Stuck in mud or a ditch? Send clear photographs of the vehicle, ground and firm access. We assess the pulling approach and onward transport before booking.
Ground and access assessmentMud, grass, verges and ditchesPull-out or onward transportTrained recovery team
A safe approach starts with the ground
Send the exact location and photographs showing the whole vehicle, wheel depth, surrounding terrain and the nearest firm access. Explain slopes, water, obstacles and fences. A heavy truck cannot be assumed to reach a vehicle simply because there is a map route to the location.
Stop attempts that make the position worse
If wheels are digging in or the vehicle is moving towards an edge, avoid repeated acceleration. Keep people clear of any improvised towing line. A trained recovery driver assesses the pull direction, equipment and position of the recovery truck.
Pull-out only or recovery to a garage
Tell us whether you need the vehicle moved to firm ground or transported onwards. Being freed does not establish that a car or van is safe to drive. Declare damage and arrange landowner permission where needed. The quote reflects terrain, access, vehicle condition and the agreed destination.
WINCH & DITCH RECOVERY FAQS
Useful answers before booking.
What photos should I send for a pull-out?+
Include the vehicle, its wheels, the surrounding ground and firm truck access. The quote form requests at least three photographs for winch jobs.
Can you recover a van stuck in mud?+
Subject to ground, load, access and suitable equipment. Send the van model, declared load and photographs for assessment.
Do I need membership?+
No. TowPart is available without an annual membership or subscription. Request the help you need and review the price before booking.
Are the drivers trained and the trucks insured?+
TowPart-approved recovery drivers and technicians are trained for the work they undertake, and recovery trucks are fully insured. Suitable equipment is checked for the particular vehicle and collection.
Does the three-minute guarantee mean a truck arrives in three minutes?+
No. The guarantee concerns a quote after complete standard-job details are received. Specialist jobs or incomplete requests need individual assessment. The truck arrival estimate is confirmed separately.
Can you arrive in 15 minutes?+
A 15-minute arrival is subject to a suitable local truck being available, safe access and traffic. The team confirms your actual ETA for the vehicle and pickup before dispatch.
How large is the recovery driver network?+
TowPart’s network has 500+ recovery drivers. That is a network figure rather than the number of trucks at any one depot. Availability and suitable equipment are checked for the actual collection.
Can you beat a comparable price?+
Send a written quote for the same journey, vehicle condition, timing and equipment. Our team checks whether it can offer a better price before you decide whether to book.
What details make the quotation accurate?+
Provide the pickup, destination, exact vehicle, loading condition, passenger count and access restrictions. Photographs help where there is damage or restricted access.
Can you take the vehicle to my chosen destination?+
Provide the full garage, home, dealer or other authorised destination postcode, opening hours and unloading access so the complete journey can be agreed.
Share the pickup point, vehicle, condition and destination. Add photos where access or damage needs explaining.
02
Review your price & ETA
Our team checks suitable availability. You get a no-obligation quote and an estimated arrival time before dispatch.
03
Confirm. Then we move.
Once you agree, we arrange the recovery and delivery to your chosen destination, with the loading requirements checked.
Our three-minute quote guarantee starts when we receive complete details for a standard recovery: pickup, destination, vehicle and loading condition. Specialist jobs or requests needing further information are assessed individually. Your truck arrival time is confirmed separately before dispatch.
THE VEHICLE DICTATES THE TRUCK
Different vehicles. One capable team.
Flatbed recovery, roadside assistance and specialist transport, arranged around your vehicle’s actual condition.
Up to 12-tonne recovery trucks500+ recovery driver network. Fully insured trucks.
Recovery truck options up to 12 tonnes. This describes the recovery truck size; the vehicle weight, permitted carrying capacity and loading method are checked for every job.
TowPart-approved and trained drivers · No membership · Available 24/7
FIVE-STAR CUSTOMER FEEDBACK
Good service. In their own words.
A selection of five-star Google review screenshots shared by our recovery team. Open a card to read the supplied original.
GGoogle review
Really pleased with the service and support I received. Professional, reliable and friendly throughout, and everything was handled smoothly and with great care. I really appreciate the help and the work that was done for me. Highly recommended, and thank you again for the excellent service.
Farhad YardamView original screenshot ↗
GGoogle review
Said they would turn up in 50 minutes (after deposit) and this was true. And got my wife and car to destination on ETA. If you are in the area and need recovery, I would recommend based on this experience.
Trevor FigginsView original screenshot ↗
GGoogle review
Speedy and professional service which was very helpful especially in a time of great stress and need. Would recommend.
WordsmithsView original screenshot ↗
GGoogle review
Thank you so much for a quick reliable service. Arrived within the 40 mins advised and a safe drive back with pleasant company for the journey!
