Breakdown cover comes in tiers. The cheapest gets you home. The most expensive covers you everywhere. But which tier do van lifers actually need?
The Three Tiers
Roadside Assistance
The most basic cover. If you break down more than a quarter mile from home, they send someone to fix it or tow you to the nearest garage. Costs £40-70/year. What it covers:
- Breakdowns away from home
- Mechanical and electrical faults
- Flat tyres, dead batteries, lockouts
- Towing to the nearest garage What it doesn't cover:
- Breakdowns at home
- Towing home (only to the nearest garage)
- Alternative transport
Home Start
Adds cover for breakdowns at your home address. Costs £15-25/year on top of roadside. What it covers:
- Everything in roadside
- Breakdowns at your registered address
- Flat batteries on the driveway
- Failed starts after the van has been sitting What it doesn't cover:
- Towing home (only to the nearest garage)
- Alternative transport
National Recovery
Extends the towing distance. Instead of being towed to the nearest garage, you can be towed to any garage in the UK. Costs £20-40/year on top of roadside. What it covers:
- Everything in roadside
- Towing to any garage in the UK (not just the nearest)
- Towing home if the breakdown is far from a suitable garage What it doesn't cover:
- Breakdowns at home (you need home start for that)
What Van Lifers Actually Need
If You Live in the Van Full-Time
You need roadside + national recovery. You don't need home start because you're almost never at your registered address. National recovery matters because if you break down in the Scottish Highlands, you want to be towed to a specialist van garage — not the nearest random garage.
If You Weekender in the Van
You need roadside + home start. You drive from home to campsites and back. Home start covers the driveway breakdown. National recovery is less important because you're usually within range of a local garage.
If You Store the Van Away from Home
You need roadside + home start + national recovery. The van sits for days or weeks. Batteries die. Tyres go flat. Home start covers the storage location breakdown. National recovery covers the long-distance tow.
The Cost Difference
| Cover Level | Annual Cost | Worth It? |
|---|---|---|
| Roadside only | £40-70 | Bare minimum |
| + Home start | +£15-25 | Yes for weekenders |
| + National recovery | +£20-40 | Yes for full-timers |
| + European | +£30-50 | Yes if travelling abroad |
How to Save
- Pay annually: Monthly payments often include interest.
- Use cashback sites: TopCashback and Quidco offer 20-30% cashback on breakdown cover.
- Compare on comparison sites: Check Comparethemarket, GoCompare, and MoneySupermarket.
- Check if your bank includes it: Some bank accounts include breakdown cover.
Conclusion
Roadside assistance is the minimum. Add home start if you weekender. Add national recovery if you full-time. Skip the extras — they're usually not worth the money.
