24-hour accident recovery
Accident recovery in Nottingham
Breakdown Recovery Nottingham provides 24-hour accident recovery across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire for damaged cars, vans and motorcycles. Prices start from £70, with your final quote based on the journey, vehicle condition and loading requirements. Call with your location and the damage details: we’ll confirm whether we can attend, agree the price and destination, and give you an estimated arrival time before dispatch.
Injuries, fire or immediate danger? Call 999 first. Arrange recovery once it is safe to do so. On a motorway, follow the safety guidance below before contacting us.
Collection and destination agreed before dispatch.
The essentials
Accident recovery at a glance
What vehicles can you recover?
Accident-damaged cars, vans and motorcycles. Tell us the vehicle’s condition and access restrictions so we can confirm suitability.
Can you collect a car that will not roll or steer?
Tell us which wheels are locked and any steering or suspension damage you already know about. We’ll assess the equipment needed before agreeing the job.
Where can you take it?
Your garage, bodyshop, home or another agreed destination, subject to access and safe unloading.
When can I call?
24 hours a day, seven days a week. Arrival depends on location, traffic and driver availability.
How much will it cost?
From £70. Your final quote depends on the vehicle, collection point, destination and loading requirements.
When do I pay?
After agreeing the full recovery price and before the recovery vehicle is dispatched.
What if I need storage?
Ask about storage in Long Eaton, availability, charges and collection arrangements before booking.
Your safety comes first
Safety before arranging recovery
Keep clear of moving traffic and follow instructions from emergency services. Take photographs only when safe; do not delay getting to safety to record damage.
If you are on a motorway
If you can safely reach an exit or service area, do so. Otherwise, move left into an emergency area or onto the hard shoulder if possible, and switch on your hazard lights.
- If you can leave safely: exit on the side away from traffic and wait well away from your vehicle and the carriageway, behind a barrier where safe. Watch for drops or other hazards beyond it.
- If you cannot exit safely: stay in the vehicle with seatbelts and hazard lights on, call 999 immediately and ask for the police.
Use an emergency telephone for help where accessible safely. If you have not stopped near one, call 999 and ask for the police. Do not attempt repairs or put out a warning triangle on the motorway.
See the Highway Code’s motorway and incident guidance. Recovery attendance must follow any police or traffic-officer directions.
Tell us about your vehicle
Recovery for cars, vans and motorcycles after a collision
Accident recovery involves loading and transporting a damaged vehicle when it cannot safely continue its journey. That can include a car with damaged steering, a van with a wheel that will not turn, or a motorcycle that needs collecting after an impact.
When you contact Breakdown Recovery Nottingham, tell us what you already know:
- Vehicle: registration, make and model; mention if it is electric or hybrid.
- Damage: whether it starts, rolls, steers or brakes, and any visible leaks or loose parts.
- Access: road, verge, car park or driveway; mention height restrictions, tight entrances or difficult ground.
- Keys: whether you have them and whether the vehicle can be unlocked.
- Destination: the delivery address and whether someone can accept it.
You do not need to test a damaged vehicle or inspect it in traffic. If you are unsure about its condition, say so. These details help us assess the job, choose suitable equipment and explain the price.
For vehicle-specific information, see our van recovery and motorcycle recovery services.
An agreed destination
Where we can take your vehicle
We agree the destination before setting off, so you know where your vehicle is going and how it will be handed over.
- Your garage or bodyshop: give us its address and check that it can accept the vehicle.
- Your insurer’s repairer: confirm the destination with your insurer and have the claim reference available.
- Your home: tell us about driveway access or the proposed unloading space. The vehicle needs a safe, lawful place to be left.
- Storage in Long Eaton: ask about availability if your repairer is closed or you are still deciding what to do.
If nobody will be at the destination, discuss the vehicle and key handover when you book. A closed garage forecourt should not be assumed to be an agreed drop-off point.
Need storage after an accident?
Before agreeing to storage, ask for the daily rate, when charging starts and stops, any additional fees, and how to arrange collection. Tell us who will be authorised to collect the vehicle. If you expect your insurer to pay, check its approval and any limits first.
Know the cost before booking
How much does accident recovery cost in Nottingham?
Accident recovery in Nottingham starts from £70. This is a starting price, not a fixed charge for every collection. Your final quote depends on the journey, the vehicle’s condition and how it needs to be loaded. Call with the collection point and destination for a price for your job.
| What affects the quote? | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Collection and delivery locations | The journey and access at both ends affect the work involved. |
| Vehicle size and type | Cars, vans and motorcycles have different loading requirements. |
| Collision damage | Locked wheels, damaged steering or suspension can require additional equipment. |
| Access restrictions | A height-limited car park or difficult verge may change how recovery can be carried out. |
| Storage or another onward move | Discuss these separately so you understand the full arrangement. |
We agree the full recovery price with you before dispatch. Payment is due before the recovery vehicle is dispatched. Discuss any storage or additional move, and ask about cancellation terms before agreeing. If your location, destination or known vehicle condition changes, tell us before collection.
