Updated 4 October 2026 · Roadvault Transport, Nottingham
The short answer
Car recovery in Nottingham with us costs £85 call-out plus £2.50 a mile by day, and £135 plus £2.50 a mile at night and on bank holidays, with the first 5 miles included. So a typical 10-mile recovery is £97.50 in total by day, or £147.50 at night.
These are our published rates, not an average. We confirm the exact total by text or WhatsApp before we set off, and that's what you pay.
Worked examples from around Nottingham
Here's what it costs to recover a car from each area to a garage in the city centre. Miles are counted with your car on board, from collection to drop-off, and road distances vary with the route, so we show a range.
| Collected from | Miles to the city centre | Daytime total | Night total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lenton, Radford & Wollaton | 2 | £85 | £135 |
| West Bridgford | 3 | £85 | £135 |
| Carlton & Gedling | 4 | £85 | £135 |
| Beeston & Chilwell | 4–5 | £85 | £135 |
| Clifton & Ruddington | 5–6 | £85–£87.50 | £135–£137.50 |
| Arnold & Mapperley | 5–6 | £85–£87.50 | £135–£137.50 |
| Bulwell & Hucknall | 5–6 | £85–£87.50 | £135–£137.50 |
| Radcliffe, Bingham & Cotgrave | 6–7 | £87.50–£90 | £137.50–£140 |
| Long Eaton & Stapleford* | 8–10 | £93.50–£100.50 | £144–£152 |
| Ilkeston, Kimberley & Eastwood* | 9–10 | £95–£98.50 | £145–£149 |
| Mansfield* | 16–20 | £115.50–£128.50 | £167–£181.50 |
| Derby* | 17–20 | £123–£134.50 | £177–£190.50 |
* Includes travel to reach you beyond 10 miles of our NG5 base. Totals are from the middle of each area; we confirm yours before we set off.
Going somewhere else? Use the price estimator with both postcodes for your exact journey.
What's included
- Us getting to you anywhere within 10 miles of our NG5 base. You don't pay for our drive to you.
- The first 5 miles with your vehicle on board.
- Loading, securing and unloading your vehicle.
- Delivery wherever you choose: home, your garage, a dealer or a bodyshop.
- No VAT to add on top.
When it costs more
Night rates apply 8pm to 8am, plus all day on bank holidays. Beyond 10 miles of our base, travel to reach you is £1 a mile by day or £1.50 at night. Everything else that can be added is listed here, with its price:
Only if needed, and we’ll always ask first
- Recovery skates, one or two wheelsIf a wheel won't turn: an automatic stuck in park, an electric handbrake that won't release, a seized brake, or a car with no keys.
- £40
- Recovery skates, all four wheelsWhen none of the wheels will turn, so the whole vehicle goes on skates.
- £60
- Complex loadingTight spaces, awkward angles or a vehicle that needs careful repositioning before it can be loaded. We give you the exact figure before we start.
- From £80
- 4x4s and damaged vehiclesBigger, heavier or crash-damaged vehicles take longer to load and secure. The exact figure depends on size and damage, and we confirm it before we set off.
- £30–£60
- Waiting timeThe first 30 minutes are free. After that, if we're kept waiting at collection or drop-off (for keys, access or paperwork), it's charged in 30-minute blocks.
- £30 per 30 minutes
- WinchingOnly if the vehicle can't be driven or rolled on, for example off-road or in a ditch. We tell you the price before we start.
- Priced before we start
- Further outBeyond 10 miles of our NG5 base, travel to reach you is charged per extra mile.
- £1 day · £1.50 night, per mile
How to make sure you're not overcharged
Recovery firms price in different ways: a call-out plus a rate per mile (like us), a fixed price for your area, or a quote on the phone each time. Any of them can be fair. What matters is knowing the total before anyone sets off. Before you agree to a recovery, ask:
- Is that the total? A "from" price should be what a short job actually costs, not a starting point before the mileage is added.
- Does it include getting to me? Some firms charge for their drive to you as well as the miles with your car on board.
- What if you're kept waiting, or it needs storing? Waiting time and storage should be priced upfront, not added on the day.
- Can I have it in writing? A text or WhatsApp with the price is enough, and it protects you both.
- Can I pay by card? You shouldn't be charged extra for it.
Is breakdown cover cheaper?
It depends how often you need it. Breakdown cover is a yearly subscription; pay-as-you-go recovery is one payment when something goes wrong. If you rarely break down, paying per job is often cheaper. If you drive a lot, or an older car, cover can make sense. And if you already have cover, check whether it includes breakdowns at home: some basic policies only help you away from home.
Jump starts and batteries
A jump start is £50 by day or £100 at night, all in: the call-out, the jump and a battery and charging test. A new battery depends on what your vehicle needs, so send us your registration and we'll reply with one all-in price for the battery and fitting.
