Motorway breakdown
Motorway Hard Shoulder Breakdown Recovery
Breaking down on a motorway hard shoulder is one of the more frightening places for it to happen, with traffic passing at speed just feet away. Getting yourself and any passengers safely away from the car is the priority, before worrying about the vehicle itself.
We recover motorway breakdowns on routes across and around Birmingham, including the M5, M6 and M42, working safely alongside live traffic to get your car off the hard shoulder and to somewhere it can be dealt with properly.
Getting safe first
If you can, steer as far left as possible onto the hard shoulder, ideally past a marker post, and put your hazard lights on. Exit the vehicle from the passenger side away from live traffic if it's safe to do so, and get behind the safety barrier if there is one. Don't stand between your car and the barrier, and keep well away from the carriageway.
Calling for help
Once you're safe, call for recovery. If you have a National Highways marker post number nearby, giving us that along with the direction of travel and nearest junction helps us locate you quickly and safely.
- Marker post number, if visible, helps pinpoint your exact location
- Direction of travel and nearest junction number
- Get out on the passenger side, away from live traffic, if it's safe
- Stay behind the barrier, don't attempt any repairs yourself on the hard shoulder
How we work on a live hard shoulder
Recovering a vehicle from a motorway hard shoulder means working safely alongside fast-moving traffic, so we follow appropriate procedures for approach and loading to protect you, ourselves, and other road users throughout.
Getting you onward
Once your car is loaded, we'll take you and the vehicle to a safe location — a service station, garage, or your intended destination if practical — away from the motorway itself, so you're not left waiting at the roadside any longer than necessary.
Questions we get asked
Should I wait in my car on the hard shoulder?
No, it's safer to exit from the passenger side away from traffic and wait behind the barrier if there is one, rather than remaining inside the vehicle.
What's a marker post and why does it matter?
Marker posts are small numbered posts along the hard shoulder that pinpoint your exact location, which helps recovery teams and emergency services find you quickly.
Can you attempt a roadside fix on the hard shoulder itself?
For safety reasons, we generally prioritise getting the vehicle recovered off the hard shoulder rather than carrying out repairs in a live traffic environment.
What if I've broken down on a smart motorway with no hard shoulder?
That's a different situation with its own safety steps — see our smart motorway breakdown guidance for what to do specifically in that case.
Broken down on the hard shoulder?
Get safe behind the barrier and call 07402 666 687 — we'll recover you from motorways in and around Birmingham.