Non-Running Vehicle Recovery in Tyne and Wear

A car that will not start in a driveway, a van abandoned after a gearbox failure, a project vehicle that has sat for years: all of these need moving without being driven.

At Banks of the Tyne in Hebburn we recover non-running vehicles across Tyne and Wear and bring them to our garage, where our mechanical team can diagnose and repair. This page covers what makes these jobs different from a roadside breakdown.

What counts as non-running

Non-running covers more than a dead battery. It can mean a seized engine, a failed gearbox, locked brakes, a damaged wheel or axle, or a vehicle that has been standing so long that several things have stopped working.

The cause matters because it decides how the vehicle can safely be moved. A locked wheel or a vehicle with no steering cannot simply be dragged.

• Engines that will not start or have failed
• Gearbox or drivetrain failure
• Seized brakes or wheels
• Vehicles left standing for a long time
• Damaged steering or suspension

What the recovery involves

First we need the facts: where the vehicle is, what it is, and what it does or does not do. Can it be put in neutral? Do the wheels turn? Is the handbrake stuck? Is it a manual, an automatic or an electric or hybrid vehicle?

From there we choose a method suitable for the vehicle, rather than the quickest. Once at Hebburn, it can be looked at properly so you find out what is wrong and what the options are.

What affects the job and the cost

Access is a big factor: a vehicle in a tight garage, on soft ground or in a basement car park is harder to reach than one on a drive. Vehicle size and weight, and whether it can be steered and rolled, also matter.

We explain cost once we know the details. Be upfront about anything unusual, because it is better to know before arrival than to find a problem on site.

Before we arrive, and when not to proceed

Have keys available and tell us where the vehicle is, including any gates or access limits. Remove valuables. If the vehicle is on a public road, think about safety and visibility first.

Sometimes the honest answer is that a vehicle is not worth repairing. We tell you what we find, and the decision remains yours.