If you’re in business, you can’t afford for your van to break down on the road without any additional protection.
In this guide, we’ll explain exactly what is and isn’t covered by commercial van breakdown cover, how you can save money on cover, and whether your leased van comes with breakdown cover as standard.
What is Van Breakdown Cover or Roadside Assistance?
Also known as roadside assistance, van breakdown cover is a type of cover that ensures you have help to repair your vehicle and restart your journey should your van break down on the roadside.
If your van experiences a mechanical issue, an expert recovery engineer will be sent out to help you – either by fixing the issue on the roadside or, if the problem is more complex, by towing your van to the nearest garage or your home/work address.
What Is Covered with Van Breakdown Cover?
Before choosing your cover, it helps to be aware of the issues that will generally be covered by commercial van breakdown cover. These include:
- Starter motor failure – The electrical starter motor gets your engine going when you turn the ignition. If you can hear a loud clicking noise when you try to turn on the engine – and the battery is well charged – then this is a big indication that there is an issue with your starter motor or an electrical fault.
- Battery problems – If your battery goes flat when you’re out on your travels, an expert recovery engineer will be able to jump start or even replace your battery.
- Broken clutch cables – If your clutch cables break, the clutch pedal will come loose from the clutch linkage. This means your van cannot be shifted into gear, making it undrivable.
- Damaged wheels or tyres – Whether your tyres need changing or your wheels need replacing, it’s best to call for professional assistance if there’s an issue on the roadside. You should be aware that you may be charged for any replacements, including tyres, that are required to fix your van.
What is Not Covered?
It’s also important to know what is not going to be covered by business van breakdown cover. In some cases, your policy may not cover:
- Breakdowns due to poor van maintenance and issues that have not been rectified from previous callouts
- Breakdowns that occur on private land, unless it’s your home and you have a Home Cover policy
- Breakdowns where the van is deemed to be not roadworthy
- Breakdowns due to a vehicular accident, unless it’s specifically in your policy
- Callouts to resolve a fault that has not resulted in a breakdown
- In some cases, the costs for replacements, parts and labour will also not be covered, unless you have added this to your policy
- Breakdowns caused by misfuelling are generally not covered by roadside assistance, so callouts for this will usually incur an extra fee. However, you should always check your policy to be certain, particularly as misfuelling cover can also often be added as an extra.
Does My Leased Van Come with Breakdown Cover?
It’s important to check this with your van leasing provider beforehand, as a base lease may not come with breakdown cover as standard.
Leasing Options offers an all-in-one insured lease, Fuel & Go, so you can rest assured everything – from maintenance to recovery – is covered. As all of our vans are brand new, you’re unlikely to have a breakdown. However, it’s still important to prepare, so you’re not taken by surprise when you’re on your way to work. With Fuel & Go, you’ll be in good hands with the industry-leading breakdown cover from the AA.
Do I Need Personal Cover or Vehicle Cover?
If you want cover for van breakdown and recovery, it’s also important to consider which of the two types of cover would be best for you. Here’s a quick van breakdown comparison between the two.
Personal Cover
Personal cover protects a particular individual and covers them in any van they are driving in. This can be very reassuring, because you know you’re covered whatever van you drive. It also covers you if you’re a passenger, so you’re safe wherever you go. One downside with this type of policy is that it’s generally more costly. It also requires the individual with the breakdown policy to physically be in the van for it to be covered.
Vehicle Cover
In contrast, vehicle cover protects a specific van, so it doesn’t matter who is driving. This gives you a high level of flexibility, as multiple drivers can be allocated to the van without each driver needing personal cover. This is especially useful if employees will only be using the one van. However, it comes with the downside that the drivers will not be covered if they use a different van without vehicle cover.
Levels of Van Breakdown Cover
When you’re searching for company van breakdown cover, you should also consider the levels of cover. Generally speaking, roadside assistance is offered as standard, but there are many other options to suit differing requirements.
Roadside Assistance
This is the most basic form of business van breakdown cover. If your van breaks down on the road, a recovery engineer will come to attempt repairs at the roadside. If they’re unable to resolve the issue, the van will usually be towed to the nearest garage. Some drawbacks to this type of cover include that you may not be covered if the breakdown occurs too close to home, as the cover typically kicks in after a quarter of a mile. You also won’t have cover to continue your journey if repairs are unsuccessful.
