A temperature gauge in the red, a clutch that suddenly goes soft, a cambelt that snaps on the way to work: when the car stops, you need someone who can either fix it at the roadside or tow it to a workshop you trust. A good breakdown service near me sends a mechanic or a tow truck, tells you the cost before starting and takes the car where you choose. This page covers what to do first, repair or tow, and what to agree in writing. Send one free request and local breakdown operators will quote you, no obligation.
First steps when you break down
Steer off the road as far as you safely can, switch on your hazards and set the warning triangle well back. Do not keep driving with a red temperature light or an oil warning; that can turn a cheap repair into a new engine. Note what happened: a noise, smoke, a smell, a warning light. It helps the operator decide whether to send a mechanic or a flatbed. If you were in a crash and anyone is hurt, call emergency services first.
Roadside repair or tow?
Many breakdowns can be sorted on the spot:
- A flat battery, a loose battery terminal or a failed alternator belt.
- A burst radiator hose or a cooling fan fuse.
- A puncture, or running out of fuel.
A seized engine, a broken gearbox, a snapped cambelt or a clutch failure needs a workshop. Automatics, all-wheel-drive cars, hybrids and electric cars should go on a flatbed, not be towed on their wheels. A front-wheel-drive car going a short distance can go on a wheel-lift. Tell the operator your gearbox and drive type when you call.
What to agree before the car moves
Towing rates are not regulated in South Africa, so get the price in writing: the call-out fee, the rate per km and any after-hours charge. Get the operator's name, the tow truck's details and the address the car is going to. Never sign a blank tow slip. You may choose your own operator unless your insurer's policy says otherwise, so check your policy or call your insurer before you sign. If the car will sit in a yard, ask the storage rate per day first.
What drives the cost
A short local breakdown tow is often quoted at about R850 to R2,500. The call-out fee covers the first few kilometres; longer tows are charged per km. A flatbed, a tow at night or on a weekend, a car in a basement or a car stuck in a ditch all add to the price. A roadside repair is quoted as a call-out plus parts and labour. Compare at least two written quotes. See towing prices for each cost component.
What to include in your request
- Exact pick-up spot and landmark
- Car age, gearbox and drive type
- What happened before it stopped
- Workshop address you want it towed to
- Whether it is in a basement or a ditch
Breakdown Service for different clients
- Motorists and families: a dead car on the way to work towed to the family's own mechanic
- Company fleets and rental firms: broken-down courier vans and pool cars moved to the depot or service agent
- Truckers, buses and logistics: light support vehicles and bakkies recovered while the trucks keep running
- Farmers and 4x4 owners: a farm bakkie with a failed clutch brought in from a district road
- Dealers, panel beaters and workshops: workshops and panel shops collecting customers' non-runners from home or work
- Construction, mining and plant hire: site bakkies and light vehicles towed off construction and mining sites
- Caravan, boat and bike owners: a breakdown on a holiday route with a caravan or boat still hitched
- Municipalities, estates and schools: municipal and school vehicles moved to the fleet workshop after a fault
Frequently asked questions
How much does a breakdown tow cost?
Can a breakdown service fix my car at the roadside?
Should I use this site when I have broken down?
Can I choose which workshop my car is towed to?
Breakdown Service by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg