Emergency / Breakdown Callout

An emergency or breakdown call-out is an urgent visit by a mobile caravan or motorhome engineer to deal with a fault that can't wait for a scheduled appointment — typically while you're away on a trip. It is the service that matters most in touring destinations, where a fridge failing in a heatwave, a silent water pump, dead electrics or a jammed awning can derail a holiday.

What's included

Emergency call-outs cover urgent, on-site diagnosis and repair of the most common touring faults:

• Refrigeration — fridge not cooling (often a gas, ventilation or 12V/240V supply issue).
• Water systems — failed pumps, leaks, no hot water.
• Electrical — 12V or mains failures, charging problems, tripping hook-ups.
• Gas — appliances not igniting (gas work by a registered engineer only — see Gas Safety Check).
• Heating — space or water heating failure in cold weather.
• Awning and bodywork — storm damage made safe.
• Motor mover — failure to engage or drive.

Where a fault can't be fixed on site, the engineer advises on next steps — including when recovery is the right call rather than repair.

What counts as an emergency, and what it costs

Emergency work is priced differently from scheduled servicing. Expect a call-out fee to cover the engineer's travel and time, often before any parts or labour. Out-of-hours work — evenings, weekends, bank holidays, which is when many holiday faults strike — usually carries a premium. Parts sourced urgently may also cost more than on a planned job. A genuine emergency is a fault affecting safety or making the vehicle unusable; a minor issue you can manage until you're home is better handled as a scheduled visit. Indicative emergency call-out pricing runs from around £80 to £250+ depending on time, distance and the work.

On-site repair vs recovery

Many faults can be fixed at the pitch or roadside. Others — major mechanical failure, structural damage, or anything unsafe to move — need a recovery service instead. A good emergency engineer will tell you honestly which situation you're in. Your breakdown or recovery insurance may cover the recovery element; check what your policy includes before authorising work.

Why it matters

A breakdown far from home is stressful, and the wrong response — driving on with a fault, or paying over the odds in a panic — makes it worse. Knowing that a competent local engineer can reach you, and roughly what it will cost, turns a potential holiday disaster into a manageable inconvenience.

What to expect

When you call, describe the fault and your exact location and campsite clearly, and say whether anyone's safety is affected. Be ready for a call-out fee and, out of hours, a premium. See our guide on what to do if you break down on holiday for a fault-by-fault checklist. Find an emergency engineer covering your area and request urgent help.