European Breakdown Cover
If you like to holiday or do business in Europe, then European breakdown cover is a must. This covers you if you break down on the continent – though you should always check that the provider covers the country you plan to travel in.
Onward Journey Cover
If a breakdown prevents you from reaching an important meeting or event, it can be disastrous. Onward journey cover ensures you have alternative travel or accommodation in place (depending on the provider) to help you get to your destination.
National Coverage
If you’re looking for breakdown cover for a van in the UK, national coverage can be a good option. With this policy, a recovery engineer will come to attempt repairs wherever your van breaks down across the UK. Plus, if roadside repairs are unsuccessful, your van will be towed to any UK garage of your choosing.
Home Start
With Home Start cover, if your van breaks down at home or in close proximity to your home (exact distance varies between providers), an engineer will be sent to attempt to resolve the issue. If the problem can’t be fixed, most policies will include towing your van to the local garage.
How Can I Save Money on Van Breakdown Cover?
The best way to save money on business van breakdown cover is to be clear on exactly what kind of cover you’ll need. Roadside assistance is the standard, but other policies can add extra onto the price.
At Leasing Options, our all-in-one insured lease, Fuel & Go, features breakdown recovery alongside maintenance and accident management in a fixed-price package, so there’s no chance of unexpected costs.
Want to find out more? Check your financial eligibility online or get in touch to learn more about our commercial van leasing offers.
Van Breakdown Cover FAQs
How To Save Money on Van Breakdown Cover
To save money on your cover, don’t take on any policies you don’t need. If you only do business in the local area, then National Coverage would potentially be a waste of money. Other, more expensive policies, like Onward Journey Cover, might also be unnecessary for your business.
What Happens If I Don't Have Van Breakdown Cover?
If you don’t have van breakdown cover, you’ll need to call a local garage to tow your van and repair it, and then arrange for alternative transportation or even accommodation for yourself. This can be considerably expensive, even excluding the costs for parts and labour. So, whilst it’s not a legal requirement, commercial van breakdown cover can be a very reassuring and cost-effective option.
How Do I Know If I Need Van Breakdown Cover Rather Than a Car?
In your logbook, look for the vehicle category or vehicle type approval. If this is recorded as ‘M1’, the vehicle is a car. If it’s recorded as ‘N1’ or ‘N2’, it’s a van. If you’re still feeling unsure, speak with the breakdown cover provider for confirmation.
Am I Covered If I Break Down in Another Van?
If you have personal cover, then you will usually be covered – though it’s important to check with your provider for any exceptions. If you have vehicle cover, you’ll only be covered in that particular van.
Which is Better, AA or RAC?
Both AA and RAC van breakdown cover policies are trusted by millions of customers, but the best cover will depend on your needs. AA van breakdown cover is slightly better value, offering unlimited callouts at its lowest tier. Meanwhile, RAC offers some useful perks, including a 2-day van replacement if they are unable to fix your van on the spot.
Does Breakdown Cover Include Repairs?
Generally speaking, certain repairs and parts will not be covered by commercial van breakdown cover. If the recovery engineer can fix the issue with your van at the roadside with no additional parts required, then you will usually not be charged for this. However, if extra parts are needed to repair your van or your van needs to be repaired at a garage, you’ll be liable to pay for these services.
Is Breakdown Cover Worth Having?
If your van breaks down without cover when you’re on the way to a job, you’ll be charged for calling out a mechanic, arranging for alternative transportation, as well as any repairs. This can be incredibly costly and could potentially put your business at risk – both financially and in terms of reputation. Having at least basic cover is well worth the security and peace of mind of knowing help is at hand when a breakdown strikes.
What's The Best Breakdown Cover?
The best breakdown cover for you will depend on how often you use your van, where you need to drive to, and whether you’ll need alternative accommodation if you break down. Before choosing your company van breakdown cover, make sure you shop around for the best offers and consider which add-ons might be beneficial for your business, even if they increase the costs.
