Motorway & A-Road Recovery in Stoke-on-Trent
Breaking down on a motorway or high-speed A-road is one of the most dangerous situations a driver can face. We respond fast, work efficiently at the roadside, and get you and your vehicle to safety as quickly as possible.
What we cover
Experienced in recovering vehicles from high-speed road environments safely and efficiently.
- Motorway hard shoulder and emergency refuge area breakdowns
- Smart motorway breakdowns — including sections with no permanent hard shoulder
- Dual carriageway and high-speed A-road breakdowns
- Motorway slip road incidents
- Police or Highways England-managed scene recoveries
- Overnight and out-of-hours motorway callouts
What’s Your Situation? Here’s What to Do.
Different motorway breakdowns require different actions. Here’s a clear guide to what you should do — and what we do when we arrive.
| Your situation | What you should do | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Broken down on the hard shoulder | Exit left, get behind the barrier, call us | Fast response, vehicle recovered using flatbed or tow to your chosen garage |
| Smart motorway — no hard shoulder | Reach nearest emergency refuge area, use SOS phone or call us directly | Coordinate with Highways England if needed — vehicle recovered from the refuge area safely |
| Vehicle stopped in a live lane | Hazard lights on, exit immediately, get behind the barrier — call 999 then us | Police-assisted scene if needed — we attend once it is safe to do so and clear the vehicle |
| Broken down on a motorway slip road | Move as far left as possible, hazards on, call us | Recovery from the slip road — often quicker access than the main carriageway |
| Dual carriageway or A-road breakdown | Pull off where possible, hazards on, call us | Same fast response as motorway callouts — high-speed roads treated with the same priority |
| Accident on the motorway | Safety first — exit and get behind the barrier, call 999 if injured | Accident recovery service — flatbed, scene clear, delivered to bodyshop or salvage |
Always prioritise your safety over your vehicle. Call us once you’re in a safe position — we’ll handle the vehicle.
How Motorway Recovery Works
We know speed and safety are both critical on high-speed roads — here’s how we handle it.
Recent Motorway Recovery Jobs
A selection of motorway and high-speed road recoveries we’ve completed across Stoke-on-Trent and the wider region.
Recovery Examples
Ford Transit — M6 Junction 15
Gearbox failure on the M6 southbound hard shoulder. Scene managed safely, van recovered to a commercial repairer in Stoke within the hour.
Vauxhall Astra — M6 Smart Section
Broken down in an emergency refuge area on a smart motorway section. Coordinated with Highways England, vehicle recovered to the customer’s home in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
BMW 5 Series — A50 Dual Carriageway
Engine failure on the A50 at speed. Pulled off onto a slip road, recovered to the customer’s preferred BMW specialist in Stoke same evening.
More Recent Jobs
HGV Support — M6 Northbound
Assisted a stranded family while coordinating with Highways England for a larger commercial vehicle. Vehicle recovered, passengers collected.
Mercedes C-Class — A500, Stoke
Tyre blowout at speed on the A500 ring road. Flatbed recovery — low-profile run-flat tyres, rim damaged, couldn’t be driven. Delivered to tyre centre.
VW Golf — M6 Slip Road
Overheating on the slip road, steam from bonnet. Recovered safely before the engine sustained serious damage. Delivered to the customer’s local garage.
What Customers Say
“Broke down on the M6 at night — genuinely one of the scariest moments I’ve had driving. Fast Track arrived quickly, were calm and professional, and had us off the motorway in no time.”
“Broke down in an emergency refuge on a smart motorway. Fast Track knew exactly what to do — they’d dealt with Highways England before. Sorted really efficiently.”
“Engine gave up on the A50 doing 70mph. Got onto the slip road and called Fast Track. They were there in under an hour and got my car to the garage. Brilliant.”
What Affects the Price
We give you a clear price before we move — even for motorway callouts.
- Distance from our base to your motorway location
- Distance of the onward recovery to your chosen destination
- Type of vehicle and loading method required
- Time of day — overnight and peak-hour callouts
- Whether Highways England coordination is required
- Any police-managed scene attendance
Stranded on a Motorway?
Get to a safe position behind the barrier first — then call or WhatsApp us.
Motorway Recovery — Common Questions
Quick answers before you call.
What should I do first if I break down on a motorway?
Switch your hazard lights on immediately. If you can, move onto the hard shoulder or into an emergency refuge area. Exit the vehicle from the left (passenger) side and move well behind the safety barrier — away from the carriageway. Do not stand behind or in front of your vehicle. Call 999 if anyone is injured or in immediate danger, then call us on 07455 054500.
What do I do on a smart motorway with no hard shoulder?
Aim for the nearest emergency refuge area — these are marked with orange SOS phones and appear every 1.5 miles. If you cannot reach one and your vehicle stops in a live lane, switch on hazards, exit immediately via the left side, get behind the barrier, and call 999. Once safe, call us and we’ll arrange recovery in coordination with Highways England.
Do you recover vehicles from live motorway lanes?
We attend once the scene has been made safe — either by Highways England closing the lane or by police attendance. We do not attend live lane incidents until it is safe to do so. In these situations, calling 999 first is essential.
How do I tell you where I am on the motorway?
The most accurate way is to look for the small marker posts on the hard shoulder — they show the motorway number and a distance marker (e.g. M6/123.4). You can also give us the nearest junction number and direction of travel, and we’ll pinpoint your location from there.
Can I travel in the cab with the driver?
Yes — in most cases we can take you with us to your chosen destination. Let us know when you call and we’ll confirm. If you have passengers, let us know the numbers and we’ll advise on the best arrangement.
Do you cover the M6 near Stoke-on-Trent?
Yes — the M6 between junctions 14 and 17 is within our primary coverage area, along with the A500, A50, A34, and A53. If you’re further afield, call us and we’ll tell you straight away whether we can reach you.
Are you available 24 hours a day?
Yes — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Motorway breakdowns don’t follow office hours and neither do we.