Frequently Asked Questions
— Stranded Vehicle Assist

Stranded Vehicle Assist is a mobile vehicle assistance service operated by Dean, based in Honiton, Devon. Dean provides three core services: emergency vehicle entry for drivers locked out of their car, van or commercial vehicle; on-site vehicle diagnostics for warning lights and fault codes; and mobile jump starts for flat or failing batteries.

All services are provided at your location — wherever you are stranded across Devon and Somerset. There is no need for towing, no garage visit required and no call-out fee. Dean comes to you, fully equipped, and resolves the problem on-site wherever possible.

Dean is the sole operator of Stranded Vehicle Assist. He is the person who answers the phone when you call 07300 115030, the person who drives to your location, carries out the work and hands your vehicle back to you. There are no third-party contractors, no franchised engineers and no uncertainty about who is coming. You speak to Dean, Dean comes out. That's it.

This is one of the most important differences between a mobile specialist like Dean and a large national breakdown organisation where the "operator" on the phone may be routing a call to any number of contractors they have never met. With Dean, you get consistent, personal, accountable service every time. Learn more on the About page.

National breakdown organisations like the AA and RAC provide a broad service across the country but operate through a network of contractors and recovery vehicles. Response times can be long, the person who arrives may vary in experience, and in many cases the vehicle is simply towed to a garage rather than the problem being resolved at the roadside.

Dean provides a different type of service: a local specialist with dealer-grade diagnostic equipment who comes to your location and resolves the problem on-site in most cases. No membership required, no annual fee, no call-out charge — you only pay for the work carried out. For drivers in Devon and Somerset who need fast, professional help without the uncertainty of a contractor-based system, Dean is frequently the better choice.

Dean will tell you honestly before starting any work whether he believes he can resolve the problem on-site. If something falls outside what is achievable at the roadside — for example, a mechanical failure requiring specialist parts — he will tell you clearly rather than wasting your time attempting something he cannot complete.

In these cases, Dean will advise on appropriate next steps, explain exactly what the fault is (particularly if diagnostics have been carried out) and help you understand your options. You will not be charged for a failed attempt if Dean has assessed the situation and determined the job cannot be completed.

Dean covers most cars, vans and light commercial vehicles with petrol, diesel and mild hybrid powertrains. This includes hatchbacks, saloons, estate cars, SUVs and crossovers, MPVs, pickup trucks and panel vans up to 3.5 tonnes GVW. All common makes and models are covered across the service area.

Full battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) are not currently covered for jump start services, but on-site diagnostics and vehicle entry may still be possible — call 07300 115030 to confirm before booking. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and mild hybrids are covered for all services.

A basic OBD-II reader — the type sold in parts shops for £20–£80 — reads only the engine management module and returns generic P-codes defined by the OBD-II standard. These codes are intentionally broad and often require further interpretation to be useful. They also miss faults in other vehicle systems entirely.

Dean uses Autel, Launch and Snap-on dealer-grade diagnostic systems. These read every module across every vehicle system — engine management, ABS, airbag and SRS, automatic transmission, TPMS, power steering, climate control and more. They return manufacturer-specific fault codes with detailed descriptions, access live data from all sensors and can perform system-level tests that basic readers cannot. This is the same capability used by main dealerships. Learn more about the on-site diagnostics service.

Yes — every diagnostics callout includes a full PDF fault report emailed directly to you. The report covers every fault code found during the scan, a plain English explanation of what each code means, its assessed severity (minor, moderate, immediate attention required) and Dean's honest assessment of what needs to be done next.

This written report serves two important purposes: it gives you a clear understanding of the problem without needing to interpret technical codes yourself, and it gives you documented evidence of the fault to present to a garage if a repair is required — so you cannot be charged for a diagnostic session you have already paid for.

It depends entirely on which warning light is illuminated and what the underlying fault is. Some warning lights indicate minor issues that can wait for a scheduled garage appointment — others indicate faults that should not be driven on at all. Without knowing what the fault code is, it is impossible to make that determination safely.

This is precisely why an on-site diagnostic session is valuable: rather than guessing or driving home hoping for the best, Dean can identify exactly what the warning light relates to and give you an honest, informed assessment of whether it is safe to continue driving. For dashboard warning lights in the Exeter area and across Devon and Somerset, call 07300 115030.

Yes — where it is appropriate to do so, Dean can clear fault codes on-site. Some codes are "stored" codes relating to past events that have since resolved and can be safely cleared. Others are "active" codes relating to live, ongoing faults — clearing these without addressing the underlying fault would be misleading and is not something Dean will do without clearly explaining the situation first.

Dean will always explain which codes he is clearing and why, and what the implications are for driving the vehicle afterwards. The PDF report you receive will document the state of the vehicle both before and after any codes are cleared.

Using dealer-grade Autel, Launch and Snap-on systems, Dean can read and diagnose faults across all major vehicle systems including: engine management and fuel systems, automatic and manual transmission, ABS and traction control, airbag and SRS, tyre pressure monitoring (TPMS), electronic power steering, climate control and air conditioning, instrument cluster and body control modules, and more.

Coverage varies slightly by vehicle make, model and year — some older or more unusual vehicles may have limited module support. Call before booking if you have a non-standard vehicle and Dean will confirm coverage.

Dean is based in Honiton and covers a wide area across South Devon and Somerset. The five main coverage hubs are Exeter and the surrounding area including Crediton, Pinhoe, Topsham and Cranbrook; Honiton and East Devon including Ottery St Mary, Axminster and Dunkeswell; Exmouth and the coastal area including Sidmouth, Seaton and Budleigh Salterton; Tiverton and the mid-Devon and Somerset border area including Cullompton, Wellington and Willand; and Chard and the Somerset area including Crewkerne, Ilminster and Martock.

Dean also covers the M5 corridor between junctions 25 and 29, major A-roads including the A30, A35, A38 and A303, and many rural locations not listed above. If you are unsure whether your location is covered, call 07300 115030 — Dean will confirm immediately.

Yes — Stranded Vehicle Assist operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including all weekends and bank holidays. Vehicle problems do not follow working hours and neither does Dean. Christmas Day, Easter Sunday, bank holiday Mondays — Dean is available.

There is no surcharge for evening, weekend or bank holiday callouts. The price you are quoted is the price you pay regardless of the time or day.

Response times vary depending on your exact location and current demand, but across the main coverage area Dean typically arrives within 30–60 minutes of your call. For locations at the edges of the coverage area, arrival times may be slightly longer.

When you call, Dean will give you a specific, honest estimated arrival time — not a vague "within 2 hours" window. If he is unavailable for any reason (which is rare), he will tell you immediately rather than keeping you waiting.

Yes. Dean regularly assists drivers on and around the M5 between junctions 25 and 29 — this includes the hard shoulder and service areas at Cullompton Services (Junction 28) and the approach roads to Tiverton Parkway. If you are stranded on the motorway, the most important first step is safety: move to the hard shoulder if possible, exit the vehicle on the passenger side if it is safe to do so, and stand well behind the barrier.

Once you are in a safe position, call Dean on 07300 115030. If you are on the motorway carriageway itself and cannot safely access the hard shoulder, call 999 first and then call Dean. He will come to you once it is safe to do so.

Rural Devon and Somerset is part of Dean's regular working area. He covers rural lanes, farm roads and remote village locations across the coverage area — the kind of locations where national breakdown services often have the longest wait times and where being without your vehicle creates the most significant inconvenience.

If you are in a remote location, be as specific as possible about your position when you call — a postcode, a road name, a nearby village name or a landmark. What3words (what3words.com) is also useful for pinpointing exact rural locations and Dean is familiar with it.