Street & roadside collections
Give the road name, nearest building number and side of the road. Mention a bus lane, red route, narrow street or roadworks. Do not move into traffic to photograph the van; send details from a safe place.
24/7 across London
Van Recovery in London: Panel Vans, Lutons and Fleet Vans, 24/7
Loaded or empty, day or night: call and we agree the price first
Van broken down or off the road anywhere in London? Call 07960 200253 and tell us where the van is, what it is and what is wrong. We cover every London postcode and the M25. On a motorway, follow the Highway Code rule 277 steps (further down this page) and call 999 if you cannot reach safety and cannot get out safely, then call us once you are safe.
- No call-out fee
- Price agreed first
- Fully insured operators
- 24/7/365 cover
24/7Emergency Response
365Days a Year
from £80Van Recovery
All LondonPostcodes Covered
No upfront cost for non-fault drivers
Van damaged in an accident that was not your fault?
If another driver caused the accident, CityGrip can arrange recovery of your van at no upfront cost to you. The claim is handled through citygripclaims.co.uk and the costs are claimed from the at-fault driver’s insurer. Whether a replacement vehicle is provided depends on the circumstances, and what you owe if liability is disputed depends on the agreement you sign. Read your rights after a non-fault accident before you decide.
- Recovery arranged at no upfront cost where another driver was at fault
- Costs claimed from the at-fault driver’s insurer
- A replacement vehicle depends on the circumstances
Van recovery in London starts from £80. A van that breaks down is rarely just a van: it is a working day, a delivery round or a job on hold, and often a load that still needs to get where it is going. We recover panel vans, Lutons, crew cabs and fleet vans on suitable equipment, loaded or unloaded where it is safe, for sole traders, couriers and fleets across every London postcode and the M25. If another driver caused the accident, we can arrange the recovery at no upfront cost to you.
What our Van Recovery in London includes
One team, every situation covered, day or night.
Panel Van & Luton Recovery
Transits, Sprinters, Lutons and crew cabs recovered safely on the right equipment.
Loaded or Unloaded
We recover vans with a load on board where it is safe, so your goods stay with the van.
Fleet & Trade
Sole traders, couriers and fleets covered, with trade rates for regular work.
Jump Start & Roadside
Flat battery, puncture or fuel problem? We get you going on the spot where we can, with a jump start, mobile tyre fitting or fuel delivery, and recover the van if we cannot.
Accident Recovery
24/7 van accident recovery, arranged at no upfront cost to you where another driver was at fault.
Price Agreed First
We agree the full price on the phone before we set off.
How our van recovery works
From your call to a sorted vehicle, in four simple steps.
1. Call us
Tell us where the van is, what it is and what is wrong. We agree the price with you on the phone before we set off.
2. We agree the job
We confirm the pickup point and how we reach it, the destination and the price.
3. We sort it
We fix the fault on the spot where we can, or safely recover the van if needed.
4. Done
We finish the job or drop your vehicle where you need, at the agreed price. No surprises.
Van Recovery across London & nearby counties
We cover every London postcode, all 32 London boroughs and the City of London, plus the M25. North London and East London have their own van pages, and South London and West London are covered by our area pages. From a Transit stuck on a red route to a Luton off the road at a depot, we recover the van or transport it onward.
Beyond Greater London we cover nearby counties, including Essex, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire. There are van recovery pages for Cambridge, Waltham Cross and Broxbourne, and long-distance van transport starts from £120.
Transparent van recovery prices
Clear starting prices, with no hidden call-out or night surcharges.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Van recovery and towing | from £80 |
| Long-distance van transport | from £120 |
| Jump start | from £70 |
| Tyre change | from £90 |
| Accident recovery (non-fault) | No upfront cost where another driver was at fault |
Final price depends on the van, its load, access and distance. We confirm the full cost on the phone before we set off.
Van breakdown recovery across London: plan the pickup
A London postcode can cover several entrances, a busy main road and a restricted loading bay. Tell us the exact location of the van, the direction it faces and whether it can roll and steer. That helps us assess access before agreeing the recovery.
