Breakdown on the A57 Near Cologne

What happens after you call?

Tell us your direction of travel and the last exit, for example Köln-Worringen or the Cologne-Nord interchange. We'll tell you the price right away and send a partner who'll drive to you on the A57.

A57 exits in the Cologne area

The A57 runs from the Dutch border near Goch, parallel to the Rhine via Krefeld and Neuss, to Cologne. It's part of European route E31, which runs from Rotterdam to Hockenheim. In Cologne, from north to south, you pass these points:

Where the motorway ends, in Ehrenfeld

After the Köln-Ehrenfeld exit, the A57 ends. From there the route continues as the K 4 to the Innere Kanalstraße and the B55a. If you break down in this area, you're suddenly no longer on a motorway but on a city street with traffic lights, junctions and pedestrians. It matters to us whether you're still on the motorway or already on the K 4. We'll then work out which rules apply; see also Towing Service Cologne-Ehrenfeld.

Lanes and traffic management

Between Dormagen and Köln-Worringen there's a traffic-management system. Past the Cologne-Nord interchange, the A57 has five lanes, and six from Longerich onward. Six lanes means the right-hand edge is far from the middle. If your vehicle loses power, move right early and roll to a stop rather than stopping in a middle lane. If you can't reach the edge, switch on your hazard lights, stay belted in, and call 112.

The Cologne-Nord interchange

At the Cologne-Nord interchange near Chorweiler, the A57 meets the A1 and the Cologne motorway ring. Interchanges have many entry and exit ramps, so in a breakdown there we always ask two things: which direction did you come from, and which direction were you heading? More on the surroundings: Breakdown on the A1 near Cologne and Towing Service Cologne-Chorweiler.

What to tell us on the phone

1. Motorway (A57) and direction: towards Cologne or towards Neuss
2. Last exit or rest area (Esch/Weiler)
3. Whether you're on the hard shoulder, in a lane, or already past the end of the motorway
4. Vehicle and drivetrain
5. Whether anyone is injured

The first steps to take are covered in our guide (German) Breaking down on the motorway. Once you've reached the edge: hi-vis vest on, get out, and go behind the crash barrier. If the police attend or you've used an emergency phone, a contracted company is often assigned; you may still state your preference.

Who actually comes in Cologne?

Faster is based in Antwerp, Belgium. Jobs in the Cologne area are carried out by partners on the ground, we coordinate them. For jobs north of the city boundary, for example in Dormagen, we'll work out on the phone whether and how we can help.