Liv PView original screenshot ↗
GGoogle review
Excellent company, we had a luton van stuck in the mud and these guys came to the rescue without hesitation. Thank you guys.
Katie ThompsonView original screenshot ↗
GGoogle review
I received a very professional service, and a pleasant chap to deal with, he gave regular updates on his ETA including live tracking of his location.
gary robertsView original screenshot ↗
GGoogle review
Five-star rating
Kerry RobertsView original screenshot ↗
Individual experiences and arrival times vary by location and job. These selected reviews are not an overall Google or Trustpilot score.
PRACTICAL RECOVERY KNOWLEDGE
The details behind a well-planned recovery.
Use the sections below to understand suitable equipment, prepare the collection and make an informed booking.
01
Winch recovery from mud, verges and ditches
A stuck vehicle needs an assessment of the ground and pulling approach before a truck is sent. Supply photographs showing the whole vehicle, where the wheels sit, the surrounding terrain and the nearest firm access. Explain whether it is in mud, wet grass, a verge, a field or a ditch. Include any slope, fence, water, buried obstacle or restriction on access. A useful photograph shows the space around the vehicle as well as the vehicle itself.
Do not keep accelerating if the vehicle is sinking or moving towards an edge. The team decides whether the recovery truck can reach a safe position and whether suitable equipment is available. Landowner permission may be needed on private land. Tell us if you only need a pull-out to firm ground or if the vehicle also requires transport to a garage. If there is damage, explain it before the job is priced; pulling a vehicle free does not establish that it is safe to drive afterwards.
A recovery truck needs enough height, width and turning space to approach and load. Tell us the entrance height limit for a multi-storey or underground car park, the floor, ramp gradient and whether a barrier controls access. At a home, include gate width, driveway slope, overhanging branches and the position of other parked vehicles. Photographs taken from the entrance towards the vehicle can reveal restrictions that are difficult to describe in a message.
For a lowered, prestige or modified car, explain ground clearance, body kits and any change to suspension height. Do not remove bodywork or attempt to raise a vehicle with improvised equipment in preparation for collection. The team assesses a suitable loading approach and confirms any limitations before booking. Where a full-size truck cannot reach the vehicle directly, additional equipment or an alternative collection arrangement may be required. Give those access details early so the quote reflects the actual job rather than an assumed open-road pickup.
Starting, rolling and loading are different questions
A vehicle can fail to start yet still be straightforward to load. It may have keys, free steering, working brakes and all four wheels able to roll. Another vehicle may start but have a broken driveshaft, a damaged wheel or suspension that makes driving unsafe. Describe each function separately: whether the engine starts, whether the vehicle moves under its own power, whether the gearbox selects neutral and whether the parking brake releases. For an automatic, tell us if electrical power is still available.
Photographs are especially helpful where wheels are bent, tyres have separated, bodywork touches the ground or a steering component is damaged. Never force a gearbox, release a brake on a slope or attempt to drag the vehicle to make collection easier. The recovery driver assesses the loading method, including whether winching, wheel skates or other suitable equipment is required. Accurate information before dispatch reduces the chance of an unsuitable truck, an interrupted collection or a revised quotation.
A useful car recovery quote is a plan for the complete job. The team needs to know where the vehicle is, where it must go and how it can be loaded. Start with both postcodes, the make and model, your preferred timing and a contact number. Explain the immediate problem in everyday language. A car that has stopped outside a garage may need a different approach from one with a damaged wheel in a narrow driveway. If anything is uncertain, say so rather than guessing.
TowPart’s three-minute quote guarantee applies after complete information for a standard recovery has been received. Specialist loading, collision damage, unusual access or missing information needs individual assessment. The agreed price and truck arrival estimate are separate details: a quick quote does not mean a truck arrives in three minutes. You can review the proposed journey and decide whether to book. No annual membership is needed, and submitting a request does not commit you to a recovery.
Local collections and long-distance vehicle transport
A short collection within your area and a journey to another part of the UK both need an agreed destination. Give both postcodes at the start rather than asking for a price to move a vehicle an unspecified distance. For longer journeys, confirm the preferred date, any deadline and who will hand over keys at collection. If the vehicle is being bought or sold, establish that the person releasing it has authority and knows when collection is expected.
The receiving site must be able to accept and unload the vehicle. A garage closing before the planned arrival, a locked gate or an occupied driveway can change the delivery arrangements. Provide a contact number and explain where the vehicle should be left. Tell us if a non-runner will need pushing, winching or particular positioning after unloading. A full collection-to-delivery plan makes the quotation clearer and helps the driver complete the agreed journey without avoidable uncertainty.
