4MATIC and all-wheel drive
Every wheel is driven, so these go on a flatbed rather than a conventional tow.
Mercedes Recovery
Mercedes-Benz Recovery & Flatbed Transport
Warranty run out, accident damage, or a wait you cannot work with? We recover Mercedes-Benz cars and vans 24 hours a day.
Available 24/7
Fixed Price Before We Start
Fully Insured
24/7 AvailableDay or night
Fast DispatchNearest team
Fixed PriceBefore we start
Wide-AreaFlexible coverage
Quick Answer
SureWay recovers Mercedes-Benz cars and vans through our service network, 24 hours a day. 4MATIC models need a flatbed because all four wheels are driven. We also deal with AIRMATIC cars sitting on their bump stops, KEYLESS-GO failures, and electronic parking brakes that will not release on a flat battery.
Service Detail
A Mercedes is not always a straightforward load.
Most of what makes a modern Mercedes pleasant to drive also makes it awkward to recover. Air suspension drops the car onto its bump stops when the system loses pressure, which takes the ground clearance with it. The electronic parking brake stays clamped on if the 12V battery is flat. KEYLESS-GO will not hand over the car if it cannot see the key. And on 4MATIC every wheel is driven, so a conventional two-wheel tow is off the table. None of that is a problem if the recovery vehicle turns up expecting it.
Important safety note
Model, engine and whether it is 4MATIC changes which recovery vehicle we send. If you know the car has air suspension, or it is already sitting low on its stops, say so on the call. It saves a wasted journey and it is the difference between loading the car once and damaging an underbody panel doing it twice.
- Real arrival time before dispatch
- Fixed price before work starts
- Recovery to your chosen destination when needed
Mercedes Recovery
24/7 support through our service network.
What's Included
Mercedes situations we handle
Every call starts with your location, vehicle condition, clear pricing and the safest next step.
AIRMATIC and air suspension
Cars sitting on their bump stops with almost no clearance, loaded with ramps and boards.
Electronic parking brake stuck on
A flat 12V battery leaves the brake clamped, so the car goes on with skates or a winch.
KEYLESS-GO failures
When the car will not recognise the key and cannot be started or moved normally.
Accident-damaged Mercedes
Recovered to your bodyshop or your insurer's approved repairer once the scene is safe.
Sprinter and Vito vans
Mercedes-Benz light commercials, including loaded vans and non-runners.
How It Works
A clear process from first call to safe delivery.
01
Tell us the model
Model, engine, whether it is 4MATIC, and whether it has air suspension.
02
Right vehicle sent
A flatbed for 4MATIC and air suspension cars, so nothing is dragged or back-driven.
03
Checked before loading
We look at ride height, wheel lock and clearance before anything goes on the bed.
04
Loaded and secured
Ramps and boards for low cars, skates or a winch where the brake will not release.
05
Delivered to your garage
Main dealer, independent specialist, bodyshop or home, whichever you choose.
Coverage
Recovery through our service network.
SureWay provides car recovery, towing and roadside assistance for motorways, A-roads, city streets, town roads and rural routes.
Your Options
What Mercedes Roadside Assistance covers, and what it does not.
Most Mercedes drivers who call us are not unhappy with the manufacturer scheme. They simply are not covered by it any more, or the situation falls outside it. SureWay is an independent recovery operator and is not affiliated with Mercedes-Benz.
When the warranty has ended
Manufacturer roadside cover is normally tied to the vehicle warranty or to a paid membership that is renewed with a main dealer service. Once that lapses, the scheme no longer applies and you are arranging recovery yourself.
After an accident
Roadside assistance schemes are built around breakdowns, not collisions. Accident damage is usually handled through your insurer instead, and the vehicle often needs to go to a bodyshop rather than a dealer.
When you want to choose the garage
A manufacturer scheme will normally take the car to an approved dealer. If you would rather use your own independent specialist, or have the car delivered home, arranging recovery directly gives you that choice.
When you have been quoted a long wait
If you have been given a wait you cannot work with, you are free to arrange your own recovery instead. Check with your insurer first if you intend to claim the cost back.
FAQ
Questions about Mercedes recovery.
No. On 4MATIC all four wheels are driven, so leaving one axle turning on the road drives the transmission with the engine off. That is how transfer cases and centre differentials get damaged. A flatbed with all four wheels off the road is the safe option, and it is what the handbook specifies.
Yes. When AIRMATIC loses pressure the car sits on its bump stops and the clearance at the front bumper almost disappears. We load these on a flatbed using extended ramps and boards to lift the approach angle. Tell us on the call that the car is down and we will bring the right kit.
That is normal with a flat 12V battery, because the brake is held on electrically. If we cannot restore power enough to release it, the car goes onto the bed with a winch and skates under the locked wheels, so nothing is dragged.
Not always. It is often the key fob battery or a flat 12V battery in the car, and both can be sorted at the roadside. If the car still will not wake up, we recover it to the garage you choose.
No. If you still have manufacturer cover or breakdown cover through your insurer, you can use it. If the warranty has ended, you are not a member, the car has accident damage, or you would rather pick the garage yourself, you can call any recovery operator directly. Check with your insurer first if you plan to claim the cost back.
Yes. Mercedes-Benz light commercials are covered, including loaded vans and vehicles that will not run. Tell us roughly what is in the back, because weight changes which recovery vehicle we send.
Related Services
Plan the right next step.
Use these internal links to find related recovery, towing and roadside help.
Broken down? Help is one call away.
Tell us where you are and we'll send the nearest recovery team with a clear arrival time and a fixed price before we start.