Break down cover for tow vehicles, including towed caravans & trailers
What happens if your tow vehicle breaks down when towing a caravan or trailer?
Breaking down while towing a caravan or trailer can leave you stranded with more than just a vehicle to worry about. While roadside assistance and breakdown cover for tow vehicles isn’t a legal requirement in the UK, taking out a policy is a sensible precaution — ensuring both your vehicle and any towed caravan or trailer are protected by a reliable breakdown and recovery service.
Many UK car and vehicle breakdown recovery plans now include complimentary recovery of a towed caravan or trailer, provided it’s attached to the tow vehicle at the time of breakdown. Cover typically extends to a range of towed items, including:
- Touring caravans
- Trailer tents
- Box trailers and general trailers
- Horse box trailers
Levels of car, caravan & trailer breakdown cover
Comparing annual roadside assistance and breakdown recovery policies is essential to finding the best value cover for your needs. Prices vary significantly depending on the level of cover:
- Single vehicle cover starts from as little as £50 a year
- Multi-vehicle policies with enhanced recovery options can cost £200+ a year
Most breakdown cover providers offer a choice between:
- Vehicle-specific cover — protects a named vehicle regardless of who’s driving
- Personal/driver cover — protects a named driver (or drivers), regardless of which vehicle they’re in
Why Compare Breakdown Cover for Towing?
Not all breakdown policies treat caravan and trailer recovery the same way. Some providers include it as standard, while others charge extra or cap the weight/size of what they’ll recover. Comparing policies side by side helps you:
- Avoid paying for cover you don’t need
- Ensure your specific caravan or trailer type is included
- Check weight limits and recovery distance caps
- Find the best price for the level of protection required
Compare the UK's Leading Breakdown & Recovery Providers
Cover My Breakdown
Vehicle Cover (any driver) / Driver Cover (personal cover in any vehicle up to 4 people)
Local Recovery – vehicle £19.81 / driver £33.36 year
National Cover – vehicle £21.97 / driver *£38.34 year
National & Home – vehicle £22.82 / driver £39.97 year
European Cover – vehicle £57.94
*Home cover available for a small additional fee.
Caravan Recovery Included
Caravan or trailer attached to tow vehicle
– Caravans up to 7m in length
– Trailers up to 3.05m in length
Trustpilot 4.5
GEM Motoring Assist Breakdown
Recovery & Reclaim – From £82.22 year – Individual driver cover / Or cover for the vehicle (anyone driving).
Recovery Extra – from £106.00 year – Individual driver cover / Or cover for the vehicle (anyone driving).
Caravan Recovery Included
Caravan or trailer attached to tow vehicle
– Caravans up to 7m in length
– Trailers up to 3.05m in length.
Trustpilot 4.5
Motoring Assistance UK Breakdown
Flexible policies choose from personal cover or vehicle cover. Number of vehicles covered etc.
Membership / Premium Membership / Premium Plus Recovery &
Single vehicle annual cover from £88.
Driver breakdown cover from £xx.xx
Caravan Recovery Included
Caravan or trailer attached to tow vehicle
– Caravans up to 7m in length
– Trailers up to 3.05m in length.
Trustpilot 4.5
Details of excess, discounts etc. may change over time, to our best knowledge the details are correct up to May 2022.
* Trustpilot & Feefo star ratings provided as a guide, ratings are checked and updated monthly.
Disclaimer: ‘Caravans Insured’ does not recommend an individual breakdown and recovery provider above another. If you choose to purchase breakdown and recovery, cover will be provided directly by the chosen provider and subject to their terms & conditions.
FAQs Car, caravan & trailer roadside assistance & breakdown
NO – Whilst car breakdown cover often provides recovery of a towed caravan or trailer if it is connected to the broken down tow vehicle, caravan or trailer recovery is not always included as a standard feature. When it is not included as standard, caravan or trailer recovery can usually be added as an optional extra.
Typical breakdown assistance and recovery includes:
Cheaper breakdown cover often only provides local recovery (recovery to the nearest garage or repair centre), each breakdown provider has different terms but usually up to 10 miles from where you broke down.
National recovery provides vehicle recovery to a chosen location, this could be back to your home or on to your final destination if you prefer.
It all depends on the level of cover, each policy is different. Check the full details or T&Cs of your cover, they should specify how many call outs you are allowed to make. Premium break down cover might allow for unlimited call outs, whereas cheaper basic policies might only allow one per month or fewer.
Usually yes, if you have break down cover with caravan/trailer recovery, your recovery service should arrange to take your caravan to the garage with your car. Some policies will allow for a caravan to be towed separately to the nearest campsite if your tow vehicle is unable to be fixed on the same day. This is a good option and allows you to overnight in your caravan while your vehicle is being fixed.
Most breakdown assistance providers offer specific ‘European’ cover, or the ability to add European breakdown cover as an optional extra. It can also be added at a later date, at extra cost, by calling your breakdown recovery provider to request it is added for one-off holidays or trips.
Even if you think you have European cover it is always best to check with your service provider before you travel to confirm whether your cover will include recovery of your caravan or trailer should you break down while on holiday in Europe.