Van breakdown cover that
keeps you moving
Roadside assistance and recovery day and night, with Local, National, Full UK and European cover levels, and your trailer recovered too.
- 24/7 roadside assistance
- Nationwide UK recovery (National, Full UK & European)
- Home assist (Full UK & European)
- Trailer recovered with your van
- Key assist & message assist
- Optional European cover
per year
Smart Cover van breakdown cover sends a recovery operator 24/7 if your van breaks down, who will spend up to 60 minutes trying to fix it at the roadside and recover it if they can't. It covers mechanical and electrical failures, flat batteries, punctures, running out of fuel and wrong fuel. Choose Local , National (adds recovery anywhere in the UK), Full UK (adds Home Assist) or European cover, with up to 6 call-outs a year and your trailer recovered too.
Smart Cover van breakdown cover at a glance
- Availability
- 24/7, 365 daysBreakdown line 03333 449 247
- Roadside repair
- Up to 60 minutesThen recovery if it can't be fixed
- Call-outs
- Up to 6 a yearClaims up to £15,000 a year
- First claim
- After 24 hoursNo claims in the first 24 hours
- Recovery
- 10 miles to UK-wideNationwide from National Cover up
- Trailers
- Recovered with your van50mm tow ball, up to 7m / 23ft
- Hire vehicle
- Up to £250 (UK)Up to £500 in Europe
- Not for
- Courier, rental or hire useCheck terms for other work use
Who is Smart Cover van breakdown cover for?
Check how you use your van before you buy. Breakdown policies treat private, trade and delivery use differently.
Private van owners
Vans used for everyday driving, moving house, hobbies, days out and trips abroad. Choose Full UK Cover for help on your driveway.
Tradespeople & sole traders
If you use your van for your trade, check the policy terms or call 03333 449 559 before you buy, to confirm your use is covered.
Courier, rental & hire
Vans used for courier services, rental, hire, or public or private hire aren't covered by this policy.
Van breakdown cover levels: Local, National, Full UK and European
Each level includes everything in the one before it.
Local Cover
Roadside help across the UK
- 24/7 roadside assistance more than 1 mile from home
- Local recovery up to 10 miles if your van can't be fixed
- Alternative transport or hire vehicle up to £250, plus £150 to collect your van
- Overnight accommodation up to £500 per incident
- Key assist & message assist
- Trailer recovered with your van
- Replacement driver if you're ill or injured
National Cover
Everything in Local, plus:
- Nationwide recovery to your home or one UK destination if your van can't be repaired the same working day
- All Local Cover benefits
Full UK Cover
Everything in National, plus:
- Home Assist: help at your home or within 1 mile of it
- Recovery to the nearest suitable garage if your van can't be fixed at home
- All National Cover benefits
European Cover
Everything in Full UK, plus:
- Breakdown help in 40 listed European countries & territories
- Hire vehicle or transport up to £500 in Europe, plus £200 to collect your van
- Hotel up to £150 per person for one night (max £1,000)
- Pre-departure cover up to £500
- Repatriation if not fixed within 48 hours or by your return date
| Benefit | Local | National | Full UK | European |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roadside assistance, 24/7 (more than 1 mile from home) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ UK & Europe |
| Recovery | Up to 10 miles | Nationwide (UK) | Nationwide (UK) | Nationwide + repatriation from Europe |
| Home Assist (within 1 mile of home) | - | - | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hire vehicle / alternative transport | Up to £250 + £150 to collect (UK) | Up to £250 + £150 to collect (UK) | Up to £250 + £150 to collect (UK) | UK limits + up to £500 and £200 to collect (Europe) |
| Overnight accommodation | £150 lone traveller / £75 pp · max £500 | £150 lone traveller / £75 pp · max £500 | £150 lone traveller / £75 pp · max £500 | UK limits + Europe: £150 pp for one night · max £1,000 |
| Trailer recovery | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Key & message assist | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Replacement driver if you're ill or injured | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| European assistance, pre-departure cover & spare parts shipping | - | - | - | ✓ |
Levels and figures are taken from the Motor Breakdown Cover policy wording. Hire vehicles are up to 1600cc, so a like-for-like van isn't guaranteed. In the UK, alternative transport and accommodation are only available if you break down more than 20 miles from home and your van can't be repaired the same working day. They must be authorised first and are usually paid on a claim-back basis with receipts. See the documents below.
