What to do when your car is overheating

Continuing to drive an overheating engine can cause severe damage. Stop somewhere safe as soon as possible and switch the engine off.

What to know

Clear help for the situation you are in.

✓Do not open a hot cooling system
✓Allow the engine to cool
✓Look for warning lights, steam or leaking fluid from a safe position
✓Arrange recovery if the cause is unknown or temperature rises again

Recovery decision

Can't safely continue?

If the vehicle cannot be driven safely, call with your location, vehicle, problem and destination. Dispatch will confirm suitable recovery, price and a realistic ETA before payment.

Call recovery dispatch now07988 887101

If anyone is in immediate danger or the vehicle is stopped in a live traffic lane, call 999 first.

Safety source

Roadside guidance is based on UK government and HSE safety information. Always follow emergency-service and road-operator instructions at the scene.

Read the Highway Code guidance →

Common questions

Useful answers.

Can I drive after the engine cools?+

Cooling does not remove the underlying fault. If the cause is not known and resolved, recovery is the safer option.

What happens before you pay

Clear job details before you commit.

We do not rely on a generic membership promise. Dispatch checks the live recovery job first.

01
Availability checked
Dispatch checks whether a suitable recovery option is available for your location and vehicle.
02
Price confirmed
You are given the job price before payment, based on the pickup, vehicle, destination and known requirements.
03
ETA confirmed
You get a realistic expected arrival time based on the live dispatch situation.
04
You decide
No booking is made until you agree to proceed.

Prefer a callback?

Leave your number and pickup area.

Request a callback for availability, price and ETA. For urgent recovery, calling dispatch is fastest. No booking is made until you agree.

Speak to dispatch

Need recovery now?

Tell us your location, vehicle and destination. We confirm availability, price and timing before payment.

Get price & ETA07988 887101

Get price & ETA07988 887101 Send location