Van breakdown cover

What is van breakdown cover?

Standard vehicle breakdown cover applied to a van: roadside help, recovery and optional extras, subject to each provider's size and weight limits. Most mainstream policies accept vans up to 3.5 tonnes.

It's designed to protect you from the many potential costs of a breakdown, including recovering the vehicle and having it repaired. It can also help with costs such as accommodation, vehicle hire or onward transport if the breakdown happens a long way from home. Cover isn't legally required, but being stranded without transport is no fun — particularly with a dog in the back or a van packed with boxes — and towing and repairs can end up costing a lot of money.

What to check before you buy

• Size and weight limits — providers set maximum length, height and gross weight.
• Business use — working vans and goods in transit are covered by some policies and excluded by others.
• Recovery for your load — confirm the policy recovers the van laden, not just empty.
• Call-out limits — some providers offer unlimited call-outs, others place a limit, and repeat call-outs for a recurring issue are unlikely to be covered.

Who it's for

Tradespeople, couriers and anyone running a van privately. If you drive several vehicles including a van, personal cover may suit better — check the provider accepts vans under personal policies.