Broken Down? What to Do While You Wait

While you wait for recovery, your safety comes first: get yourself and your passengers away from moving traffic, switch on your hazard lights, and if you are on the motorway, leave the vehicle by the passenger-side doors and wait behind the safety barrier where it is safe to do so. If you feel you are in danger, contact the emergency services. Once you are safe, call A2B Tow on 07493 116161 at any time of day or night, and our trained recovery specialists will assess the problem and arrange the right help.

Breaking down is stressful, and the minutes spent waiting can feel long. This guide explains, in plain terms, what to do while you wait, with extra points for motorways such as the M1 near Luton, and how our recovery and roadside assistance service works once you call.

First steps once you have stopped

Every breakdown is different, so use your judgement and follow current road-safety guidance in the Highway Code. As a general starting point:

• Switch on your hazard lights so other drivers can see you.
• If the vehicle can still move safely, try to get it as far away from moving traffic as you can, for example onto a verge, into a lay-by or off the main carriageway.
• At night or in poor visibility, keep your sidelights on.
• Get everyone out of the vehicle on the side away from traffic, where it is safe to do so, and move to a safer place clear of the road.
• Do not attempt a repair at the roadside. Leave that to the recovery team.

What to do if you break down on the motorway

Motorways need extra care because traffic is moving fast and close by. Current guidance covers this in detail, but the key points to remember are simple.

• Get off the motorway if you can. If the vehicle is still drivable, leaving at the next exit or pulling into a service area is usually safer than stopping on the motorway itself.
• If you have to stop, use the hard shoulder or an emergency area. Pull in as far to the left as you can, with your wheels turned to the left.
• Hazard lights on. Keep them on while you wait.
• Leave by the passenger side. Get out of the vehicle using the doors on the left-hand side, away from the traffic, and take everyone with you if it is safe.
• Wait behind the barrier. Move behind the safety barrier and away from the traffic where it is safe to do so. Keep children close and pets under control.
• Do not walk on the carriageway or try to fix the vehicle yourself.
• If you cannot get out safely, for example if you have stopped in a live lane, keep your seat belt on, switch on your hazard lights and contact the emergency services.

Once you are in a safer place, then call for recovery. If you are unsure exactly where you are, look out for nearby junction numbers, road signs or landmarks you can pass on.

While you are waiting

When you are safe and help has been arranged, there are a few practical things that make the wait easier and the recovery quicker:

• Keep your phone with you and answer calls, in case the recovery team needs to confirm your location.
• Stay warm and visible. If you have a coat or a high-visibility vest to hand, it may help.
• Keep your keys and any important belongings with you, as long as collecting them does not put you at risk.
• Think about where you want the vehicle to go if it cannot be fixed at the roadside: your home, your own garage, a dealership or another destination.
• If your situation changes, for example you have moved to a different spot, call back and let us know.

How A2B Tow’s recovery and roadside service works

A2B Tow is a 24/7 vehicle recovery, towing and roadside assistance business based in Luton. Our recovery specialists and towing services are fully insured, and we help drivers across Luton and the surrounding Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire areas, including the M1, A505 and Airport Way routes.

1. You call us on 07493 116161, day or night, weekends included.
2. You give us the details: your exact location, road name or a nearby landmark, the vehicle make, model and registration, what has gone wrong, whether the vehicle can move or is damaged, and where you would like it taken if recovery is needed.
3. We assess the problem. Our team works out whether it can be dealt with at the roadside, for example with a jump start, flat tyre assistance or wrong-fuel recovery, or whether the vehicle needs transporting, and sends suitable equipment for your vehicle.
4. You get a free quote first. A free, no-obligation quotation is given before the service is arranged, with no hidden charges.
5. A recovery vehicle attends. Where a roadside fix is possible, we carry it out.
6. Recovery where needed. If the vehicle cannot be safely repaired or driven, it is loaded and taken to your home, your chosen garage, a dealership or another agreed destination. Find out more about our vehicle recovery and car recovery in Luton.

We recover cars, motorcycles, 4x4s and vans, including van recovery, plus larger and commercial vehicles where suitable recovery equipment can be deployed.

Common questions while waiting for recovery

How quickly can you get to me?

We answer honestly: arrival times depend on where you are, the traffic, what you drive and access to it, so we do not guarantee an exact arrival time. When you call, we will talk you through what to expect for your situation.

Will you always tow my car?

No. We assess the problem first. A flat battery, flat tyre or wrong fuel can often be dealt with without a tow, so you are not paying for a tow you do not need.

How much will it cost?

Every job is different, so the price depends on where you are, what you drive, the state it is in, access to it and where it needs to go. You get a free, no-obligation quotation before the service is arranged, with no hidden charges.

Can you take my car to my own garage rather than the nearest one?

Yes. We can take your vehicle to your home, your chosen garage, a dealership or another agreed destination.

I put the wrong fuel in. Should I keep driving?

It is best not to. Read our guide: I’ve put petrol in my diesel car: should I start the engine? and then give us a call.

Are you really available at night?

Yes. Our phone line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including nights and weekends.

Call A2B Tow for breakdown recovery

Once you and your passengers are safe, call our trained recovery specialists for local recovery support across Luton, with 24/7 assistance when breakdowns and vehicle problems cannot wait.

Phone: 07493 116161
Open around the clock, every day of the week.
A2B Tow, 29 Farley Hill, Luton LU1 5EE

You can also visit our contact page to request a free, no-obligation quote. In an emergency or if you are in danger, always contact the emergency services first.