Best Van Breakdown Cover in the UK 2025: Top Providers

If you rely on a van for business or everyday travel, you need it to be in working order. A breakdown can disrupt your plans when you least expect it, but reliable van breakdown cover ensures you get help quickly.

To help you choose the right provider, we’ve analysed policies and quotes from popular companies—comparing standard cover, add-ons, premium costs, excess fees, callout limits, and customer reviews. Based on these factors, we’ve identified the best van breakdown cover options to suit you and your van’s needs.

We evaluated a selection of top van breakdown cover providers to compile our list. We obtained quotes based on one driver and an 8-year-old vehicle with no extras and local cover only.

Our expert score: 5/5

Pros

Cons

Rescuemycar.com’s van breakdown cover includes roadside assistance if you break down more than one-fourth of a mile from home. If your van can’t be fixed on the spot, Rescuemycar.com will transport your van to a garage.

Light commercial vehicles and personal-use vans, including electric vans, are covered. You’ll have a £10,000 claim limit with unlimited callouts annually.

You can also add European cover for protection during longer journeys. This cover is on a per-trip basis, so it’s best for occasionally visiting the continent rather than regular travel.

Why buy? Expert verdict

With its extensive network of specialists ready to help, Rescuemycar.com has provided service to 500,000 motorists for more than 20 years with a 94% customer satisfaction rating. It operates a network of over 4,000 recovery specialists, so you’ll get help quickly from a nearby technician. Plus, unlimited callouts can give you greater peace of mind.

🔎 Read what Review Centre users think of Rescuemycar.com.

Our expert score: 5/5

Pros

Cons

RAC provides roadside assistance and transport to a garage within 20 miles of your breakdown. If you need towing, RAC pays for a taxi to your destination within 10 miles. A technician will also come to your home or business to start your van, and a standard policy covers business van breakdown cover.

Optional add-ons for cover include tyre replacement, legal expenses, and up to £600 to cover battery replacement.

Why buy? Expert verdict

RAC offers a host of features for a decent price. It’s particularly worth checking out if you use your van for business, as other providers typically don’t offer it. Minibus and fleet breakdown cover is also available, making it a solid pick for business owners.

Overall, it’s reliable, inexpensive coverage for personal and business use as long as you don’t need to claim frequently.

🔎 Read what Review Centre users think of RAC breakdown cover.

Our expert score: 4/5

Pros

Cons

LV= Britannia Rescue’s van breakdown cover includes helpful basics like roadside assistance, local recovery, and out-of-fuel insurance. While it doesn’t offer all bells and whistles as standard, you can rest easy knowing you get transportation to a local garage if roadside repairs aren’t possible. Its network of 4,000 specialists means you can get local support where needed.

If you’re driving your van abroad, you can add European cover. If you want assurance that you can always start your car, Home Start is also available as an addition.

Why buy? Expert verdict

This insurer offers unlimited callouts for a slightly lower premium price than other providers. LV= Britannia Rescue also has a good user rating on Review Centre with 3.1/5, with many commenting on the superior customer service. In a nutshell, it’s a dependable provider with solid cover for anyone on a budget.

Our expert score: 4/5

Pros

Cons

AXA provides roadside assistance and local recovery essentials, including out-of-fuel and misfuelling coverage. As a nice touch, a technician will give a friend or relative a courtesy call if needed while they fix your van. Electric vehicles are included and eligible for an upgrade to national or European cover.

Why buy? Expert verdict

AXA includes some valuable extras besides misfuelling and out-of-fuel cover as standard. The company extends the radius for garage transport to 20 miles instead of 10, as most providers offer. The standard policy also has a slightly lower excess fee than some other options.

🔎 Read what Review Centre users think or leave your own review of AXA Assistance Breakdown Cover.

Our expert score: 3/5

Pros

Cons

Green Flag’s roadside assistance cover provides help when you’re more than one-fourth of a mile from home and transport to a garage within 10 miles if needed. The out-of-fuel cover is standard, although misfuelling is not. You must purchase the Euro Plus plan if you want cover on the continent since it’s not an optional extra.

Why buy? Expert verdict

The company has a customer-centric approach with some nice touches, including a courtesy message service to let loved ones know where you are and satellite assistance for iPhones in areas without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. The average waiting time of less than an hour is another great feature.

All of this works well for everyday van drivers, but Green Flag is particularly suited for campervan and motorhome owners as these vehicles are covered as standard.

🔎 Read what Review Centre users think or leave your own review of Green Flag Breakdown Cover.

There are 3 main types of van breakdown cover:

There’s also a choice between driver and vehicle insurance:

The type of van breakdown cover you need depends on whether you’re using your van for personal, business, or commercial purposes and who uses it.

