How an accident callout runs
Make the scene safe
Everyone out and behind a barrier where the road allows it, hazards on, 999 if anyone is injured or a lane is blocked.
Tell us what we are coming to
Road, direction, junction or marker post, and what the vehicle looks like now. Damage detail decides which truck we send.
Agreed price before we roll
An all-in figure covering collection and where it is going, given to you before the truck sets off.
Onward to the right place
Bodyshop, approved repairer, your own garage, your driveway, or a secure yard if you have not decided yet.
Why a damaged car is a different job
A car that has stopped working can usually still be rolled onto a truck. A car that has been hit often cannot. Suspension damage can leave a wheel sitting at an angle so it will not turn, a bent subframe can lock the steering, and a crumpled arch can foul the tyre after only a few feet. That is why the first question we ask is not what is wrong with the engine, but whether the wheels still point the right way.
Access matters too. A vehicle in a ditch, up a kerb, or nose-first into a barrier may need winching before it can be loaded, and that needs space behind the truck. On a narrow lane or a supermarket car park deck, we would rather know before we arrive than work it out on the spot.
Then there is the question of where it goes. After a collision that is rarely obvious. Some drivers want the car at home while they decide. Some want it straight to a bodyshop. If a claim is going in, the insurer may name an approved repairer, and moving the vehicle twice costs more than moving it once. It is worth a phone call to your insurer before the truck leaves, if you are well enough to make it.
If the police or National Highways have already cleared the carriageway, your vehicle will normally be at a compound, and storage there is charged by the day. Getting it out sooner usually costs less than leaving it, so that is often the first job we are asked to do.
Accident recovery FAQs
My car has been in a collision and will not drive. What do I do first?
People before vehicles. If anyone is hurt, or the vehicle is blocking a live lane, call 999. On a motorway or all-lane-running stretch, get out through the passenger side where you safely can, stand behind the barrier, and do not attempt to move the vehicle yourself. Once everyone is safe, call or WhatsApp 07944 820302 with the road, the direction of travel and the nearest marker post or junction, and we will arrange collection.
The police have already arranged recovery. Can you still help?
Yes. On motorways and many trunk roads the police or National Highways use their own contracted recovery operator to clear the carriageway quickly, and you do not get to choose who does that first move. Your vehicle is usually taken to a nearby compound or secure yard. BlueLine can collect it from there afterwards and move it to your garage, your home, a bodyshop or your insurer’s approved repairer.
Do I need to go through my insurance?
Not to get the vehicle moved. Many drivers arrange recovery themselves and claim afterwards, or pay directly when a claim would not be worth making. We agree an all-in price with you before we set off, so you have a figure to give your insurer. We are not an insurer and we do not handle claims.
Can you recover a car with airbags deployed or fluid on the road?
Yes. A deployed airbag almost always means the vehicle should not be driven again until it is inspected, so it needs to go on a truck rather than be jump-started or driven away. Tell us if you can see fluid under the car, if a wheel is pointing the wrong way, or if the vehicle is on its side, because that changes which truck and equipment we send.
If the car simply stopped, see breakdown recovery. For a bike, motorbike recovery. For an electric car or a 4x4 that has to go flat, 4x4 & EV flatbed recovery. Moving a vehicle that is not broken at all is UK-wide transport. Find your area on the coverage map.
What drivers say.
“Absolutely brilliant service from start to finish. They were incredibly quick to respond, professional, and provided excellent customer service throughout.”
“Excellent service. He transported my car after it had been involved in an accident on the main road; he handled the transport safely.”
“Excellent service from Blue Line Recovery Services. The driver arrived on time, was very friendly, professional and made the whole vehicle recovery process stress-free.”