What does van breakdown cover include?
A breakdown is an electrical or mechanical failure, lack of fuel, wrong fuel, flat battery, accident or puncture that immediately leaves your van unable to move.
What's covered
- Roadside assistanceA recovery operator spends up to 60 minutes trying to get your van going at the roadside (Local Cover: more than 1 mile from home).
- RecoveryYou, your passengers and your van are taken to a garage or a destination you choose: up to 10 miles on Local Cover, anywhere in the UK on National, Full UK and European Cover.
- Home Assist (Full UK & European)At your home address or within a 1-mile radius.
- Trailer recoveryRecovered with your van if fitted with a 50mm tow ball and up to 7m / 23ft long.
- Key AssistLost, broken or locked-in keys: the call-out and mileage are covered. Other costs, such as specialist equipment, aren't.
- Alternative transport & accommodationIf your van can't be fixed the same working day and you're more than 20 miles from home, subject to limits.
- Driver illness or injuryA replacement driver if you can't drive on and none of your passengers can (medical certificate needed).
- Message AssistTwo messages to your home or workplace, handy if you're running late for a job.
What's not covered
- Vans used for courier services, rental, hire, public or private hire
- The cost of parts, components or materials, and labour beyond one hour at the roadside
- Breakdowns before cover started, or from a pre-existing fault
- Claims within 24 hours of buying the policy
- More than 6 claims, or over £15,000 in claims, per period of insurance
- Repeat call-outs within 28 days for the same unrepaired fault
- Draining or removing contaminated fuel
- Extra costs if a puncture can't be fixed because there's no serviceable spare wheel, repair kit, jack or locking wheel nut key
- Breakdowns caused by overloading the van or carrying too many passengers
- Specialist equipment, or recovery beyond 10 miles, if stuck in snow, mud, sand, water, ice or flood
- Breakdowns of the trailer itself
This is a summary. Please read the documents below for full details.
Common van breakdowns, and how to avoid them
Vans work harder than most cars: heavier loads, more stop-start driving and higher mileage. These are the problems to watch for.
Flat battery
Lots of short trips, stop-start driving and accessories such as lights, chargers and tools drain van batteries fast, especially in winter.
Covered. At home or on your drive, you need Full UK or European Cover.
How to jump-start a vehicleTyres & punctures
Heavy loads increase tyre wear and the risk of blowouts. Check pressures against your van's laden figure and inspect the tread regularly.
Covered. Extra costs aren't if there's no usable spare, repair kit, jack or locking wheel nut key.
What to carry in your vehicleDiesel & DPF warnings
Diesel vans driven mainly on short urban trips can clog their diesel particulate filter (DPF). Don't ignore warning lights: a regular longer run helps it clear.
Mechanical and electrical failures are covered. Parts aren't.
Engine warning lights explainedWrong fuel
Petrol in a diesel van is a common, costly mistake. Don't start the engine or switch on the ignition.
Patrol attendance covered. Fuel draining costs aren't.
What to do if you break downLost or locked-in keys
Constant in-and-out at jobs makes locking keys inside more likely.
Key Assist covers the call-out and mileage.
Keys locked in your vehicleOverheating & coolant
Towing and heavy loads put extra strain on the cooling system. If the temperature gauge rises, pull over safely and let the engine cool.
Covered at the roadside. Parts aren't.
Common causes of breakdowns
A quick van check to prevent breakdowns
A five-minute walk-round before a long day or trip can catch most problems early:
- Tyre pressures (laden) and tread
- Spare wheel, jack and wheel-nut key
- Oil and coolant levels
- AdBlue and screenwash levels
- Lights and indicators
- Wipers and windscreen
- Dashboard warning lights
- Load secure and within the van's payload
Maintenance habits that prevent breakdowns · Winter vehicle checks
What to do if your van breaks down
Get safe
Pull over as far left as possible, switch on your hazard lights and get everyone out on the side away from traffic, if it's safe.
Call for help
Call our 24/7 breakdown line on 03333 449 247 with your location, registration, policy number and whether you're towing. In Europe, call +44 1206 714813 .
Stay nearby
Wait somewhere safe, away from traffic. The driver must stay with or near the van, and remove valuables and tools before it's transported.
Fixed or recovered
The patrol fixes your van, or recovers you, your passengers, your van and your trailer. Tell the Rescue Co-ordinator where to take it.
