Towing Service Wuppertal

Ten boroughs and two old town centres

The city is divided into ten boroughs. Its two historic centres are Elberfeld and Barmen, linked by the B7, the city's main traffic axis. Tell us the district, for example Elberfeld, Barmen, Vohwinkel, Ronsdorf or Langerfeld, plus the street. Streets follow the hillside, so parallel streets can sit at different elevations.

The suspension railway: a landmark, not a route

The Wuppertal Schwebebahn is an elevated railway with 20 stations, a landmark and an important point of reference. If you break down near a station, tell us the station's name. Don't drive under the railway's supports into areas not meant for cars. The road follows the Wupper river and the railway, so the street beneath the Schwebebahn is often narrow.

The A46, A1 and A43 to the north and east

Coming from Düsseldorf, the A46 runs through the northern part of the city, meeting the A1 between Cologne and Dortmund at the Wuppertal-Nord interchange in the east. The A43 to Recklinghausen and Münster also starts at that interchange. In the west of the city, the A535 branches off the A46 at the Sonnborn interchange towards Velbert. The A1 east of Wuppertal has an elaborate layout: after crossing the valley in the Langerfeld district, it crosses the Wupper on the Ehrenberg hillside, then follows a winding route, now six lanes throughout. Breaking down here typically means gradients, bends, and valley bridges. For securing the scene, see our guide (German) Breaking down on the motorway.

The L418 and a very long road tunnel

On the southern edge of the city, the L418 runs as a continuous four-lane expressway from the Sonnborn interchange to Ronsdorf. It includes a road tunnel about 1.8 kilometres long, one of the longest in North Rhine-Westphalia. Near Lichtscheid, the L418 becomes the L419. If you break down in this tunnel: hazard lights on, move well to the side, use the emergency equipment, more in our guide Breakdown in a tunnel. Tell us your direction of travel and the nearest exit.

Waiting safely in Wuppertal

On the A1, A46 or A43: hazard lights on, everyone behind the crash barrier, set up a warning triangle if it's safe to do so. In the L418 tunnel: don't turn around or reverse, drive to the next emergency bay if you can, otherwise hazard lights on and raise the alarm via the emergency equipment or 112. On a slope: apply the handbrake and engage a gear, hazard lights on before you get out.

Where it often happens in Wuppertal

At the Sonnborn interchange, where the A46 and A535 meet, traffic is denser because of lane changes. The winding, hilly route of the A1 east of the city can overwhelm brakes if driven badly; use a low gear on descents. In the L418 tunnel, its length means longer waits in a breakdown, so stick to the emergency equipment.

How to describe your location in Wuppertal

• District and street, plus house number, cross street, or Schwebebahn station.
• On a slope: uphill or downhill.
• On the A1, A46, A43 or L418: number, direction, exit or interchange.
• In the tunnel: name and direction of travel.

Neighbouring cities: Essen, Düsseldorf, and Cologne. All cities: Towing service in your city (German).