If you intend to claim the cost back, ask your insurer to approve the arrangement first. Ask for an invoice showing the recovery details and charges; an invoice does not itself guarantee reimbursement.
Check your cover
Should I call my insurer or book recovery myself?
Once immediate safety has been dealt with, check whether recovery is already being arranged. This helps avoid two operators being dispatched or costs you did not expect.
| Your situation | What to check before booking |
|---|---|
| Your insurer may cover accident recovery | Ask whether your policy covers this incident, who should arrange collection, the permitted destination and any excess or limits. |
| You have breakdown membership | Ask specifically about collision recovery. Membership or access to accident assistance does not automatically mean every tow is included. |
| You want to book directly | Agree the job and payment terms with the recovery operator. Confirm insurer approval first if you expect reimbursement. |
| Police or traffic officers are managing removal | Follow their instructions and establish which operator is handling the vehicle before making another booking. |
| An accident-management company offers help | Check the agreement, what services it includes and who is responsible for charges if costs cannot be recovered. |
For example, the AA’s Accident Assist terms distinguish recovery through its claims service from recovery-only arrangements that may carry a fee. Check your own provider’s terms rather than assuming the same cover applies.
From first call to delivery
How to book accident recovery
Call from a safe place
Call 0115 646 9746 or send your location on WhatsApp. Give us the registration, known damage, collection point and preferred destination.
For a main-road incident, include the road name, direction of travel and nearest junction or location marker if known. Do not walk along the road to find information.
Agree the price and pay before dispatch
We confirm whether we can take the job, the full recovery price and an estimated arrival time. Discuss access, handover, any storage and cancellation terms before agreeing. Payment is due before dispatch. Tell us if you need insurer approval before paying; sending a message alone does not confirm a booking.
Collection and delivery
Our driver loads and secures the vehicle for transport to the agreed destination. If your plans change before collection, let us know so we can discuss the revised arrangements.
Local collection and onward recovery
Accident recovery across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
We collect accident-damaged vehicles across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, including incidents on routes such as the A52, A60 and A610. We also handle M1 recovery enquiries, with attendance dependent on the exact location, safe access and any incident-control arrangements.
Whether the vehicle is still at the roadside or has already been moved to a driveway, car park or garage, send the precise collection point. Location and access details help us give you a realistic answer about availability.
Outside Nottinghamshire? Call with the postcode and destination so we can confirm whether we can help. View our recovery coverage information.
Helpful answers
Accident recovery questions
How quickly can you reach me?
We give you an estimated arrival time based on your location, traffic and current jobs. Our 24-hour service does not mean a driver is immediately available at every location. We’ll tell you the estimate when you call and let you know if it changes.
Can I choose my own recovery company and bodyshop?
You can ask to arrange your own recovery and nominate a bodyshop. If an insurer or another operator is already involved, check approval and any existing booking charges before making a second arrangement. At a police-controlled incident, follow the officers’ directions. Your choice of operator or repairer does not automatically establish what your insurer will pay.
Is accident recovery free if the collision was not my fault?
Not automatically. The payment route depends on your cover, the recovery agreement and whether costs are accepted by the party being asked to pay. If you book directly with us, agree the payment terms rather than assuming the other driver’s insurer will settle the invoice.
Some non-fault services involve separate credit-hire or repair agreements. “No upfront payment” does not necessarily remove your liability for costs. The Financial Ombudsman Service explains these arrangements and their risks.
What if the police have already removed my vehicle?
Contact the police-appointed recovery operator and follow the release instructions. Booking another tow does not release an impounded vehicle. Once release is authorised, contact us to discuss onward transport to your garage or home. See Nottinghamshire Police’s impounded-vehicle guidance.
Can passengers travel with the recovery vehicle?
Ask when you call. Do not assume passenger transport is included. Tell us how many people are with you and whether anyone has mobility needs or requires a child seat, so passenger arrangements can be discussed before collection.
Do I need to report the collision to the police?
Reporting duties depend on what happened and whether the required details were provided. Where reporting is required, act as soon as reasonably practicable; do not treat the 24-hour limit as time to wait. Injury collisions can also trigger insurance-certificate requirements. See Ask the Police’s explanation of drivers’ responsibilities.
For an emergency, call 999. For non-emergency incidents, follow Nottinghamshire Police’s reporting guidance. Arranging vehicle recovery does not replace your reporting obligations.
Ready when you need us
Arrange accident recovery in Nottingham
Once you are safe, tell us where the vehicle is, what is damaged and where it needs to go. We’ll confirm availability, price and an estimated arrival time before dispatch.
For a mechanical breakdown, see breakdown recovery in Nottingham. For a scheduled move, see vehicle transport.