breakdown recovery

v40vol

I would like buy recovery vehicle and start breakdown recovery business, buying the vehicle is not a problem. but haven't got a clue where to start with the rest. any ideas much appreciated.

motorguy

Have you any experience at all in that field?

I would expect a lot of these recovery companies are tied in with insurance companies, are registered with the local police force, have drivers trained to deal with crashed vehicles, that sort of thing. So unless you've been a recovery driver before....

v40vol

pgilc1 wrote: »

Have you any experience at all in that field?

I would expect a lot of these recovery companies are tied in with insurance companies, are registered with the local police force, have drivers trained to deal with crashed vehicles, that sort of thing. So unless you've been a recovery driver before....

Was a motor mechanic many years ago, now a maintenance engineer in a factory. But would be willing to go on a trianing course for the recovery side of things. just don't know where to start.

scbk

Tbh you'll struggle to get much business working for yourself on your own. Why would someone phone you up if there's other local companies with many vehicles and drivers, who would be on call 24/7

If you want to get into recovery then think about being employed, either for a local company or AA/RAC

If you want to work for yourself then what about being a mobile mechanic?

custardy

you also have the car/bike transport side of things to look at.
just look on ebay at the people offering transport. problem is to make it work you need ot keep the truck working for you
also good liability insurance is required for sure.
i think a lot of breakdown companies use local firms anyway,even if you get on the books as a tow truck rather than breakdown service if you know what i mean

motorguy

I agree with the above, i cant see it being a goer if you have no significant experience in the field to build on

Savvy_Sue

Some of the breakdown services do use independent firms rather than their own fleet of drivers and vehicles, eg Britannia Rescue. But bear in mind you may need to be on call 24/7 at times - I'm sure you could give non-availability but if it was too great they wouldn't use you - and drop everything to get to the breakdown.

I agree that mobile mechanic might have more going for it!

v40vol

Thanks everybody for the advice, think I'll give recovery a miss. :eek: mobile mechanic sounds a good idea. :T still got all my tools, but what else would i need to do. where do i start.

scbk

v40vol wrote: »

mobile mechanic sounds a good idea. :T still got all my tools, but what else would i need to do. where do i start.

Just fire off your self employment form to the HMRC, get yourself a van and kit it out with all your tools. Advertise on gumtree/local notice boards/corner shop window/local paper/yell.com etc (all these ways are cheap/free)

You'd probably also want some public liability insurance

Then just work on it from there

Savvy_Sue

Tell ALL your friends and neighbours what your hourly rates are (and don't set them too low!), maybe offer to take cars for MOTs and do any necessary work afterwards (as long as you're competent!) You will need to ensure you have appropriate insurance before driving a client's car, of course ...

And make sure that if there are problems you can't fix, you know a man who can! Before we changed our car, we used a little local garage, there was a separate tyre-fitter working out of the same premises, but for complicated electrics (we had an elderly Saab, enough said!) they used to send us to a garage specialising in electrics.

v40vol

Thanks every body for the advice, been very usefull. :beer: