What's the difference between "won't start" and a flat battery?

A flat battery usually means silence or a faint click; "won't start" covers everything else too — cranking but not firing, a single click, or nothing at all. Tell us exactly what happens and we'll narrow it down before we arrive.

Could it be the immobiliser rather than a mechanical fault?

Yes — a low key fob battery or an immobiliser fault can look identical to a "dead" car. Worth trying a spare key if you have one before you call.

Do you carry diagnostic equipment?

Our priority at the roadside is safe recovery, not full diagnostics — we'll do basic fault-finding (battery, obvious faults) and if it's not a quick fix, we'll get you to a garage that can properly investigate.

Is it safe to keep trying to start it?

A few attempts are fine, but repeatedly cranking a car that won't start can drain the battery further or flood a petrol engine — if it hasn't started in 3–4 tries, stop and call us.

What if my car won't start?

Tell us the symptoms when you call — flat battery, turns over but won't fire, dashboard warning lights — and we'll often be able to get you moving at the roadside without a full recovery.

Common breakdown

Car Won't Start

"It just won't start" covers a lot of different faults — from a flat battery to a failed starter motor. Telling us exactly what happens when you turn the key helps us send the right help first time.

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Does this sound familiar?

Engine turns over but doesn't fire

Starter motor makes a whirring or grinding noise

Key turns but nothing happens

Warning lights flash then go out

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What we'll do

How we handle it

We'll do some basic roadside fault-finding to narrow down whether it's electrical, fuel-related, or mechanical — and either get you moving there and then, or recover you to a garage that can dig deeper.

The fix