What we need to know
Model, load and height
Panel van, crew cab, Luton or tipper. What is in the back, and how tall it stands, decide which truck comes.
Where it is standing
Loading bay, site compound, residential street or motorway. Access is the thing that most often changes the plan.
Agreed price before we roll
One all-in figure for collection and destination, given to you before the truck leaves.
Van and driver both moved
The van goes where you need it. Where there is room in the cab and it is safe, you come too.
Why vans are not just big cars
The obvious difference is weight, and it is the one that decides which truck turns up. A long-wheelbase van carrying a day of materials can weigh close to twice what the same van weighs empty, and that is the difference between a straightforward lift and a job that has to go flat. It is worth being honest about the load rather than optimistic, because a truck that arrives and cannot take the weight has helped nobody.
The less obvious difference is height. Vans get parked in places cars fit through and they do not, and the moment a height barrier is involved the plan changes. Retail park decks, hospital car parks and older multi-storeys are the usual culprits. A roof rack or a set of ladders adds enough to matter.
Then there is the working day. A car breaking down is an inconvenience. A van breaking down is a customer waiting, a slot missed and sometimes a day that cannot be rebooked. If the priority is the load rather than the vehicle, tell us at the start. Occasionally the right answer is to move the van to a garage and get the gear onward separately, and that is a conversation worth having before anyone loads anything.
One last thing that surprises people. Goods in the back are not insured by the recovery. Our cover is for the vehicle. If there is something in there you would hate to lose, take it with you where you can.
Van recovery FAQs
My van is loaded with tools. Do I have to empty it?
Usually not. A van normally travels loaded, the same way it was being driven. What matters is that we know roughly what is in the back before we set off, because weight changes which truck can take it and whether it can be lifted or has to go flat. If the load is unusually heavy, or it is loose and likely to shift, say so when you call.
Who is responsible for the tools inside during recovery?
Tools and stock in the back are not covered by vehicle recovery insurance, and we would not pretend otherwise. If you are carrying something valuable and you are able to take it with you, that is the safest option. If you cannot, tell us where the van is going and we will get it somewhere secure rather than leaving it on a verge overnight.
Can you recover a Luton or a box van?
Often yes, but height and length are the deciding factors rather than weight alone. A Luton with a tail lift is a different proposition to a short-wheelbase panel van, and some multi-storey and underground car parks are simply not reachable. Give us the model, whether it has a box or tail lift, and where it is standing, and we will tell you straight whether we can get to it.
I am on a job and the van has died. Can you get me to the customer?
We can move the van and, where there is room and it is safe, the driver travels in the truck cab. What we cannot promise is that the working day survives. If getting the load to the job matters more than the van, say that first, because it changes what we suggest.
Cars and general breakdowns are vehicle recovery. After a collision, see accident recovery. Electric vans and 4x4s need flatbed recovery. Moving a working vehicle across the country is UK-wide transport. Check your area on the coverage map.
What drivers say.
“Absolutely brilliant service from start to finish. They were incredibly quick to respond, professional, and provided excellent customer service throughout.”
“Excellent service. He transported my car after it had been involved in an accident on the main road; he handled the transport safely.”
“Excellent service from Blue Line Recovery Services. The driver arrived on time, was very friendly, professional and made the whole vehicle recovery process stress-free.”