A new town built around roads
Washington was planned around the car. Its districts, often still known by their village numbers, are linked by dual carriageways and roundabouts, with industrial estates on the edges. That design keeps traffic moving, but it also means a lot of breakdowns happen at speed or on a slip road.
It also means the same journey can take you past several near-identical roundabouts. When you're stressed, it's easy to lose track of exactly where you are, so we'll help you work it out over the phone.
Tyne Road Rescue covers all of Washington and its villages 24 hours a day, every day. We deal with breakdowns, jump starts, punctures, accident recovery and vehicle transport. Our recovery services page sets out each of these in more detail.
A1(M), A194(M), A195 and A182
The A1(M) runs along the western side of Washington, with Washington Services just to the south west. The A194(M) heads north towards the Tyne Tunnel and South Shields, and the A195 and A182 carry traffic in and around the town. The A1231 links Washington to Sunderland and the A19.
On a motorway, if your car develops a problem, try to leave at the next junction or reach the services. If you have to stop on the hard shoulder, pull well to the left, switch on hazard lights and leave by the left-hand doors if it is safe. Get behind the barrier and call from there. Don't attempt repairs on the hard shoulder. If you've stopped in a live lane, keep your seatbelt on, hazards on and call 999.
On the A195 and A182, which are dual carriageways rather than motorways, the same common sense applies: get onto the verge, stay well away from passing traffic and wait for us there.
Industrial estates, Nissan and working vehicles
A large share of the traffic around Washington is work traffic. The Nissan plant sits on the eastern side, between Washington and Sunderland, and there are several big industrial estates and business parks around the town. Vans, pick-ups and fleet cars break down here every day.
We recover vans and light commercial vehicles, and we'll take them wherever you need, whether that's a dealer, your own workshop or a garage you trust. For more on this, see our van recovery page. Let us know if you'll need a gate opening or if site rules apply.
For businesses with a vehicle that needs moving between sites, or to a dealer for warranty work, we can also arrange planned collections. Booking ahead means less disruption to your working day.
Village by village: home start across the districts
From Concord and Columbia to Oxclose, Fatfield and Rickleton, most of Washington's homes are in quiet estates with shared parking and cul-de-sacs. If your car won't start outside the house, it is often a battery or a minor fault that can be dealt with on the spot.
When you ring, give us the village and street name. Because some district names are similar, a postcode is especially helpful here. If the car does need a garage, we'll recover it and drop you home if there's room and it's practical. Our battery jump start page explains what we can usually do at the kerbside.
When you phone
We'll ask where you are, what you drive, what has happened and where you'd like the vehicle taken. We'll then give you an honest estimate of arrival, which depends on location, traffic and current workload.
The price depends on distance, vehicle and the work involved, and we confirm it before we set off. If you need a car moving to another part of the country, see vehicle transport. Heading east? Our Sunderland recovery page covers the city.