Beyond this, consider the distance you drive and whether you need national or European cover. You might also want coverage for other circumstances, like home start or onward journey compensation, which helps you continue to your destination after a breakdown. Remember that extras increase the cost of your premium, so balance your requirements for travel or business with your budget.

Here are some typical options for van breakdown cover:

Roadside assistance

A technician is sent for roadside assistance if you break down beyond a certain distance from your home or work (usually one-fourth of a mile). If roadside repair isn’t possible, they will tow your van to a garage. In some cases, vehicle recovery is an add-on.

National coverage

If you’re driving long distances, national coverage means you’ll receive assistance if you break down anywhere in the UK. If needed, towing to your local garage or home is included.

European coverage

Providers cover roadside assistance within the European continent with specific policies or add-ons. Although most countries are usually included, be sure to check your policy. You can purchase this as a one-trip or annual cover, but the coverage usually lasts for a certain number of days, either on a single trip or multiple trips.

Home start

A technician will come to your address if your van doesn’t start at home or work (or within a defined distance).

Onward journey

If your breakdown means your journey is disrupted, onward journey cover can help. Depending on the exact wording of your policy, cover may include the cost of a temporary replacement vehicle, overnight accommodation, or other travel expenses.

Your van breakdown cover depends on the type and level of cover you select.

At a minimum, your policy should cover roadside assistance within a certain distance (usually three-quarters of a mile) from your home or workplace. You can purchase national or European cover for assistance over longer distances.

Usually, van breakdown cover won’t include repairs for damage caused by accidents, vandalism, or theft—although general van insurance often covers this. Normal wear and tear or existing conditions are also not included. Your vehicle must be roadworthy and have a valid MOT certificate.

Here are some optional extras you may be able to add to your policy:

When researching for a van breakdown cover provider in the UK, consider these factors:

Cover you need

The type of cover that works best for you depends on your circumstances. Are you using your van for work or just personal transport? Travelling locally, in the UK, or across Europe? Is it just you driving the van?

Answering these questions will help you pick the right level of cover. Not every insurer offers every option, which will narrow your choices.

Optional extras

Check which optional extras you can add to your policy, especially if you have scenarios you want to cover, such as home start. Some providers might include these extras as standard, saving you money in the long run as you won’t need to pay more on top of your premium.

Response time

Some providers guarantee a response time or advertise average callout waiting periods. These can give you a good sense of how long you’ll wait for roadside help.

Premium cost

The annual premium cost differs from provider to provider. Check the policy for the details, and remember, the lowest quote may not be the best cover for you.

Excess

If you make a claim on the insurance, you usually need to pay an excess fee. Many providers offer options with no excess fee but require a higher annual premium. You should balance what you can afford as a regular payment with what you might need to pay if you have a breakdown.

Customer support

It’s always worth checking customer reviews to see how the company deals with issues. You should also verify whether the provider has 24/7 customer service available.

We obtained quotes for personal, local cover (within the UK only) to assess each provider’s standard policy. We assessed for:

Inclusions and exclusions

We considered the benefits of standard policies and what’s left out. For example, while all providers offer roadside assistance, not all cover misfuelling or out of fuel.

Costs

We examined prices of annual premiums and the excess you might have to pay for callouts.

Callouts permitted

We looked at whether providers limit the number of callouts customers could make or offer unlimited help.

Customer reviews

Finally, we reviewed online customer feedback on sites like Review Centre to understand how each provider performed in real scenarios. When analysing reviews, we focused on customer satisfaction, response times, and reliability.

Van breakdown cover isn’t a legal requirement in the UK. However, it can be an important purchase to make sure a breakdown doesn’t disrupt your life.

What happens if I don’t have van breakdown cover?

If your van breaks down and you don’t have van breakdown cover, you’ll pay for repairs, towing (if needed), and the cost of your onward transportation or return to home or business.

What’s included in van breakdown cover?

Van breakdown cover compensates you for the cost of repairs by a mechanic during roadside assistance or towing to a nearby garage. You can often add other cover to your policy, like tyre or fuel replacements.

How soon can I use van breakdown cover?

The date you begin using your van breakdown cover depends on your policy. Most insurers allow you to select a date no less than 24 hours after signing but no more than 60 days from the time of purchase.

Breakdowns happen, but with van breakdown cover, you can rest assured that you can get help if needed—either at the roadside or at a local garage.

When choosing your insurance provider, examine the small print and determine what level and type of cover is right for you and your van. With the many variations in what the different insurers provide, it’s worth the time it takes to assess the policies available—with our guide as your starting point.