Broken Down in Stockport or on the M60? What to Do Next

A breakdown never happens at a good time. It might be the school run on the A6, rush hour on the M60, or late at night on a quiet road in Edgeley. Knowing what to do in the first few minutes keeps you safe and gets you moving again faster. Here is a simple step-by-step guide from a local recovery team that has been doing this for 27 years.

1. Get your car somewhere safe

If the car is still moving, signal and pull over as far left as you can. Aim for a lay-by, a side road or a car park rather than a bend or the brow of a hill. Turn on your hazard lights straight away. At night or in fog, keep your sidelights on too.

2. If you are on the M60 or another motorway

Motorways need extra care, and parts of the M60 and M62 are smart motorways with no permanent hard shoulder.

• Try to reach the hard shoulder, an emergency area or the next exit.
• Leave the car by the left-hand (passenger) door and keep well away from traffic.
• Wait behind the safety barrier if there is one. Never stand between your car and the traffic.
• If you are stuck in a live lane and cannot get out safely, keep your seatbelt on, put your hazards on and call 999.
• Do not try to fix the car yourself on the motorway.

3. On a normal road: stay visible

If it is safe to get out, stand on the pavement or verge, away from the car. Wear something bright if you have it. Place a warning triangle about 45 metres behind the car, but never on a motorway.

4. Work out what has gone wrong

It helps us to know a little about the problem when you call. Common signs include:

• Clicking or nothing when you turn the key: usually a flat battery. We can often jump start the car at the roadside.
• A warning light and loss of power: could be engine, gearbox or cooling trouble. Do not keep driving.
• Steam from the bonnet: the engine is overheating. Do not open the radiator cap while it is hot.
• A flat or burst tyre: if there is no safe place to change it, we can change it or take the car away.
• After a collision: make sure everyone is safe first, then see our accident recovery service.

5. Call a local recovery service

A local firm usually reaches you much faster than a national breakdown company, because the truck is already nearby. When you call WM Recovery on 07426 242025, have this ready:

• Where you are: road name, junction number or a nearby landmark. A what3words location or a dropped pin on WhatsApp also works.
• Your vehicle make, model and colour.
• What happened and whether the car rolls, steers and brakes.
• Where you want it taken: home, your garage or our yard.

6. What happens next

We aim to reach you within 30 to 45 minutes across Stockport, Manchester, Cheadle, Bramhall, Hazel Grove, Wythenshawe, Wilmslow and Glossop. We check whether the car can be fixed at the roadside. If not, we load it safely onto our recovery truck and take it wherever you need it. You will know the price before we start.

Broken down right now?

Our 24/7 emergency breakdown recovery covers Stockport and Greater Manchester day and night, weekends and bank holidays included. Call 07426 242025 and a real person will answer.