Breakdown Recovery on the M5
The M5 runs about 160 miles from the M6 at West Bromwich, past Birmingham, Worcester, Gloucester and Bristol, down to Exeter. It's the main road to the South West, so it's busiest in the summer. Wherever you've stopped on it, call us with the nearest junction and we'll send a local recovery operator to you.
From £125 · 24/7 · often with you in about 30 minutes (depends on location and traffic)
The road to the South West
The M5 starts at the Ray Hall interchange with the M6 near West Bromwich and ends at Exeter, where the A38 and A30 continue into Devon and Cornwall. For most of the year it's a busy commuter and freight route around Birmingham and Bristol. In the summer holidays the whole southern half fills with holiday traffic, caravans and roof boxes, and breakdowns from overheating and overloading become much more common.
Birmingham and the Black Country (junctions 1–4a)
The northern end of the M5 runs on the Oldbury Viaduct through the Black Country, past Dudley and Halesowen, then round the south-west of Birmingham past Frankley services to the M42 at junction 4a. Parts of this section are smart motorway with variable speed limits, and the elevated stretch has very little room to stop. If you break down near the M6 interchange, mention it by name: there are several similar-looking slip roads close together.
Worcester to Gloucester (junctions 5–12)
South of Bromsgrove the motorway opens out through Worcestershire, passing Worcester (junctions 6 and 7), Strensham services and the M50 to Ross-on-Wye and South Wales at junction 8. It then runs past Tewkesbury, Cheltenham and Gloucester. Junctions are further apart than around Birmingham, so the last junction or services you passed is the most useful thing to tell us.
Bristol and the Avonmouth Bridge (junctions 13–20)
Near Bristol the M5 meets the M4 at the Almondsbury interchange (junction 15), then crosses the River Avon on the Avonmouth Bridge between junctions 18 and 19. The bridge is high and exposed to crosswinds, so if your vehicle is struggling, try to reach the next junction or Gordano services before you stop.
Somerset to Exeter (junctions 21–31)
The final stretch runs past Weston-super-Mare, Bridgwater and Taunton, through the Blackdown Hills area and down to Exeter. Services at Sedgemoor, Bridgwater, Taunton Deane, Cullompton and Exeter are handy landmarks. On busy summer Saturdays this part of the motorway can queue for miles, so it's worth knowing that a breakdown in slow traffic is still a breakdown on a motorway: get as far left as you safely can and stay out of the live lanes.
If you break down on the M5: pull as far left as you can, onto the hard shoulder or into an emergency area, and switch your hazard lights on. Leave the vehicle by the passenger door if it's safe and wait behind the barrier. If you can't get out safely, stay in the car with your seatbelt on and call 999. Then call us with the junctions either side of you and your direction of travel.
Towing a caravan or trailer?
Tell us when you call if you're towing a caravan or trailer, and how big it is. It changes what kind of recovery vehicle is needed, and sometimes the caravan and car have to be moved separately.
M5 Breakdown FAQs
My car has overheated in M5 holiday traffic. What should I do?
If the temperature warning comes on, pull over somewhere safe as soon as you can and switch off the engine. Don't open the radiator cap while the engine is hot. Overheating can sometimes be fixed at the roadside, but if the car isn't safe to drive, we'll arrange recovery to a garage or your destination.
Can you recover a car and caravan together?
Often, yes. It depends on the size of the caravan and the recovery vehicle available nearby. Tell us both when you call, and we'll arrange the right equipment or a second vehicle for the caravan if needed.
Do you cover the whole M5, all the way to Exeter?
Yes. We arrange recovery anywhere on the M5, from the M6 at West Bromwich down to Exeter. We'll give you an honest estimate of the arrival time when you call.
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Nearby areas & roads
Broken Down on the M5 Right Now?
Call or WhatsApp us with your location and we’ll arrange recovery to you.
