Breakdown on the A4 near Cologne

What happens after you call?

Tell us your direction of travel (Aachen or Olpe) and the last exit, for example Köln-Süd or Bergisch Gladbach-Refrath. We'll tell you the price on the phone right away and send a partner who'll drive to you on the A4. Stay reachable in case your situation changes, for example if your vehicle can still roll as far as a rest area.

Exits and interchanges around Cologne

Just before Cologne-West, the Frechen rest stop is on the A4. Near Refrath and Frankenforst, the Lustheide and Röttgesberg rest areas are useful landmarks. Tell us any names you see, along with your direction of travel: towards Aachen or towards Olpe.

The Rodenkirchen Bridge

Between Köln-Süd and Köln-Poll, the A4 crosses the Rhine on the Rodenkirchen Bridge, about 570 metres long. There's no way to pull over on a bridge, so a broken-down vehicle blocks a lane there fast. If your vehicle loses power, try to stop before or after the bridge, not in the middle of it. Also tell us whether you're on the bridge, before it, or past it.

The Cologne-Süd interchange and the A555

At the Cologne-Süd interchange, the A4 meets the A555 coming from Bonn. According to Autobahn GmbH, over 150,000 vehicles a day use the A4 there and over 120,000 the A555, with around 50,000 vehicles using the interchange to get into or out of Cologne. That's why it often gets slow there, and breakdowns end up in traffic jams.

Köln-Eifeltor truck stop

At the Köln-Eifeltor exit there's a truck stop right by the motorway, next to the Köln-Eifeltor container terminal. If your vehicle still rolls, the truck stop is a safe place to wait, rather than staying on the hard shoulder.

Sharing the route with the A3 as far as Cologne-Ost

Between the Heumar triangle and the Cologne-Ost interchange, the A3 and A4 run on one shared, eight-lane route. According to a 2015 count, this was the busiest motorway section in Germany. For a breakdown on this eastern section, see the details on our Breakdown on the A3 near Cologne page.

Past Cologne-Ost, the motorway narrows

After the Cologne-Ost interchange, the A4 leaves the ring and continues with five lanes, narrowing to four from Refrath towards the Bergisches Land, passing Merheim, Brück and the northern edge of the Königsforst. Fewer lanes mean less room to pull over. In a breakdown that means: hazard lights early, roll to the side with momentum, hi-vis vest, and behind the crash barrier, as described in our guide (German) on breaking down on the motorway.

Who actually comes in Cologne?

We're based in Antwerp. Partners on the ground are ready for jobs around Cologne, we take your call and coordinate everything else. If a contracted company is assigned on the motorway because the police are on site, that takes priority.