The best location description combines a postcode with the actual entrance and the position of the vehicle. Around your local area, include a street name, business name, car park level or recognisable access point. A postcode can cover several buildings and may direct a large truck to the wrong gate. If the vehicle is on private land, arrange permission to enter and explain who will meet the driver. A location pin can support the written details, particularly where there is no nearby street number.
For approaches including motorway and A-road routes, include the road, direction and nearest junction or services. A truck must approach the correct side of a divided road. Do not try to cross a carriageway to meet it. Where a pickup is on a rural lane, tell us about narrow sections, soft verges, locked gates and turning space. These details help the team choose suitable equipment and give a realistic arrival estimate for your particular collection.
Choosing a flatbed or another suitable recovery truck
A flatbed recovery truck carries the vehicle on its load platform. This is useful for many non-running cars, electric vehicles, damaged vehicles and journeys where the recovered vehicle’s wheels should be clear of the road. Selection also depends on the vehicle’s length, width, ground clearance and weight. Tell us about modifications, a lowered body, a long front overhang or additional equipment. A photograph from the side helps explain clearance and access more accurately than a short description alone.
TowPart can arrange different tow truck and recovery options, including recovery trucks up to 12 tonnes. Truck size is not the same as the weight it can carry: suitable payload, axle limits, bed dimensions and loading equipment must be checked for the actual vehicle. A large electric SUV and a loaded van can need different equipment from a small hatchback. Share the registration and any known weight or load information so the team can assess suitability before confirming the booking.
Personal safety comes before completing an online form. If a vehicle develops a problem on a motorway, follow official instructions and reach a place of relative safety where possible. If you cannot safely leave a vehicle stopped in a live lane, keep seatbelts fastened, turn on the hazard lights and call 999. Follow police or highways instructions. The recovery enquiry can wait until the immediate risk has been dealt with; do not stand in traffic to take photographs or inspect damage.
When it is safe to arrange help, send the direction of travel, nearby junction, services, marker post or emergency area identifier. Explain whether a road authority is already managing the incident and whether the vehicle has been moved to a safer location. Give the destination postcode and the number of people who need onward arrangements. Keep your phone available for updates. A private recovery booking does not replace emergency assistance or permission required to leave an emergency area.
Jump starts and flat battery assistance in your area
A clicking ignition, dim dashboard or vehicle left unused can suggest a low-voltage battery problem, but a jump start is not the right answer to every non-start. Tell us whether the engine cranks, whether the dashboard powers on and which warnings are displayed. Include the make, model, fuel type and whether the bonnet can be opened. If the battery is damaged, leaking, unusually hot or giving off a strong smell, stop attempts to start the vehicle and explain the symptoms to the team.
A TowPart-approved technician checks suitable battery assistance against the vehicle’s requirements. Some vehicles have specific connection points or electronic systems that need particular care. A hybrid or electric car can have a low-voltage supply fault even when its main battery has charge. If starting assistance is unsuitable or does not resolve the fault, discuss onward recovery to a garage. Any different service and its price should be agreed before work proceeds; do not assume a boost can repair a mechanical or charging-system problem.
For Tesla recovery and other electric vehicle transport, give the exact model, registration and reason it needs moving. Explain the state of charge where known, whether low-voltage power is available, whether a recognised key is present and whether the car can enter its manufacturer’s transport mode. A depleted traction battery is different from a low-voltage fault. A damaged electric vehicle may also need specialist assessment before handling. Never touch exposed high-voltage components or try an improvised towing method.
The recovery method follows the manufacturer’s instructions for the particular model and year. Tesla’s Model 3 transporter guidance specifies keeping all four tyres off the ground and recommends a flatbed. Its Tow Mode is for limited loading or repositioning, rather than general towing on the road. Other electric vehicles have their own requirements. Tell the team about a locked charge cable, inaccessible controls, collision damage or wheels that will not turn so appropriate loading equipment can be planned in advance.
A van recovery quote needs more than the badge on the front. The wheelbase, roof height, body type and load influence the equipment required. State whether it is short, medium or long wheelbase, a high-roof panel van, a Luton or a vehicle with a tail lift. Tell us whether it is empty or carrying tools, stock, equipment or a conversion. A side photograph and the registration help the team assess dimensions and suitable recovery capacity.
For a business vehicle, confirm where it should be delivered and whether the receiving depot or workshop will be open. Arrange access to keys and tell us about any load that may need separate handling. Do not remove heavy goods at an unsafe roadside location simply to make a van lighter. If a commercial vehicle has damaged running gear, locked wheels or a box body close to the ground, share clear photographs. The loading plan and quotation should reflect the van as it actually stands.
