Towing on the A5: Breakdowns Between Karlsruhe and Offenburg

What happens after you call?

Tell us your direction of travel and the last exit or rest area. We'll tell you the price for your route right away, before anyone drives out, and send a partner from the Karlsruhe-to-Offenburg region. Until they arrive, stay behind the crash barrier and reachable by phone.

All A5 exits from Karlsruhe to Lahr

Service stations and rest areas

Between Karlsruhe and Offenburg lie the Baden-Baden (with its own exit), Bühl and Renchtal service stations. There are also several unstaffed rest areas, for example Silbergrund/Schleifweg, Oberfeld, Brachfeld, Feldmatt and Gottswald/Waldmatten. If you can make it to a rest area, you're significantly safer there than on the hard shoulder. Tell us the name of the rest area.

Six lanes, heavy traffic

The stretch between Baden-Baden and Offenburg is about 41 kilometres long and was widened from four to six lanes between 2009 and 2014. At Offenburg the six-lane section ends. Around Karlsruhe, the A5 is one of the busiest motorways in Germany. That means: if you break down here, you're standing in dense, fast-moving traffic. That's one reason not to treat the hard shoulder as a safe place.

What's different on the motorway

• Towing to the next exit: when towing a vehicle that has broken down on the motorway, the motorway must be left at the next exit (§ 15a para. 1 StVO). From there the journey continues to the destination.
• Police and emergency phones: if the police attend, or you call for help via an emergency phone, a contracted company is often assigned. You may state your preference, but it isn't guaranteed. For a simple breakdown with no police involved, we can be engaged directly.
• Don't repair it yourself: on the hard shoulder that's life-threatening. Changing a tyre there is not a good idea.
• Motorcycles: they aren't towed, they're transported.

What we need from you on the phone

1. Direction of travel (towards Karlsruhe/Frankfurt or towards Freiburg/Basel)
2. Last exit or rest area passed
3. Make, model, drivetrain (petrol, diesel, hybrid, electric)
4. What happened and whether the vehicle still rolls
5. Destination: garage, home, or dealer

Trailers, motorhomes, vans

If you break down with a trailer, caravan or motorhome, mention it on the phone right away and give the length, height and approximate weight. More in our guide (German) Motorhome or trailer breakdown. For trailer combinations the tow truck needs to fit, and sometimes the trailer has to be transported separately. If you have children or pets with you, please mention that too: we'll plan how you get safely to the next rest area or exit.

At night and in winter

At night, other drivers notice a stationary vehicle later. So stay behind the crash barrier and wear the hi-vis vest. In winter, ice can make things worse: vehicles parked at a rest area are safer than those at the edge of the carriageway.

Price on the A5

For recoveries and motorway callouts we quote the price in advance on the phone. Market surveys put motorway towing at around €129 to €250. Details in our guide (German) Cost guide.