How we can help in East London
Vehicle recovery in East London
The A12 starts just north of the Blackwall Tunnel and climbs through Bow and Hackney Wick on a run of flyovers and underpasses built in the late 1960s, much of it three or four lanes. At the Bow Interchange it crosses the A11 Bow Road and the A118 Stratford High Street on three levels, so tell us which level you're on. The A13 runs east from Whitechapel along Commercial Road and East India Dock Road, then over the Canning Town flyover towards Barking.
The tunnels have their own rules. The Blackwall Tunnel's northbound bore dates from 1897, has several sharp bends and a 4-metre height limit; the southbound bore takes vehicles up to about 4.7 metres. Since April 2025 the Silvertown Tunnel has run alongside, and both are charged between 6am and 10pm every day. The Rotherhithe Tunnel bans anything over 2 metres high or wide and goods vehicles over 2 tonnes, which rules out a recovery truck. TfL arranges for vehicles that break down inside its tunnels to be moved out. We don't recover from inside a tunnel; once you've been cleared, call us with where the car has been left and we'll collect it.
On the surface, Westfield Stratford City has around 5,000 parking spaces, and people come back to dead batteries there often enough. The Royal London Hospital on Whitechapel Road, home to London's Air Ambulance, is another regular pickup.
If the car needs to go south of the river, the route depends on the load. With the Rotherhithe Tunnel closed to trucks and the Blackwall northbound bore limited in height, crossings are planned before the truck sets out. The car can go to a local garage, your home, or a dealer in Essex or Kent.
Roads & areas we cover around East London
Why East London drivers choose BlueLine
Recovering something other than a car
Different vehicles need different trucks and different handling. These explain how each one is done.
East London recovery & roadside FAQs
I've broken down in the Blackwall Tunnel. Can you come in and get me?
No. Breakdowns inside TfL's tunnels are cleared under TfL's own arrangements, not by outside recovery firms. Keep your hazards on and follow the tunnel signs and any instructions from staff. Once the car has been moved out, call or WhatsApp 07944 820302 with where it's been left and we'll take it on.
Can a recovery truck go through the Rotherhithe Tunnel?
No. The tunnel bans vehicles over 2 metres high or wide and goods vehicles over 2 tonnes, and a recovery truck is over those limits. If your car needs to cross the river, we plan a route that avoids it.
Do I pay the Blackwall or Silvertown charge if my car is on your truck?
Your car isn't being driven through, so the crossing is part of the truck's journey and the price we give you covers the whole trip. The charge applies from 6am to 10pm every day if you drive through yourself.
My car won’t start in the Westfield Stratford car park. What do you need?
The car park, the level and the nearest entrance or colour zone. Westfield has around 5,000 spaces, so 'Westfield' alone won't find you. A jump start or battery in the bay is often all it needs.
I've stopped on the A12 near Bow. Is it safe to get out?
Only on the kerb side, and only if there's somewhere to stand away from the traffic. That stretch is mostly flyovers and underpasses with little room. If you can't get out safely, stay belted in with hazards on and call 999 first.