What to do if you get a flat tyre on the motorway in the UK
A step-by-step safety guide for UK drivers with a flat tyre on the motorway — from getting off the carriageway to calling a mobile tyre fitter.
Losing a tyre at 70mph on a UK motorway is one of the most stressful things that can happen to a driver. Here's the safest, fastest way to handle it.
1. Get off the carriageway if you safely can
National Highways guidance is clear: reach the hard shoulder, an emergency refuge area, or leave at the next junction if the damage allows. Do not attempt a wheel change on a live carriageway.
2. Exit the vehicle on the passenger side
Leave hazard lights on, exit on the side furthest from traffic, and get everyone behind the barrier — never sit in the car on the hard shoulder.
3. Call for help
Traditional recovery cover can take 45–90 minutes. A mobile tyre fitter dispatched via Hard Shoulder is often quicker for a fixable puncture and can replace the tyre roadside so you don't need a full recovery.
4. Know when you need a recovery truck
Blowouts, sidewall damage or run-flats past their safe distance require a recovery truck to a garage, not a roadside repair. The app matches you to whichever is faster.
5. Prevent it next time
Check tyre pressures monthly, inspect tread depth (minimum 1.6mm), and don't ignore slow leaks. Most motorway blowouts start with a preventable defect.
