M25 named as motorway with the most breakdowns in England

The M25, also known as the London Orbital, is officially the biggest breakdown hotspot of England’s motorways, according to a new study.

The research revealed that 27,335 incidents were reported on the road in 2024, equal to 238 breakdowns per mile across the year – the highest proportion of any motorway in the country. This highlights that the M25 is worthy of its nickname as ‘the road to hell’.

The figures come from Go.Compare car insurance, which sent a Freedom of Information request to National Highways about motorway breakdowns. For each motorway, it compared the number of reported breakdowns to the length of the road. This revealed the motorways where breakdowns are most common, helping drivers understand which routes they should take extra precautions on.

Only the M1, Britain’s first full-length motorway, saw more breakdowns than the M25 overall, according to the car insurance comparison site. There were 40,454 incidents reported on the M1 last year, equivalent to 202 breakdowns per mile – the third highest proportion out of England’s motorways. The M23 has the second highest proportion, with 224 breakdowns per mile, just over 3,800 in total.

The much shorter M27 in Hampshire sees a similar volume of incidents, where there were exactly 200 breakdowns reported per mile last year – roughly 4,800 overall. The M32 completes the top five, with 143 breakdowns reported per mile in 2024.

In contrast, one of the country’s largest motorways, the A1M, sees a surprisingly low volume of breakdowns. Only 8,866 incidents were reported across the 380-mile route last year, equal to just 63 per mile.

Overall, the A329M in Berkshire was found to have the lowest volume of breakdowns out of England’s motorways. Just over 80 incidents were reported on this road by National Highways in 2024, equal to only 20 per mile – the lowest frequency in the country. The M45 comes close to having a lower ratio, with 21 breakdowns per mile recorded last year, and a total of 167 incidents overall.

The M48 and A3M were also among those with the fewest breakdowns, each of which saw less than 30 incidents per mile recorded in 2024.

Tom Banks, car insurance expert at Go.Compare, said:

“There are several reasons why breakdowns can be more common on certain routes, such as poor maintenance, the type of traffic that uses them, and exposure to severe weather conditions. If you plan to travel on a road that’s known for breakdowns, make sure you’re ready for any potential issues and be especially careful when using the road.

“Keep things like a torch, first aid kit, tyre repair kit, portable phone charger, and jump leads handy – you never know when you might need them, and this way you’ll always be prepared. You should also check your car’s tyres, lights, fluid levels and battery health before setting off, particularly before a long journey.

“If your car breaks down on the motorway, try to turn off at the nearest exit or pull over to the hard shoulder. Turn on your hazards and exit your car if it’s safe to do so, before phoning for help. Walk to an emergency phone if your mobile isn’t working.”