A clear price.
For the whole job.

What we need to price a recovery

Give us the registration, collection point and destination. Explain whether the vehicle starts, rolls and steers, whether the keys are available and whether there is damage. Include any height barrier, steep driveway, narrow entrance or other access restriction.

The more accurately the job is described, the more useful the quote will be. Tell us if the destination is undecided or a vehicle’s loading condition is unknown, rather than guessing.

Confirm the final payable amount

Before booking, confirm what is included, any applicable VAT treatment and the final amount payable. Ask how a change of destination, waiting or a change in the reported vehicle condition would be handled.

Ask about the mileage basis, any distance allowance and any additional work needed for your vehicle. These details should be clear in the quote for your particular job.

Why two recoveries can cost different amounts

A car with keys, free-moving wheels and open access is different from a damaged vehicle with locked wheels in a restricted space. The equipment and time needed can change. Distance is only one part of that picture.

Passenger travel, storage, specialist handling and delivery outside normal hours should be discussed explicitly when relevant. Do not assume an arrangement is included unless it has been agreed.

Vehicle transport quotes

For planned transport, give both postcodes, the make and model, running condition and preferred dates. Check that the vehicle can be released at collection and received at delivery.

Our transport enquiry planner organises these details for a checked quotation. It does not currently calculate a binding automatic price or confirm a booking.

The difference between the call-out and the complete job

The £100 figure is the standard recovery call-out charge. To understand what you will pay for the whole recovery, the quotation also needs to cover mileage and any job extras. Do not read the call-out as a fixed price to move any vehicle to any destination. A clear request lets AtWheel discuss the actual movement and explain the complete amount before you agree to it.

For example, a freely rolling car with keys in open parking is not the same collection as a damaged car with a locked wheel behind a height barrier. Even if both destinations are nearby, the handling requirements differ. Tell us about those conditions at the start. The purpose of the questions is to describe the job accurately, including anything that remains unknown.

Mileage needs an agreed route and destination

Provide the vehicle’s present position and full delivery address. The nearest town is useful for an initial conversation, but it is not enough for a complete route assessment. If the car has already been moved away from a breakdown scene, use its new collection site. Ask how mileage is being calculated in your quotation and make sure any allowance or additional distance is expressly explained.

Choose a recipient who has agreed to accept the car. A provisional garage may have no space, and changing to a different repairer can change the journey. If the destination is undecided, tell AtWheel before booking. An initial price based on one address should not be assumed to apply unchanged to another destination or to a second onward movement later.

What counts as relevant access and condition information

Describe whether the vehicle starts, drives, rolls and steers as separate facts. Give the exact model, key availability, damage and any low clearance or modification. For a van, explain its size and load; for a trailer, say that it is attached and describe it. A general phrase such as “just a non-runner” leaves important questions unanswered about how the vehicle can be handled.

At each location, mention gates, barriers, levels in a car park, slopes, narrow turns and site opening hours. State what you know and what has not been checked. Do not attempt an unsafe move to make the car easier to describe. A safe photograph may help clarify access, while the operator can discuss uncertain details before deciding whether the job can be agreed.

Comparing recovery quotations fairly

Compare the complete proposed service rather than the first number mentioned. Check the collection point, agreed destination, vehicle condition and included work. Ask whether any additional requirement has been priced or still needs assessment. The final payable amount and applicable VAT treatment should be clear before you accept; do not infer either from a headline call-out figure alone.

Timing and handover matter too. A low headline amount does not tell you whether a garage can receive the car, whether a site will release it or whether the vehicle can be safely loaded. Confirm the actual booking and receiving arrangements. If you are seeking reimbursement through another organisation, check its requirements directly before separately commissioning work; AtWheel cannot assume that another party will pay.

Planned transport, jump starts and a change of plan

A scheduled purchase collection or workshop transfer receives an individual vehicle transport quotation. Provide both addresses, preferred dates and the current running and loading condition. Jump-start and battery enquiries also need the service and vehicle checked; the £100 standard recovery call-out is not a universal advertised price for every different type of work. Ask which service is being quoted and what happens if the initial description changes.

Keep AtWheel informed before attendance if keys disappear, a gate becomes unavailable, the vehicle moves or the recipient changes. Discuss waiting, storage, passenger requirements or an extra stop expressly when relevant. Those arrangements should not be silently added to an assumed package. A clear quotation is a description of an agreed job, and reviewing changed facts helps keep both the practical plan and price understandable.