Motorway breakdown? Get safe first

M40 Breakdown Recovery: Junctions 2 to 5

The M40 runs right past High Wycombe, and it’s where many of our call-outs come from. If you’ve broken down between Beaconsfield (J2) and Stokenchurch (J5), here’s what to do, and how to get us on the way.

If you're in danger, call 999 first

If your vehicle is in a live lane, you can’t get out safely, or anyone is injured, call 999 immediately. Once you’re safe, call us for recovery.

Step by step

Broken down on the M40: what to do

Leave at the next exit or services if you can. Beaconsfield Services at junction 2 is a much safer place to stop than the hard shoulder.
If you can’t, pull onto the hard shoulder as far left as possible, wheels turned to the left, hazard lights on.
Get out on the left-hand side, away from traffic, with all passengers. Leave animals in the vehicle.
Wait behind the barrier, well away from your vehicle and the traffic. Don’t try to fix the vehicle yourself.
Find your location. Look for the blue driver location signs or the marker posts every 100 metres, and note the direction you’re travelling.
Call us on 07438 714234, or WhatsApp your live location to 07405 758902.

Junctions we cover

If National Highways traffic officers are already with you, follow their instructions, they may arrange to move the vehicle if it’s causing danger.

Tell us

What to tell us when you call

Where you are

Motorway, direction (northbound towards Oxford or southbound towards London) and the nearest junction or marker post number.

Your vehicle

Make, model, colour and registration, so we can spot you quickly.

Where it needs to go

Home, your garage or another address, we’ll give you a price before we set off.

Service area

Nearby areas we cover

Once you’re off the motorway, we can take your vehicle home or to a garage anywhere in our area.

Also covered: Hazlemere, Great Missenden, Stokenchurch, Lane End, Naphill, Flackwell Heath, Wooburn Green, Uxbridge, Watford and Hemel Hempstead. Not sure if we cover you? Just call and ask.

Map showing the M40 around High Wycombe and Handy Cross (junction 4).

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Can you recover my car from the M40 hard shoulder?

Yes. We recover vehicles from the M40 around High Wycombe and Beaconsfield. Get behind the barrier first, then call 07438 714234.

Is the M40 near High Wycombe a smart motorway?

No, the M40 between junctions 2 and 5 has a hard shoulder. Nearby stretches of the M4 and M25 are smart motorways, where the advice is different. If you’re unsure, follow the Highway Code and call 999 if you’re in danger.

How do I tell you exactly where I am on the M40?

Look for the blue driver location signs, or the small marker posts every 100 metres along the hard shoulder. Note the direction of travel. You can also share your live location on WhatsApp.

Should I stay in my car on the hard shoulder?

Normally no. Get out on the left-hand side and wait behind the barrier. Only stay in the vehicle if you can’t get out safely; then keep your seatbelt on, hazards lit and call 999.

What happens next

We'll take it from here

In a hurry?

Call or text 07438 714234, available 24/7.

Request motorway recovery

Fill this in and we’ll call you straight back. If you’re in danger or on a live carriageway, call us instead.

Quickest way to get a quote: send us a WhatsApp message with:

Where the vehicle is (share your location pin)
Make, model and registration
What’s happened
Where it needs to go (if being recovered or transported)
A photo, if it’s stuck or damaged