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Prefer to talk? Call 07301 118118
The M23 is short but busy, especially around Gatwick, so get clear of the running lanes if you can, hazards on, and call K9 Recovery on 07301 118118 for a driver from the nearest point in our nationwide network.
Broken Down on the M23? Fifteen Miles, One Airport, Plenty of Traffic
The M23 covers only about 15 miles, running from the M25 at Junction 7 down to Pease Pottage near Crawley, where it continues as the A23 towards Brighton. Short as it is, the volume of airport traffic it carries means breakdowns here are rarely straightforward. It is also one of the busiest motorways per mile in the south of England, so even a short delay in reaching a refuge area can put you in the path of far more passing traffic than a similar wait would on a quieter route.
K9 Recovery treats the M23 as a priority stretch given how much traffic funnels through it towards Gatwick, and drivers are positioned nearby accordingly.
📞 Call now: 07301 118118
The Smart Section, Junction 8 to 10
Between Junction 8 and 10, the M23 runs as smart motorway without a continuous hard shoulder, relying on emergency refuge areas instead. If your vehicle fails here, head for a refuge area if you can reach one, or stay belted in with hazards on and call 999 so the lane can be closed before we approach.
Gatwick, Junction 9
The airport spur at Junction 9 brings a heavy mix of taxis, rental cars, airport shuttles and unfamiliar drivers all merging at once, often at speed and often distracted by signage. This is one of the most breakdown-prone points on the whole route, and also one where our drivers are most frequently already close by. Passengers rushing for a flight sometimes make the situation worse by stepping out to check bags or flag down help, which is far more dangerous here than simply staying seated and calling us.
Crawley and Pease Pottage, Junction 10 to 11
Towards its southern end, the M23 feeds local Crawley traffic in and out around Junction 10 and 11 before ending at Pease Pottage. Breakdowns through here tend to happen in slower, congested traffic rather than at motorway speed. Past Pease Pottage the road continues south as the A23 towards Brighton, so if you are unsure whether you have already left the motorway, mentioning the last junction number you passed helps us confirm which stretch, and which speed of traffic, you are actually dealing with.
Why a Short Motorway Still Needs Careful Handling
- Do not assume that because the M23 is short, help is automatically close by; call as soon as you stop rather than waiting.
- Airport traffic means more taxis and unfamiliar rental vehicles around you, so be extra cautious getting clear of the carriageway.
- If you were heading for a flight, tell us; we can factor that into how the job is scheduled.
What Gets Recovered From the M23
We take cars, vans, 4x4s, motorcycles, taxis, non-runners, prestige and classic vehicles, and caravans or motorhomes passing through towards the south coast. Electric vehicles go on a flatbed, never towed on their wheels, whatever the cause of the breakdown.
Straightforward Help, No Membership
Call 07301 118118 and we agree a clear price before the truck sets off, with no membership scheme and no call-centre queue. The network runs around the clock, every day of the year, fully insured, and rated 4.9 out of 5 from over 200 Google reviews. Once loaded, we can carry you on to Crawley or back up to the wider motorway network for onward transport anywhere in the UK.
Rental Cars and Unfamiliar Vehicles
Because so much of the traffic through Gatwick is on rental agreements, a fair number of the breakdowns we attend here involve a driver who does not know the vehicle well, sometimes not even which side the fuel cap is on. If that describes your situation, do not worry about explaining the vehicle to us; our driver will assess it properly once on scene. Business travellers on tight schedules and families at the start or end of a holiday make up a large share of the calls we take from this stretch, and both groups tend to be more stressed than the average roadside breakdown, so a calm, clear phone call helps us help you faster. Even though the M23 is one of the shorter routes in this network, the same standards apply as everywhere else: a clear price agreed before the truck moves, full insurance on every job, and a driver dispatched from wherever in the network is genuinely closest to Junction 9.
What our customers say
“Broke down on the M25 in the third lane with my wife and kids. Andrew pulled up and got us to safety fast. Cannot thank him enough.”
— Jonathan
“Great service, quick arrival within the hour and a good rate compared to most.”
— Ibrahim Suleman
“Excellent service from the emergency call to the lads who picked me up. Professional and respectful.”
— Andrew Chambers
M23 Breakdown Questions Answered
Is there a hard shoulder near Gatwick on the M23?
The section between Junction 8 and 10, which includes the Gatwick spur at Junction 9, runs as smart motorway with emergency refuge areas rather than a continuous hard shoulder.
Why do so many breakdowns happen near Gatwick?
Junction 9 sees a dense mix of taxis, rental cars and airport shuttles merging together, often driven by people unfamiliar with the road, which makes it one of the busiest and most incident-prone points on the M23.
Where does the M23 end?
It ends at Pease Pottage near Crawley, continuing south as the A23 towards Brighton.
Can you help if I am recovering a vehicle before a flight?
Yes, tell us if you are trying to reach Gatwick for a flight and we will factor that into how the job is handled, though the recovery itself still needs to be done safely.
Motorways Connecting to the M23
See also our guides to the M25, the M3 and the M20, which cover the wider south of England network the M23 feeds into.