It is worth calling for a repair rather than a recovery whenever the symptoms point to something small. A car that clicks but will not turn over, or turns over but will not fire, is very often a battery or a connection. Dashboard lights appearing without any change in how the car drives frequently trace back to a sensor or a loose plug. A flat tyre, a car that has stood unused for weeks, a locked steering column, a key that will not turn, or the wrong fuel in the tank are all roadside jobs. Overheating needs assessing quickly, because the difference between a coolant top-up and a destroyed engine is usually how soon someone looks at it. The cases where repair is not the answer are equally clear: knocking from the engine, a gearbox that will not select, a snapped belt, or anything accompanied by a burning smell. Those need recovery, and pushing on makes them more expensive.