Car parks & loading bays
Tell us the entrance height, any ramp or barrier, and whether the van is above or below ground. A postcode alone cannot tell us if a recovery vehicle can reach it. Provide a site contact if access needs arranging.
Depots, workshops & business premises
Provide opening hours, gate instructions and room for loading. For a company van, have the authorising contact and receiving garage or depot details ready so the destination is agreed at the same time.
Transit, Sprinter, LWB & Luton van recovery
We recover panel vans (short or long wheelbase, standard or high roof), Luton and box vans, crew cabs and fleet vans, up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight (the maximum laden weight shown on the vehicle plate). A registration and model are the starting point: tell us if your Transit, Sprinter, Crafter or similar van has a long wheelbase (LWB), high roof, Luton box body or tail lift, because body size, fitted equipment and the load affect the recovery arrangement. For a van over 3.5 tonnes, or an electric van, ask when you call.
Loaded vans
Describe the tools, stock or materials carried and the approximate weight. We assess whether the load can stay aboard with the available equipment. A loaded van is not booked on the same assumptions as an empty panel van.
Locked wheels & non-runners
Tell us about seized brakes, missing keys, damaged steering or a gearbox that cannot select neutral. These details determine the loading requirements; suitability is checked before we agree the job.
Your onward journey
Give the drop-off postcode and confirm the destination can accept the van. Mention passengers separately so travel arrangements can be discussed. A vehicle recovery booking does not automatically confirm seats for a whole crew.
For a quote, call 07960 200253 with your pickup, van registration, load, fault and destination. The published starting price is a guide; size, load, access and distance determine the agreed price for your job.
Why use CityGrip for van recovery
We are a transparent recovery service. You speak to a real operator when you call. If your accident was not your fault, see how non-fault claims work.
No hidden fees
No call-out charge added later, no surprise extras and no night surcharges.
Checked before you commit
We confirm on the phone that the van can be recovered, and what it will cost, before the job is agreed.
Easy payment
Pay by card or bank transfer on completion. You get a receipt for your records and your insurer.
Fully insured
Your van is handled by insured operators on suitable equipment.
Van broken down on a London road: what to do before you call
These steps are for ordinary roads and follow Highway Code rules 275 and 276. On a motorway, use the motorway steps in the next section instead.
- Get the van off the road if you can. Think of other road users first. The safest place to stop is somewhere designed for parking. If the van is causing an obstruction, switch your hazard lights on.
- Make yourself visible. Wear light or fluorescent clothing in daylight and reflective clothing at night or in poor visibility. Keep your sidelights on in the dark or poor visibility if you can.
- Use a warning triangle with care. On an ordinary road, if you have one, place it at least 45 metres (147 feet) behind the van on the same side of the road, and take care when you put it out and pick it up. Never use one on a motorway.
- Keep well away from the van and from moving traffic. Highway Code rule 275 says to keep yourself and your passengers well away from the vehicle and moving traffic where you can. Do not stand between the van and oncoming traffic, and at night or in poor visibility do not stand where you would stop other drivers seeing your lights.
- Then call us on 07960 200253. Make the call from your safe spot, away from the van and the traffic.
Van broken down on the M25 or another motorway
Motorways are different from ordinary roads. These are the steps in Highway Code rule 277, in order.
- Leave if you can. Highway Code rule 277 says to leave the motorway at the next exit or pull into a service area if you can.
- Stop on the left. If you cannot, move into the left lane (into an emergency area if you can reach one), stop as far to the left as possible and switch your hazard lights on.
- Get away from the traffic. If it is safe and possible, leave by the side furthest from traffic and wait well away from the vehicle, behind the safety barrier where there is one.
- Last resort. Only if you cannot get your vehicle to the left lane or a place of relative safety, and cannot get out safely and well away from the vehicle and moving traffic, stay in the vehicle with your seat belt and hazard lights on and call 999 immediately and ask for the police (or press your SOS button if your vehicle has one and ask for the police).
