A flat battery is the single most common reason people ring us, particularly on the first cold mornings of the year and after a car has been standing for a week or two. In most cases we can get the vehicle started where it sits, which saves you the cost and the delay of a full recovery.
What we do on arrival
- Test the battery, alternator and charging circuit before touching anything
- Professional jump start using equipment safe for modern start-stop and hybrid systems
- Honest advice on whether the battery will hold charge or is finished
- Replacement battery supplied and fitted where you want one
- Recovery to a garage if the fault turns out to be the alternator rather than the battery
A word of warning
If your battery has gone flat twice in a short period, that is rarely bad luck. It usually means the alternator is not charging properly or something is drawing power after you lock the car — aftermarket alarms, hard-wired dashcams and faulty door switches are the usual culprits. Ask our engineer to check for a parasitic drain before you spend money on a new battery.
Please do not try it with jump leads from a stranger
Modern cars are full of sensitive electronics, and a badly connected jump can cost far more than a callout. If you are not confident, leave it to us.
Jump Starts & Battery Assistance in your area
Pick your town for local details, arrival times and prices — 173 areas across London and Kent.
Jump Start & Battery Help in South East London
Bromley
Lewisham
Southwark
Bexley
Jump Start & Battery Help in South London
Croydon
Lambeth
Wandsworth
Sutton
Jump Start & Battery Help in South West London
Jump Start & Battery Help in East London
Hackney
Redbridge
Newham
Tower Hamlets
Jump Start & Battery Help in North London
Islington
Camden
Haringey
Jump Start & Battery Help in North West London
Brent
Barnet
Westminster
Jump Start & Battery Help in West London
Hammersmith & Fulham
Ealing
Hillingdon
Jump Start & Battery Help in Kent
Dartford
Medway
Gravesham
Maidstone
Swale
Tonbridge & Malling
Jump Start & Battery Help in Surrey
Questions we get asked
Will a jump start fix my car for good?
Sometimes. If the battery simply ran down — lights left on, a car that stood for a fortnight — a jump and a good run will usually sort it. If the battery is failing, it will go flat again. We test it before and after so you know which it is.
Can you replace my battery on the spot?
For most common cars, yes. We carry popular sizes, including AGM and EFB batteries for stop-start cars, and fit them where the car stands. For less common vehicles we will tell you on the phone whether we can bring one.
How do I know if it is the battery or the alternator?
If the car starts with a jump but dies again soon after, or the battery warning light comes on while driving, it is often the alternator. We test the charging circuit as part of every jump start call-out, so you will know before we leave.
Do you jump start cars in car parks and underground garages?
Yes. Tell us about any height barrier when you ring. Most jump starts need only a small booster pack, so a low ceiling is rarely a problem.
Can a jump start damage my car's electronics?
Not when it is done properly. We use a professional booster with surge protection and connect it to the manufacturer's jump points, rather than straight to the battery in cars where that is not recommended.
I searched for vehicle recovery near me — how close are you?
Our yard is at Standard Wharf, 189 Manor Road in Erith, DA8 2AD, and every truck starts from there. If you are in Bexley, Dartford, Greenwich or anywhere in that belt we are usually with you inside half an hour. Further into London or out towards Medway and Maidstone it is closer to an hour. Ring us with your postcode and we will give you a real number rather than a hopeful one — and if somebody closer would genuinely reach you faster in an emergency, we will say so.