🔧 Breakdown cover

Van breakdown cover compared

Broken down in a lay-by? We've all been there. Here's who actually turns up — and who leaves you on hold.

AA

Most Popular

From £6/month

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Roadside
Home start
Relay
Europe

Van-friendly: Up to 3.5t included on standard. Larger vans need commercial cover.

⚖️ VanJudge says: The biggest network. Fast response times. Bit pricey but reliable.

RAC

Best Value

From £5/month

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Roadside
Home start
Relay
Europe

Van-friendly: Vans up to 3.5t on personal cover. Good for owner-drivers.

⚖️ VanJudge says: Slightly cheaper than the AA. Solid app. Good for van life.

Green Flag

Budget Pick

From £4/month

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Roadside
Home start
Relay
Europe

Van-friendly: Covers vans. No weight limit on their website — check when quoting.

⚖️ VanJudge says: Cheapest of the big three. Owned by Direct Line. No European cover.

Start Rescue

Cheapest

From £25/year

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Roadside
Home start
Relay
Europe

Van-friendly: Commercial vehicle cover available. Popular with van owners.

⚖️ VanJudge says: Ridiculously cheap. Uses independent patrols. Reviews are solid.

AutoAid

Commercial Specialist

From £49/year

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Roadside
Home start
Relay
Europe

Van-friendly: Specialist commercial vehicle breakdown. Covers up to 7.5t.

⚖️ VanJudge says: Built for commercial vehicles. If you run a big van or small truck, this is the one.

GEM Motoring Assist

Charity-Backed

From £39/year

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Roadside
Home start
Relay
Europe

Van-friendly: Covers vehicles up to 3.5t. Includes driving advice and legal helpline.

⚖️ VanJudge says: Road safety charity. Good cover, good cause. Underrated.

🧠 Van breakdown tips

📏 Check weight limits: Standard personal breakdown cover often only covers vehicles up to 1.5t unladen. Vans are heavier — you may need commercial or specialist cover.

🔑 Vehicle vs personal: Personal cover means YOU are covered in any vehicle. Vehicle cover only covers that specific van. If you drive multiple vans, personal is better value.

🏠 Home start matters: If your van won't start on the drive, basic roadside-only cover won't help. Home start is worth the extra £1-2/month.

🛣️ Relay is essential: If they can't fix it roadside, relay gets you towed to a garage of your choice — not just the nearest one. Critical for long motorway runs.

🇪🇺 European cover: If you do any continental work or vanlife trips, European cover saves you from €500+ tow bills in France.

💡 Haggle the renewal: NEVER auto-renew. Call up, say you're leaving, and they'll usually knock 30-50% off. Every year. Without fail.

Had a breakdown horror story? 😱

Left on the hard shoulder for 4 hours? RAC sent a bicycle? Tell us your worst — the community will judge.

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