Recovery can cost thousands of euros. Photo credit: Miguel Perfectti/Shutterstock
A broken-down lorry can bring parts of Málaga to a standstill, leaving commuters trapped in traffic, workers late and families struggling to get where they need to be. Yet when a heavy goods vehicle is involved in an accident on the province’s main roads, there is no dedicated Government recovery service ready to remove it.
The problem is not simply a shortage of recovery vehicles, the Government has actually acknowledged that there is no specific protocol for removing heavy goods vehicles from roads such as the A-7, leaving the operation dependent on insurance cover, private companies and the availability of specialist equipment.
Why can removal take so long?
Unlike a regular car, a loaded lorry cannot necessarily be moved with a standard breakdown truck. Depending on its weight, position, cargo and damage, operators may need heavy-duty vehicles, cranes or machinery and a specialist team. The Guardia Civil can secure the scene, manage traffic and contact recovery companies, but it has no fleet of heavy recovery vehicles.
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The DGT also has no public roadside assistance service for removing broken-down or accident-damaged lorries. The process can slow down when the haulage company has no recovery cover. The insurer may need to authorise the work, a company must be found and a price agreed. Some operators are reluctant to take jobs involving foreign-registered lorries if payment is uncertain.
The cost of leaving a lorry stranded
Recovery can cost thousands of euros. In complicated cases, the bill can reach €20,000, according to industry sources cited in reporting on Málaga’s roads. The Government says removal is arranged through compulsory insurance, with response times depending on availability, vehicle type and condition. The consequences reach beyond the driver and haulage company.
A lorry blocking a motorway can close lanes or force a diversion, pushing traffic onto surrounding roads. Commuters lose hours, deliveries are delayed and businesses wait for staff or supplies. A recent incident in the Carlos Haya tunnel, where an overturned lorry landed on a taxi, showed how difficult recovery can be in confined conditions. Two specialist companies were needed, and the cargo had to be removed before the vehicles could be cleared. The crash and its impact on the taxi driver can be read here.
Calls for a different system
The issue was raised after lorry breakdowns caused long queues on Málaga’s roads in 2025. The PP asked the Government why there was no dedicated service for removing heavy vehicles. The Executive replied that there had never been a specific protocol. The DGT has said it was studying alternatives, including agreements with private recovery firms.
However, motorists have no clear timetable for when any arrangement might be introduced. Málaga’s traffic volumes make the question pressing. When a heavy vehicle cannot be shifted quickly, disruption spreads beyond the stretch of road where the incident happened. Until a reliable system is in place, drivers may continue to face lengthy delays whenever a lorry becomes stranded on a key route during the morning rush hour.