Vehicle recovery for the things a car app cannot lift
A 3.5 tonne Luton, a four-wheel-drive that cannot be towed on its wheels, an EV with a locked drivetrain. Each needs different equipment, and the app decides which before dispatch.
A vehicle recovery app covers more than cars: vans, 4x4s, electric vehicles and fleet vehicles. TowManVan prices van and minibus recovery from £120, matches a flatbed where a vehicle cannot be towed on its wheels, and lets fleet operators book against a saved default destination.
Recovery gets harder as vehicles get heavier and drivetrains get more complicated, and a lot of consumer recovery services quietly assume a two-wheel-drive car under 1,800kg. That assumption breaks on a fully loaded panel van, on a four-wheel-drive, and on almost every electric vehicle.
Four-wheel-drive vehicles generally cannot be towed with two wheels on the road without risking the transmission or the centre differential. They need a flatbed, or all four wheels lifted with dollies. Getting that wrong turns a recovery into a driveline rebuild.
Electric vehicles are stricter still. Most manufacturers prohibit towing on the driven wheels at all, because the motors generate current when turned and there is no neutral in the conventional sense. A flatbed is effectively mandatory, and a damaged EV needs a driver who understands high-voltage isolation before it goes anywhere.
Vans carry their own problem, which is that their laden weight is often nothing like their unladen figure. A 3.5 tonne Luton with a load on board needs a truck rated for it, and the difference between a car-capable and a van-capable unit is not something to discover on arrival.
TowManVan prices van and minibus recovery from £120, including the first two miles, then £4 a mile to ten miles and £3 a mile after that up to £230. Loads add £100 between 400 and 500kg and £200 above that, which is declared at booking rather than argued about at the kerb.
For fleets, the useful part is repetition. A saved default destination, a saved vehicle list and per-job records mean a recovery is a few taps rather than a fresh conversation each time.
How the vehicle recovery app works
Identify the vehicle
Registration returns weight, drivetrain and fuel type. Four-wheel-drive and EV flags set the equipment automatically.
Declare the load
For vans, say what is on board. Loads between 400 and 500kg add £100 and above 500kg add £200, priced at booking.
Flatbed matched automatically
Anything that cannot travel on its driven wheels gets a flatbed rather than a spec lift, decided by the app rather than the driver's judgement on arrival.
Track and record
Live tracking plus photographs at both ends, which fleet operators can export against the job reference.
What it costs
Weight, drivetrain and declared load all affect the equipment sent. Declaring accurately at booking is what prevents a wasted callout and a second charge.
| Service | Price | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Van or minibus recovery | From £120 | Includes the first 2 miles. Covers most 3.5 tonne panel vans and Lutons. |
| Van, miles 3 to 10 | £4 per mile | Then £3 per mile up to a £230 ceiling on mid-range distances. |
| 4x4 on a flatbed | From £85 | Car-weight 4x4s. Flatbed selected automatically to protect the drivetrain. |
| Electric vehicle | From £85 | Flatbed only. Damaged EVs are assessed for high-voltage isolation first. |
| Load 400kg to 500kg | +£100 | Declared at booking. Above 500kg the surcharge is £200. |
| Vehicle will not roll | £65 | Skates for a seized, locked or missing wheel. |
What the app does
Drivetrain-aware dispatch
Four-wheel-drive and electric vehicles are flagged from the registration and routed to a flatbed automatically, not left to the arriving driver to assess.
Van weight ratings respected
A laden 3.5 tonne Luton needs a truck rated for it. That is matched at booking rather than found out on arrival.
Load declared and priced
Between 400 and 500kg adds £100, above 500kg adds £200. Both appear in the quote so there is no roadside renegotiation.
EV high-voltage awareness
Damaged electric vehicles are assessed for isolation before loading. Operators handling them are briefed on the risk, not improvising.
Fleet defaults
Save a compound or a preferred garage as the default destination, plus a vehicle list, so a recovery is a few taps.
Exportable job records
Photographs and timestamps at both ends, exportable against a job reference for fleet reconciliation and insurance.
App booking versus a general recovery service
| Factor | TowManVan app | a general recovery service |
|---|---|---|
| 4x4 handling | Flatbed selected automatically | Sometimes towed on its wheels, risking the drivetrain |
| EV handling | Flatbed only, isolation checked if damaged | Frequently declined outright |
| Van weight rating | Matched from the registration | Discovered when the wrong truck arrives |
| Load surcharges | Declared and priced at booking | Negotiated at the roadside |
| Fleet repeat bookings | Saved vehicles and default destination | A fresh phone call every time |
vehicle recovery app questions
How much does van recovery cost in the UK?
Van and minibus recovery starts at £120 through the app, including the first two miles. After that it is £4 per mile to ten miles and £3 per mile up to a £230 ceiling. Loads between 400 and 500kg add £100 and loads above 500kg add £200.
Can a four-wheel-drive be towed on its wheels?
Generally not safely. Towing a 4x4 with two wheels turning risks the transmission and centre differential. The app flags four-wheel-drive from the registration and dispatches a flatbed automatically, or uses dollies to lift all four wheels.
How are electric vehicles recovered?
On a flatbed, always. Most manufacturers prohibit towing an EV on its driven wheels because the motors generate current when turned and there is no true neutral. A damaged EV is also assessed for high-voltage isolation before it is loaded.
Do I need to declare what is in my van?
Yes, and it matters. A laden van needs a truck rated for the combined weight. Loads between 400 and 500kg add £100 and above 500kg add £200. Declaring at booking is what stops a wasted callout and a second charge.
Can fleets use the app for multiple vehicles?
Yes. Fleet accounts can save a vehicle list and a default destination such as a compound or preferred garage, so a recovery is a few taps. Job records with photographs and timestamps can be exported against a reference.
What if the vehicle is too heavy for a standard truck?
The app matches the truck from the registration weight before dispatch. If the vehicle exceeds what a standard recovery unit can carry, the job routes to a heavy operator and is priced accordingly, which you see before confirming.
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Apply to driveTom Hargreaves - Head of Recovery Standards
Tom spent 12 years patrolling UK motorways with the AA before joining TowManVan. He signs off every recovery price and response-time claim on this page. Questions? Email tom@towmanvan.co.uk.
Last updated 19 August 2026. Apps launch 1st of October 2026.