Breakdown Recovery in Bristol
Bristol's hills, swing bridges, narrow streets and Clean Air Zone make it a city where local knowledge helps. We arrange recovery anywhere in Bristol and the surrounding area, 24 hours a day.
From £125 · 24/7 · often with you in about 30 minutes (depends on location and traffic)
The city centre and the Clean Air Zone
Bristol has a charging Clean Air Zone covering the city centre and the area around the harbourside, where older, more polluting vehicles pay a daily charge to drive in. If your car breaks down inside the zone, that's not something to worry about in the moment. It only matters for where the car goes next, so tell us your destination and we'll plan around it.
Hills, harbours and swing bridges
Steep streets in Clifton, Totterdown and Kingsdown can make a broken-down car hard to move, especially if it won't stay in gear or the handbrake is weak. Leave it in gear, turn the wheels towards the kerb and tell us about the slope when you call. Around the Cumberland Basin, the swing bridges and the Plimsoll Bridge carry a lot of traffic between the city and the Portway, and a breakdown there can quickly cause queues, so get yourself somewhere safe first.
The M32 and the Portway
The M32 runs from the city centre out to the M4 near Hambrook, with a bus lane and fast-merging slip roads. The Portway (A4) runs along the Avon Gorge under the Clifton Suspension Bridge towards Avonmouth, with the river on one side and the cliff on the other, leaving little room to stop. On either road, if you can't reach a safe place, put your hazards on and, if it's safe, get out and well away from the traffic.
The M4 and M5 around Bristol
The M4 and M5 meet at the Almondsbury interchange north of the city, and the M5 crosses the River Avon on the exposed Avonmouth Bridge. Both motorways are busy with commuter, freight and holiday traffic, and each has its own page with advice for that road.
Broken down on a Bristol hill? Leave the car in gear (or in Park for an automatic), apply the handbrake firmly and turn the wheels towards the kerb. Hazards on, then wait somewhere safe away from the road, and tell us about the gradient when you call.
Around Bristol
We cover the whole city and the surrounding area, including Clifton, Bedminster, Fishponds, Filton, Kingswood, Keynsham, Portishead and Weston-super-Mare. Whether you're in a residential street, at Cribbs Causeway or in a city-centre multi-storey car park, call with your postcode or a nearby landmark.
Bristol Recovery FAQs
Will I have to pay the Bristol Clean Air Zone charge if my car is recovered?
The Clean Air Zone charge applies to vehicles driving in the zone. Being stuck with a breakdown isn't something to worry about in the moment. Tell us where the car needs to go and we'll plan the recovery with the zone in mind.
My car has broken down on a steep street. Can you still recover it?
Yes. Recovery on hills is routine, but tell us about the gradient and whether the car rolls or stays put, so we send the right equipment.
Do you cover Weston-super-Mare and Bath as well as Bristol?
Yes. We arrange recovery across Bristol and the surrounding area, and we'll give you an honest arrival estimate when you call.
Other Services You Might Need
Nearby areas & roads
Broken Down in Bristol Right Now?
Call or WhatsApp us with your location and we’ll arrange recovery to you.
