RAC launches van breakdown cover

The RAC has launched van breakdown cover amid the increasing number of vans on UK roads.

As part of RAC Van Breakdown cover, RAC has created two new products – Van Lite and Van Total - both of which are intended for business and personal use.

Van Lite provides ‘rescue anywhere’ cover for three callouts a year, with a 10-mile tow and a 20-mile taxi from the garage if the van can’t be fixed there and then.

Van Total offers the same business or personal ‘rescue anywhere’ cover but with unlimited callouts as well as a tow from anywhere in the UK and a choice of replacement van or overnight accommodation while their vehicle is being repaired.

It also features advanced garage support and for businesses, the cover includes access to an online vehicle management portal which enables those responsible for several vehicles right up to larger to fleets to set MOT reminders, update vehicle details and amend cover, as required.

According to statistics from the Department for Transport (DfT) the number of vans on UK roads has increased by 500,000 to 4.5m in four years.

The stats show a 13% growth in light goods vehicles since 2017 and a 25% leap since 2014.

Siobhan Duffy, head of RAC Van Breakdown cover, said: “With 4.5m vans on the road being relied on by both businesses and increasing number of private individuals, we decided there was a real need in the breakdown market for specialist van cover.

“While our expert patrols have all the right tools and technology to get van drivers back on the road, there are inevitably times when vehicles need to be repaired at a garage which is an issue for customers who rely on their vans for work.

“This is why our Van Total cover provides van-for-van replacement so they can carry on working as normal – after all time is money.

“We also felt it was very important to provide ‘rescue anywhere’ cover that doesn’t involve forcing customers to upgrade to be rescued at home or at their registered business address.

“Van Lite is aimed at customers who only require three call-outs a year and are unlikely to need towing long distances if they break down whereas Van Total covers all the bases with unlimited call-outs, tows from anywhere in the UK and a replacement van while theirs is being fixed.”