction, switch on your hazard warning lights, and keep your sidelights on if it is dark or visibility is poor.
Make yourself visible
Wear light-coloured or fluorescent clothing in daylight and reflective clothing at night or in poor visibility. If you can do it safely, a warning triangle can go on the road at least 45 metres (147 feet) behind the vehicle on the same side, or you can use other permitted warning devices if you have them. Take great care placing it. If you cannot do it safely, skip it, stay well away from the vehicle and moving traffic and call us. Never use a warning triangle on a motorway.
Stand clear and note your location
Keep well away from the vehicle and moving traffic. Do not stand, or let anybody else stand, between the vehicle and oncoming traffic. Look for a street name, junction, building or landmark so we can find you.
Call CityGrip
Ring 07960 200253 and tell us where you are and what has happened.
What vehicle recovery costs in London
Starting prices for the most common jobs. We agree the final price on the phone before we set off.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Car recovery and breakdown | from £80 |
| Jump start | from £60 |
| Fuel delivery | from £95 plus fuel |
| Tyre change | from £90 |
| Accident recovery (another driver at fault) | No upfront cost to you |
The final price depends on the vehicle, the distance and the time. See what changes the price of a recovery.
Vehicle recovery by area of London
Choose your part of London for local detail.
- Central London: the City, the West End and the districts around them.
- North London, including Enfield.
- South London, including Croydon and Greenwich.
- West London, including Ealing and Heathrow Airport.
- East London, including Hackney, Stratford and Canary Wharf.
Breaking down on a motorway? Read the motorway steps below, or see our pages for the M25, M1 and M11.
What you can expect when you call CityGrip
Call 07960 200253 at any hour and tell us where you are and what has happened.
Price agreed first
One price, agreed on the phone before we set off, so you know the full cost before you say yes.
Easy payment
Pay by card or bank transfer on completion. You get a receipt, and proof of recovery if you need it for a claim.
Fully insured
Your vehicle is handled by insured operators with the right equipment for cars, vans and 4x4s.
If you break down on a motorway around London
Some steps for an ordinary road, such as placing a warning triangle, do not apply on a motorway, so follow rule 277 below. Some motorways, or stretches of them, have no hard shoulder: the M25 between Junctions 23 and 27, for example, is an all lane running smart motorway. Our pages for the M25, M1 and M11, and our smart motorways guide, go into more detail.
Highway Code rule 277 says to leave the motorway at the next exit or pull into a service area if you can. If you cannot, move into the left lane (into an emergency area if you can reach one), stop as far to the left as possible and switch your hazard lights on. If it is safe and possible, leave by the side furthest from traffic and wait well away from the vehicle, behind the safety barrier where there is one.
Only if you cannot get your vehicle to the left lane or a place of relative safety, and cannot get out safely and well away from the vehicle and moving traffic, stay in the vehicle with your seat belt and hazard lights on and call 999 immediately and ask for the police (or press your SOS button if your vehicle has one and ask for the police). Do not try repairs, do not place a warning triangle on the carriageway and do not go back to the vehicle once you have left it. If you reach an emergency area, use the emergency telephone and follow the operator’s advice before you rejoin the carriageway (rule 278). Once you are safe, call us on 07960 200253.
Source: The Highway Code, breakdowns and incidents (rules 275 to 287). Also see our guide to breaking down on the M25.
After a collision in London: what to do before recovery
The Highway Code sets out what to do at the scene. Call 999 first if anyone is hurt or the road is blocked. Take photographs or notes only once everyone is safe and away from moving traffic, then call us to arrange recovery.
- Make the scene safer: if possible, stop in a place of relative safety, switch on your hazard warning lights and ask drivers to switch off their engines.
- Contact the emergency services on 999: give full details of the location and any casualties, and stay at the scene until they arrive.
- Look after injured people: do not move injured people from their vehicles unless they are in immediate danger, and move uninjured people away from the vehicles to a place of relative safety.
- Be ready to exchange details: the legal duties are in rules 286 and 287 of the Highway Code, and the FAQ below sets them out.
- Then call us for recovery: call 07960 200253 if the vehicle cannot be driven. If another driver caused the crash, see how non-fault claims work.
More help and guides for London drivers
Recovery is one part of the service. These pages cover the rest, and the price guide covers what car recovery costs in London.
What to tell us when you call
Having these to hand keeps the call short and lets us confirm the price straight away.
- Where you are: a road name, the nearest junction or a landmark. If you are on a motorway or the North Circular, say which direction you are travelling and the nearest junction or marker post.
