24/7 Jump Start & Flat Battery Callout

What we do when your battery is flat

A jump start (or battery boost) gives a flat battery enough power to turn the engine over. We connect a professional booster pack to your car, start it, and leave it running so the alternator can begin topping the battery back up. No second car or jump leads needed.

Most flat batteries have a simple cause: headlights or an interior light left on overnight, a run of cold mornings, lots of short journeys that never give the battery time to recharge, or a car left standing for a week or two, for example in airport parking while you were away.

When you call, tell us where the car is parked, the make and model, whether it clicks or does nothing at all, and whether any warning lights came on. If the car is in a multi-storey or a gated car park, tell us the level and how we get in.

Once the engine is running we check the battery voltage and that it is charging. If the battery will not hold a charge, we tell you honestly and explain your options, such as driving straight to a garage or battery specialist. We do not sell or fit replacement batteries, so we will never push one on you.

Safety comes first if the car dies while you are driving. Switch the hazard lights on and, if the car is still rolling, steer it to the side of the road, a lay-by or a car park. On a motorway or dual carriageway, leave by the left-hand doors if it is safe and wait behind the barrier. If you are stopped in a live lane and cannot get out safely, keep your seatbelt on and call 999. We do not work in live lanes.

A few signs usually point to the battery. The engine turns over slowly or not at all, you hear a rapid clicking, the dashboard lights dim or flicker when you turn the key, or the central locking and windows are slow. If the dashboard is completely dead, the battery may be fully drained, or a terminal may be loose or corroded. Tell us what you see and hear, as it helps us bring the right kit.

Hybrid and electric cars still have a small 12-volt battery that runs the electronics. If it goes flat, the car may not switch on even when the main battery is charged. We can usually boost the 12-volt battery, following the handbook for your car. Tell us the make and model when you call so we can check first. Some cars, especially newer premium models, have the battery in the boot or under a seat with separate jump points, and we use those.

Stop-start systems, dash cams wired to the battery, alarm trackers and long airport parking stays all put extra drain on a battery. So do very cold nights, when a battery can lose a large part of its starting power. If yours keeps going flat, we can check whether it is charging and holding a charge, and tell you honestly whether the battery, the charging system or something left on is the likely cause.

Once the car is running, drive it for at least 20 to 30 minutes, ideally on faster roads, so the alternator can put some charge back in. Avoid switching the engine off again straight away. If you only have a short trip, tell us, as the car may not start again next time. If the battery is old or failed our check, get it tested or replaced at a garage or battery specialist soon.

Whether you are at home, at a station car park in Guildford or by the M3 near Basingstoke, the service is the same. These pages cover the areas drivers ask about most:

• Jump start service in Guildford
• Jump start service in Basingstoke
• Run out of fuel instead? Emergency fuel delivery
• All areas we cover