- What not to do. Do not try repairs, do not place a warning triangle on the carriageway and do not go back to the vehicle once you have left it.
- Then call us. Once you are safe, call us on 07960 200253.
To tell us where you are, quote the numbers and letters on the marker posts or driver location signs at the edge of the road, or use a mobile phone mapping app. If you use a roadside emergency telephone, face the traffic while you speak and say if you are a vulnerable motorist.
Some motorways have no hard shoulder at all, so do not assume there is one. The M25 between Junctions 23 and 27 is one example: an all lane running smart motorway where the hard shoulder was permanently converted to a running lane and emergency areas are provided at regular intervals as places to stop (National Highways evaluation). The Highway Code rule 277 steps above apply on every motorway.
We have van recovery pages for the M25, including the J20 to J31 stretches, and for the M1:
Van accident recovery in London: what to do at the scene
These steps follow Highway Code rules 275, 283 and 286. On a motorway, follow the Highway Code rule 277 steps first.
- Call 999 first if anyone is hurt or the road is blocked. Give your full location and details of any casualties, do not move injured people from their vehicles unless they are in immediate danger, and stay at the scene until the emergency services arrive.
- Make the scene safer. Stop somewhere safe if you can and put your hazard lights on. Wear high-visibility clothing if you have it. Ask other drivers to switch off their engines and stop smoking. Move uninjured people away from the vehicles to a place of relative safety, away from moving traffic.
- Exchange details. If the collision causes damage or injury to a person, vehicle, animal or property, you must stop, if possible in a safe place, and give your name and address, the vehicle owner’s details and the registration number to anyone with reasonable grounds to ask. If you do not give your name and address at the time, report the collision to the police as soon as reasonably practicable and in any case within 24 hours. Take photographs or notes only once everyone is safe and away from moving traffic.
- Then call us on 07960 200253 if the van cannot be driven, once everyone is safe.
If another driver was at fault, the non-fault offer at the top of this page may apply. Read how non-fault claims work and your rights after a non-fault accident, or see our accident recovery service.
Fleet, courier and trade van recovery
If you run more than one van, you have one number to call for the whole fleet: 07960 200253. We recover vans for sole traders, couriers and fleets, and trade rates are available for regular recovery work.
To set up regular work, have the name of the person who can authorise recoveries, the details of your depot and your usual receiving garage, and a list of your vans with their registrations ready. For each recovery we still need the van’s location, the fault and the destination. Call us or use the contact page, and see the recovery FAQs for more.
What to tell us when you call
Having these to hand keeps the call short and lets us confirm the price on the call.
- Where you are: a road name, the nearest junction or a landmark. If you are on a motorway or the North Circular, say which direction you are travelling and the nearest junction or marker post.
- The vehicle: make, model and registration, and whether it is petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric.
- What has happened: a flat battery, a van that will not start, a flat tyre, a warning light, a fuel problem or an accident.
- Where it needs to go: a garage, your home or another address.
- Your safety: on a motorway, follow the Highway Code rule 277 steps and call 999 if you cannot reach safety and cannot get out safely, then call us once you are safe. On an ordinary road, keep well away from the van and from moving traffic and call us from there.
- If it is in a car park: the car park name, the level and the bay.
Need van recovery in London?
The price is agreed on the phone before we set off.
Van Recovery FAQs
How much does van recovery in London cost?
Van recovery starts from £80 locally and long-distance transport from £120. Van size and load can affect the price, which we confirm on the phone before we set off.
Can you recover a loaded van?
Yes. We recover vans with a load on board where it is safe to do so, so your goods stay with the vehicle. Tell us the van and load when you call.
Do you recover Lutons and vans over 3.5 tonnes?
Yes, up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight (the maximum laden weight shown on the vehicle plate): panel vans, Lutons, crew cabs and other light commercials, on suitable equipment. For a heavier vehicle, call 07960 200253 first and give the make, model, body type and load, and we will say on the phone whether we can recover it.
Do you offer 24 hour van recovery in London?
Yes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including nights, weekends and bank holidays, across every London postcode and the M25.
