Van Breakdown Explained
By FergusVan reliability is high on the list for many businesses, with the need to maintain the very best performance key to the ongoing success of your business.
To help ease any worries or concerns you may have about a breakdown in your lease van, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has put together a short guide to explain what you need to do if your lease vehicle breaks down, who you need to contact and the length of the breakdown cover included.
What is breakdown cover?
Van breakdown cover (also known as van roadside assistance) provides aid to motorists whose vehicle has broken down at the roadside and it is unable to continue with the journey. If your van suffers a mechanical breakdown, the breakdown company will send a patrol team member to fix the problem at the roadside. If your van cannot be fixed, it will usually be towed (or recovered) to the nearest garage or your home, normally whichever is closer.
What is typically covered with van breakdown cover?
Flat or faulty batteries
Loss of voltage caused by short journeys is a frequent cause of flat batteries. If you've got a flat battery, your breakdown provider can give you a jump-start, charge or even replace your battery, depending on the nature of the issue.
Damaged tyres or wheels
A vast number of vehicle breakdown call outs are for assistance in changing tyres and replacing damaged wheels. If you're unable to safely change the wheel yourself, you can call your breakdown provider for assistance.
Starter motor failure
The starter motor is an electrical motor connected to your car’s battery that sets the engine in motion when you turn the ignition. If the battery is fully charged, but you hear a loud clicking noise when you try to start the engine, then this is a typical symptom of a faulty starter and / or an electrical wiring fault which will require inspection and diagnosis to repair.
Broken clutch cables
If the clutch cable snaps or breaks, the clutch pedal will become disconnected from the clutch linkage. This means the vehicle that cannot shift into gear so you will need to call your breakdown provider to come and recover the vehicle for repair.
Adding the wrong fuel
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people put the wrong type of fuel into their cars or simply run out of fuel at the side of the road. If this happens, you can call on your breakdown provider to recover the vehicle, or to assist with re-fuelling.
What is not covered under the van breakdown cover?
Existing fault
Any previous/ existing fault that has not been properly rectified after a previous call out.
Breakdown on private property
Any breakdown that occurs on private property, unless the incident takes place at your home and you have home start cover.
Non-breakdown faults
Any fault that does not directly result in the van breaking down, for example if your air conditioning stops working.
Unroadworthy vehicles
Any van that is deemed unroadworthy.
Parts or labour costs
Parts or labour costs if you have not added this as extra cover to your policy.
Replacement wheel
Cost of a spare or replacement wheel if you do not have one.
As all contracts are different, we recommend you read the terms and conditions of your policy to be certain you know exactly what is covered.
When does your breakdown policy start?
Your breakdown cover starts from the vehicle registration date. This is the date your vehicle is first registered with the DVLA and is not always the delivery date of your vehicle.
You can find out the registration date for your vehicle by checking the DVLA website.
Does my new lease van come with breakdown cover?
If you have a maintenance package included in your lease agreement, breakdown cover is usually included for the duration of your contract. In the event of a breakdown, you must immediately call your maintenance team who will be able to help you.
To find out the contact number of your maintenance team, login into your customer account to view important contract date reminders, lease contract details and update your personal details.
If you don’t have a maintenance package included in your lease agreement, you may still be covered for breakdown as part of the manufacturer’s warranty. Breakdown cover typically varies from one to five years and usually starts from the date of vehicle registration.
“Most new vans come with breakdown cover as part of the manufacturer's warranty, but may only cover you for the first 12 months. It's important you check the terms of your policy to understand exactly what is and isn't covered, and when your standard cover will expire.”
What number do I need to call in the event of a breakdown?
Citroën
Citroën offers 12 months roadside assistance on all new petrol and diesel commercial vehicles from the day of the registration. Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles (whichever occurs first) starting from the date of registration. In the event of a vehicle breakdown, customers can call Citroën Assistance for free on 0800 197 2046. Cover is available 24 hours a day, in all parts of the UK and Europe.
Fiat
All Fiat commercial vehicles come with complimentary Roadside Assistance (SARA) for a period of 12 months from the date of registration. Cover is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year Europe wide, meaning you can enjoy your Fiat worry free wherever your journey takes you. In the event of a vehicle breakdown, customers can call Fiat on 00 800 342 800 00 from major European countries.
Ford
Every new Ford commercial vehicle comes with 12 months roadside assistance from the date of registration. Ford Assistance includes roadside rescue, repair and recovery service at home or anywhere in Europe, seven days a week, 365 days a year. In the event of a breakdown, customers can call Ford Assistance on 0800 111 234 from the UK.
Isuzu
All new Isuzu D-Max vehicle come with full UK breakdown cover including local recovery, roadside and home assistance and European Breakdown Cover for five years from the date of registration. In the event of a breakdown, customer should call 0800 777 167 for assistance.
Land Rover
All new Land Rover vehicles come with roadside assistance for the duration of the three-year warranty period. You can call for assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In the event of a breakdown, customers can call 0800 521 786 which is free from both mobiles and landlines.
Maxus
The new Maxus commercial vehicle range comes with five-year roadside assistance as standard. In the event of a breakdown, you can call for assistance on 0333 0702637.
Mercedes-Benz
All Mercedes-Benz vans come with MobiloVan roadside assistance free-of-charge for three years from the date of registration. Support teams are on-call and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 00800 3777 7777 with an average response time of under 60 minutes.
Nissan
Nissan offers an impressive five-years roadside assistance on its vans and commercial vehicles from the date of registration, covering breakdowns, accidents, and non-warrantable incidents such as flat tyres, lost keys or use of the wrong fuel. In the event of a breakdown, customers can call 0800 246 820, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Peugeot
All petrol or diesel Peugeot commercial vehicles come with 12 months roadside assistance free of charge from the date of registration, or eight years or 100,000 (whichever occurs first) for electric and plug-in hybrid models.. If your van breaks down, you can call for help on 0800 294 0294, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Renault
Renault offer roadside assistance on all new vans and commercial vehicles for a period of 36 months from the date of registration. For assistance in the event of a breakdown, call Renault Assistance on 0800 085 8005. Renault Assistance is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Toyota
All new Toyota vehicles come with 12 month roadside assistance from the date of the first registration. Cover is for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and roadside assistance is available in 44 European Countries. In the event of a breakdown, customers can call 0800 246 824.
Vauxhall
Vauxhall petrol and diesel commercial vehicles come with 12 months roadside assistance from the date of registration. Electric and hybrid models get eight years of cover from the date of registration. Cover is available via the RAC, 24 hours, 7 days a week on 0800 197 2049.
Volkswagen
All Volkswagen commercial vehicles come with roadside assistance for the first three years at no extra cost. Cover includes everything from flat tyres to battery problems. Customers can call 0800 777 172 for help and assistance, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
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