- The vehicle: make, model and registration, and whether it is petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric.
- What has happened: a flat battery, a car that will not start, a flat tyre, a warning light, a fuel problem or an accident.
- Where it needs to go: a garage, your home or another address.
- Your safety: on a motorway follow the Highway Code rule 277 steps and, if you cannot reach safety and cannot get out safely, call 999 and ask for the police, then call us once you are safe. On an ordinary road, get the vehicle off the road if you can, keep well away from it and from moving traffic, and call us from there.
- If it is in a car park: the car park name, the level and the bay.
Need vehicle recovery in London?
The price is agreed on the phone before we set off.
London car recovery FAQs
Can you recover an electric or hybrid car?
Yes. We recover electric and hybrid cars as well as petrol and diesel cars, vans and 4x4s. Some electric and hybrid vehicles cannot be towed with their wheels on the road, because the wheels can lock up, so they need all four wheels lifted clear of the ground. Tell us on the call if your vehicle is electric or hybrid.
How much does 24 hour car recovery in London cost?
Car recovery starts from £80, jump starts from £60 and fuel delivery from £95 plus fuel. The final price depends on your vehicle, the distance and the time, and we agree it on the phone before we set off. See what changes the price.
Do you really operate 24 hours?
Yes, our phone lines are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including nights, weekends and bank holidays. Call 07960 200253 from anywhere in London and tell us where you are.
Is the price different at night?
It can be, because the time is one of the things that sets the price, along with the vehicle and the distance. Whatever the hour, we agree the full price on the phone before we set off, so you know the cost before you say yes.
Which areas of London do you cover?
All London postcodes: Central, North, South, West and East London, from the City and West End to the outer boroughs.
Who pays for recovery after a non-fault accident?
If another driver caused the crash, we can arrange recovery at no upfront cost to you, and the costs are claimed from the at-fault driver’s insurer. Whether you are given a replacement vehicle depends on the circumstances of your claim. If liability is disputed, what you owe depends on the agreement you sign, so read it before you sign. See how non-fault claims work.
Can you recover vans and 4x4s?
Yes. We recover cars, vans and 4x4s across London, locally or long distance. Tell us the van and any load when you call so we can arrange suitable equipment.
Can I get proof for an insurance claim?
Yes. We provide a receipt and proof of recovery if you need it for an insurance or non-fault claim.
Where is the safest place to wait for a recovery vehicle?
The Highway Code calls it a place of relative safety, somewhere you, your passengers and your vehicle are less likely to be at risk from moving traffic. The safest place to stop is a location designed for parking, and on motorways and other high-speed roads it is a service area. Lay-bys and emergency areas are also places of relative safety. Wherever you wait, keep well away from your vehicle and moving traffic. On a motorway follow the Highway Code rule 277 steps and call 999 if you cannot reach safety and cannot get out safely, then call us once you are safe.
Can you take my car to my own garage or home address?
Yes. We take your vehicle where you choose, whether that is your home, a garage or somewhere further on. Tell us the destination when you call, because the distance is one of the things that sets the price, and we agree the full price on the phone before we set off.
What should I do if I put the wrong fuel in my car?
If you have not started the engine, leave it off and keep the key out of the ignition, because the RAC says the most serious damage from misfuelling happens after the ignition is switched on. If you have already started it, switch it off immediately if it is safe to do so, or pull over to a safe spot first. The usual fix is to drain and flush the tank and fuel system, so call us on 07960 200253. If you are on a motorway, follow the Highway Code rule 277 steps and call 999 if you cannot reach safety and cannot get out safely, then call us once you are safe.
Do I have to report a car accident to the police?
Not always, but you must stop and give your details, and you must report the collision to the police within 24 hours if you did not give them at the time or, where someone was injured, did not show your insurance certificate. If a collision causes damage or injury to another person, vehicle, animal or property, you must stop and give your name and address, the vehicle owner's name and address and the registration number to anyone with reasonable grounds for requiring them. If you do not give your name and address at the time, you must report the collision to the police as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case within 24 hours. If someone is injured and you do not show your insurance certificate at the time, you must report it within 24 hours and produce the certificate for the police within seven days. Call 999 first if anyone is hurt or the road is blocked.
Updated November 2026. Lines open 24 hours. Call 07960 200253.
Broken down in London? Call 07960 200253
Recovery, breakdown and accident help across all London postcodes. One call, and the price is agreed on the phone before we set off.
Related recovery services & nearby areas
More recovery services and nearby areas you may find useful.
For motorway breakdowns further out, see our motorway recovery site.