Do you cover van fleets and trade?
Yes. We recover vans for sole traders, couriers and fleets, with trade rates for regular recovery work. Call us to set this up.
Can you transport my van long distance?
Yes. As well as local recovery we transport vans long distance. Give us the destination when you call and we agree the mileage price before we set off.
Is there a night surcharge for van recovery?
No. We do not add hidden call-out or night surcharges. Recovery starts from £80, and the full price, which depends on the van, its load and the distance, is confirmed on the phone before we set off.
Who pays for van recovery after a non-fault accident?
Where another driver was at fault, we can arrange recovery at no upfront cost to you and handle the claim through citygripclaims.co.uk. The costs are claimed from the at-fault driver’s insurer. A replacement vehicle depends on the circumstances, and what you owe if liability is disputed depends on the agreement you sign.
What should I do if my van breaks down on the M25 or another motorway?
Highway Code rule 277 says to leave the motorway at the next exit or pull into a service area if you can. If you cannot, move into the left lane (into an emergency area if you can reach one), stop as far to the left as possible and switch your hazard lights on. If it is safe and possible, leave by the side furthest from traffic and wait well away from the vehicle, behind the safety barrier where there is one. Only if you cannot get your vehicle to the left lane or a place of relative safety, and cannot get out safely and well away from the vehicle and moving traffic, stay in the vehicle with your seat belt and hazard lights on and call 999 immediately and ask for the police (or press your SOS button if your vehicle has one and ask for the police). Do not try repairs, do not place a warning triangle on the carriageway and do not go back to the vehicle once you have left it. Once you are safe, call us on 07960 200253.
What should I do if my van breaks down on a London road?
On an ordinary road (not a motorway), Highway Code rule 276 says to think of other road users first and get the van off the road if you can. If it is causing an obstruction, put your hazard lights on, and keep your sidelights on in the dark or poor visibility if you can. Wear light or fluorescent clothing by day and reflective clothing at night or in poor visibility. If you have a warning triangle, place it at least 45 metres behind the van on the same side of the road, never on a motorway. Do not stand between the van and oncoming traffic, and at night or in poor visibility do not stand where you would stop other drivers seeing your lights. Rule 275 says to keep well away from the vehicle and moving traffic, so call 07960 200253 from there. On a motorway, follow the Highway Code rule 277 steps and call 999 if you cannot reach safety and cannot get out safely, then call us once you are safe.
Can you collect a van from a car park, loading bay or depot?
We can often collect from car parks, loading bays and depots, but access decides it. Tell us the entrance height, any ramp or barrier and whether the van is above or below ground, and for a business site the opening hours, gate instructions and a site contact. We assess access before agreeing the recovery.
Can you recover a van with seized brakes, missing keys or damaged steering?
It depends on the van and the equipment needed. Tell us when you call about seized brakes, missing keys, damaged steering or a gearbox that cannot select neutral, because these details decide how the van has to be loaded. We check that the van can be recovered before we agree the job.
Can I travel with my van when it is recovered?
It depends on the job. Tell us when you call how many people need to travel and where they are going, and we will say what is possible before the job is agreed. A van recovery booking does not automatically include seats for a whole crew.
Do I have to report an accident in my van to the police?
Yes, if you did not give your name and address at the time: you must then report the collision to the police as soon as reasonably practicable and in any case within 24 hours. Highway Code rule 286 says that if a collision causes damage or injury to a person, vehicle, animal or property, you must stop, if possible in a safe place, and give your name and address, the vehicle owner details and the registration number to anyone with reasonable grounds to ask. If someone else is injured and you do not show your insurance certificate at the time, rule 287 says you must also report it to the police within 24 hours and produce the certificate within seven days. Call 999 first if anyone is hurt or the road is blocked.
Updated November 2026. Lines open 24 hours. Call 07960 200253.
Need van recovery in London? Call 07960 200253.
24/7 van recovery across all London postcodes. Call now: the price is agreed on the phone before we set off.
Related recovery services & nearby areas
Other van recovery and roadside pages.