The UK’s Worst Lay-bys to Break Down

15 May 2025

| 5 minutes

It’s never an ideal situation when your car decides to act up during a long drive, especially during busier times around holidays, when motorway driving can be stressful enough as it is.

It’s clear this is on the mind of Britain’s drivers, with the monthly search volume around ‘car breakdown’ hitting 199,000 as of May 2025.

To help with this common concern and give you all the information you need on how to dodge the worst places in the UK for a breakdown to occur, we’ve taken a look at the quality of the nation’s main roads and lay-bys.

The Worst UK Lay-bys Ranked

In order to find the last lay-bys you’d want to find yourself stuck at, we pulled together our list and a selection of criteria to score against, including distance to nearest motorway services, weather and temperature trends, as well as mobile signal score.

Ranking poorly against the criteria, the following lay-bys are ones to avoid when planning your routes. The bottom ten fared badly in all areas of our research, meaning if you end up broken down at any of them, you can expect to be stuck with bad weather, worse connectivity, and a decent distance to cover to the nearest services for good measure.

#	Worst Lay-bys	Region	Rank				Index Score
#	Worst Lay-bys	Region	Distance to Services	*Average (C)**	Rainfall (Annual)	Mobile Signal	Index Score
1	A713 - New Galloway	Scotland	117	89	119	120	8.3
2	A9 - Lay-by 99	Scotland	118	120	117	73	11.7
3	B4302 - Talley	Wales	92	104	110	116	12.9
4	A483 - Gresford	Wales	102	106	112	101	13.1
5	A84 - FK1	Scotland	93	95	104	108	17.5
6	A470 - LD3	Wales	90	103	109	98	17.8
7	A44 - SY2	South East	114	88	119	79	18.5
8	A57 - Cutthroat Bridge	North West	96	99	97	100	19.2
9	A37 - BA3	South West	116	55	107	97	22.7
10	A40 - LD3	South West	101	105	111	48	24.8

*Featured lay-bys are from a longlist of 120 ranked against several consistent criteria.

The A713 lay-by scored the lowest overall for mobile signal, making it tougher to call for help when you need it most, while the A9 lay-by 99 may have scenic views, but you’d best have wrapped up for the journey if you find yourself stuck, as it's the worst weather-wise.

Brits’ Least Favourite Motorways

Alongside our study of lay-by quality, we wanted to get a clearer view of UK roads overall to help advise which routes might benefit from you choosing an alternate route in the SatNav.

Researching the average distance between services, driver satisfaction and their thoughts on journey times, road surface, feeling safe and road markings, we’ve uncovered the UK’s least favourite roads and motorways.

M25 (South East)
M69 (East Midlands, West Midlands)
M11 (East of England)
M26 (South East)
M54 (West Midlands)
M61 (North West)
M2 (South East)
M27 (South East)
M20 (South East)
M42 (West Midlands)

Standout ratings here include the M69, where motorists feel the least safe when driving, and the M42, scoring lowest for driver satisfaction.

Preparing for a Breakdown: Expert Advice

Here are our top tips to make sure that you have everything you need to hand should the worst happen:

Before setting off, check the tyres, fluids, and battery. A little maintenance can prevent a lot of misery.
Always carry essentials in your car: a fully charged mobile phone, a portable charger, warm clothing, food, water, a first-aid kit, a torch, and a warning triangle. You'll thank yourself if you ever find yourself in a bind.
Let someone know your route and estimated arrival time. If you do get stuck, someone will know to raise the alarm if you don't turn up as expected.
Plan your routes carefully, especially if venturing off the beaten track.
If you must stop in a lay-by, be prepared for all weathers. You don’t want to be caught out in the cold!
Download offline maps. Don't rely solely on your phone's GPS, especially if you're heading to areas with poor signal.
Check you have comprehensive breakdown cover and consider GAP Insurance. If the worst happens and your car is written off, this insurance can cover the difference between what your insurer pays out and what you originally paid for the vehicle. It's a financial safety net worth having, especially if you're driving a newer car.

Remember, many of the worst-rated lay-bys share common traits: poor weather conditions, spotty connectivity, and a long trek to the nearest services. Preparation is key!

Methodology

Analysis covers 120 lay-bys and 48 motorways across the UK. An index system was used to score the overall ‘quality’. Data for these variables includes:

Mapped lay-bys: https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=8/54.066/-1.082
Weather Data: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/regional-climates/index
Services Locations: https://motorwayservices.uk/
Motorway Satisfaction Data (2024): https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/

Mobile Signal Score: https://www.signalchecker.co.uk/