Stopped in a live lane on a motorway and can't get out safely? Stay in the van with your seatbelt on and hazard lights on, and call 999. Full breakdown safety guide .
Van breakdown advice from Smart Cover
Van breakdown cover
When things go wrong
Breakdown cover for other vehicles
Frequently asked questions
What is van breakdown cover?
Van breakdown cover sends a recovery operator to help if your van breaks down. Smart Cover's van breakdown cover is available 24/7, and the recovery operator will spend up to 60 minutes trying to fix your van at the roadside. It covers mechanical or electrical failure, running out of fuel, wrong fuel, a flat battery, an accident or a puncture that leaves your van immobilised, with Local, National, Full UK and European cover levels.
Can I use van breakdown cover for my business?
Smart Cover's breakdown cover excludes vehicles used for courier services, rental, hire, public or private hire, motor racing or rallies. If you use your van for your trade or any other work, check your policy terms or call 03333 449 559 before you buy to confirm you're covered.
Is my trailer covered?
If your trailer is fitted with a standard 50mm tow ball coupling and is no longer than 7 metres (23 feet), excluding the A-frame and hitch, it will be recovered with your van. Breakdowns of the trailer itself aren't covered.
Does van breakdown cover include home start?
Yes, on Full UK and European Cover. Home Assist covers breakdowns at your home address or within a 1-mile radius of it. It isn't included in Local or National Cover.
Will my van be recovered anywhere in the UK?
On National, Full UK and European Cover, if your van can't be repaired the same working day, it can be recovered to your home or one destination of your choice anywhere in the UK. Local Cover recovers your van up to 10 miles.
Can I get a hire van if mine can't be fixed?
The policy pays up to £250 in the UK towards alternative transport or a hire vehicle of up to 1600cc so you can complete your journey, if you break down more than 20 miles from home. It pays up to £500 in Europe on European Cover. The policy also pays up to £150 for one person to collect your van once it's repaired. A like-for-like hire van isn't guaranteed.
How many call-outs do I get?
Up to 6 call-outs per van per year, with claims up to £15,000 in total. Repeat call-outs for the same fault within 28 days, where it hasn't been permanently repaired, aren't covered.
Does breakdown cover pay for van parts?
No. The cost of parts, components or materials isn't covered, and any parts fitted at the roadside must be paid for at the time. The policy pays for the call-out, up to an hour's roadside labour and recovery.
What if my van is stuck in mud or snow?
If your van is immobilised by snow, mud, sand, water, ice or flood, specialist equipment, extra manpower and recovery beyond 10 miles aren't covered.
Can I take my van to Europe?
Yes, with European Cover. It works in 40 listed countries and territories for trips of up to 90 days, and includes pre-departure cover, repatriation and help shipping spare parts. Carry your V5C and driving licence.
Can I use my cover straight away?
No. Claims within 24 hours of buying the policy aren't covered, and breakdowns that happened before you bought cover are excluded.
What's the difference between Local, National, Full UK and European cover?
Local Cover gives 24/7 roadside assistance for breakdowns more than 1 mile from home, and recovery up to 10 miles. National Cover adds recovery anywhere in the UK. Full UK Cover adds Home Assist, for breakdowns at your home or within 1 mile of it. European Cover includes everything in Full UK Cover plus breakdown help in 40 listed European countries and territories, pre-departure cover and repatriation.
Can I pay monthly?
No. Smart Cover van breakdown cover is paid annually, upfront, for 12 months of cover.
Can I cancel?
Yes. You can cancel within 14 days for a full refund, as long as you haven't made a claim. You can cancel after that by calling 03333 449 559 , but no refund is available after the 14-day cooling-off period.
Who provides Smart Cover van breakdown cover?
Smart Cover arranges the policy. The breakdown service is provided by Call Assist Ltd, and the insurance is underwritten by DAS Legal Expenses Insurance Company Limited. Both are authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, and the policy is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
Is van breakdown cover a legal requirement?
No, but if you rely on your van every day, a breakdown can cost you both the recovery bill and time off the road. Breakdown cover means help is a phone call away, 24/7.
Keep your van on the road
24/7 van breakdown cover across the UK, with optional European cover and your trailer recovered too.
Sales & help: 03333 449 559 · Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 10am-4pm
