Towing Service Cologne City Centre

What happens after you call?

Tell us which part of the city centre you're in, and whether you're on the left bank or in Deutz on the right bank. We'll tell you the price on the phone and send a partner who also knows the narrow lanes and car parks.

Where we help here

The city-centre district covers Altstadt-Nord, Altstadt-Süd, Neustadt-Nord, Neustadt-Süd and Deutz. It sits on both banks of the Rhine, which is unusual among Cologne's nine districts. If your vehicle breaks down here, we coordinate the help: a jump-start, a tyre change, or, if there's no other way, transport to a garage. The jobs on the ground are carried out by our partners in Cologne; Faster itself is based in Antwerp.

Ring roads, Kanalstraße and Rhine bridges

The city centre is enclosed by several ring roads. Closest in are the Ringe and the Innere Kanalstraße. Beyond that, the Rhine connects the two halves of the centre at only a few points: for motor vehicles that means the Severinsbrücke and the Deutzer Brücke, and further north the Zoobrücke. The Hohenzollernbrücke carries rail traffic. If you're in Deutz and your garage is on the left bank, one of these bridges is part of the journey, so tell us your location and destination.

Nord-Süd-Fahrt and the riverside tunnel

The Nord-Süd-Fahrt is one of the key through-routes. The riverside tunnel (Rheinufertunnel) is, according to media reports, fully closed on some weekends of the year, with traffic diverted onto the Nord-Süd-Fahrt. Check the city of Cologne's website for current closures. If your vehicle breaks down in a tunnel, different rules apply than on an open road, see our guide (German) Breakdown in a tunnel: what to do.

Car parks and underground garages

Many vehicles in the city centre break down not on the street but inside a car park. There, the clearance height decides whether a tow truck fits in. According to parking portals, the Am Dom underground garage lists a clearance of about 1.90 metres, Am Gürzenich about 1.80 metres, and the Wolfsstraße car park about 2.00 metres. These figures come from third parties and can change; the sign at the entrance is what counts. How height and ramps affect recovery is covered in our guide (German) Underground garage and car park.

Deutz: the trade fair, the arena and the station

On the right bank are the Koelnmesse trade fair, the LANXESS arena and Köln Messe/Deutz station. Coming from Leverkusen, many drivers take the A3 to the Cologne-Ost interchange and continue on the B55 towards the centre to the LANXESS-arena exit; from Aachen, the A4 to the Gremberg interchange and the A559 into Deutz. During events, the approach roads are heavily loaded. Near the trade fair and arena there are underground garages and open lots, for example the MesseCity garage. Tell us exactly where you are.

Low-emission zone

Large parts of the city, including the centre, are within Cologne's low-emission zone. Since 1 July 2014, only vehicles with a green sticker may drive there; a violation carries a €100 fine. What that means for towing and breakdown vehicles is explained in our guide (German) Cologne's low-emission zone: what applies when towing?

How to describe your location in the city centre

• District, street and house number, or the nearest junction. Many street names occur in several districts.
• In Deutz, tell us if you're on the Deutz side of the Rhine.
• For car parks: the name of the building, the level, and the clearance height.
• Whether your vehicle is blocking a tram line, an exit, or a one-way street.
• Your vehicle: make, model, drivetrain.

Other districts: Rodenkirchen to the south and Kalk on the right bank. An overview of all districts is at Cologne: Districts & Rhine Bridges, and the Cologne homepage is Towing Service Cologne.