Breakdown Cover Guide

If you drive, you've probably heard of breakdown cover. But you might be wondering, what exactly is it, what's included, and do I really need it?

We've got all the answers to frequently asked questions about breakdown cover, including different types of policies and what they mean.

What is breakdown cover?

Breakdown cover is a paid service that makes sure you get assistance if your vehicle breaks down. It can apply to almost any type of vehicle, from cars to vans to motorbikes - as well as fleets and company cars.

Your car could break down for a number of reasons, like a flat battery or a flat tyre. If you're at the roadside - or even at home - a breakdown service will send a mechanic out to your car to try to fix the problem.

If the mechanic can't fix the car there and then, they'll get your car to a garage for repairs.

Is breakdown cover worth having?

Breaking down can be a scary and stressful situation - especially if you break down somewhere dangerous, like on a motorway. Breakdown cover gives you peace of mind that help will be there when you need it and you won't be left stranded.

Plus, having a breakdown policy already in place could help save you money if your vehicle breaks down.

• The average cost of a call out from a local garage is £80.¹
• A breakdown on the motorway could cost over £150.²

It’s usually cheaper to buy a year's policy in advance than break down and be forced to call someone out in an emergency.

Does car insurance cover breakdowns?

Breakdown cover is an extra service which isn't included in standard car insurance policies. Car insurance helps you cover costs if you've had an accident. Breakdown cover helps you with recovery and repairs when your car's broken down.

However, your breakdown provider might include an extra service to help if you have an accident. Accident Assist offers our Members help with repairs, vehicle hire or personal injury assistance if they need it.

We have more mobile mechanics than anyone else.³

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What is personal and vehicle breakdown cover?

Most breakdown cover providers will offer 2 types of policy:

• Personal breakdown cover
• Vehicle breakdown cover

Both personal and vehicle cover can apply to a range of vehicles like vans and motorbikes, as well as cars. But there are a few differences between them.

Personal breakdown cover

This covers you whether you're in your own car or someone else's, like a friend or family member's. Whether you're a driver or a passenger, you'll be able to call out a breakdown service if the car you're in breaks down. It can be a good choice if you want cover in multiple cars.

This cover might suit you if:

• You sometimes drive different cars.
• Your household has more than 1 car.
• You want to cover your children as passengers in other cars.

Personal breakdown cover usually costs more than vehicle cover. If you're the sole policy holder, you'll need to be in the car for the cover to apply. It won't cover other people driving the car without you.

But you can add other people to your policy if you take out joint or family cover.

Vehicle breakdown cover

This covers a particular car if it breaks down, no matter who's driving it. The breakdown service provider will come out to fix the car even if the person who owns it isn't there.

This cover might suit you if:

• You only drive 1 car
• Your household shares 1 car

Vehicle breakdown cover is a more cost-effective option as it's usually cheaper than personal cover. But you won't be covered if you break down in someone else's car, either as a driver or a passenger.

With personal membership, we'll rescue you in any car.

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What are the different levels of breakdown cover?

Breakdown cover isn't one size fits all. You can choose from different levels of cover with more service and flexibility to suit your driving habits.

Most breakdown cover providers will give you the choice of these cover levels, which can also be combined together:

Roadside Assistance

This is the standard level of cover and is the cheapest tier you can get. All breakdown cover providers will give you at least this level of service. Roadside Assistance usually includes:

• 24/7 help if your car breaks down at the roadside
• A mechanic will come out to your car and try to repair it
• If it can't be fixed there and then, you'll get a tow to the nearest garage

But this basic level of cover has some limitations:

• It won't cover you at home (you usually have to be a minimum distance away, for example, 1/4 of a mile from home).
• You'll be towed to the nearest garage and not to a destination of your choice.
• If you need alternative travel arrangements, you'll have to organise this yourself.

National Recovery - Relay

National Recovery offers you all the same services as Roadside Assistance, but with the added benefit that:

• If your car can't be repaired at the roadside, it'll be towed back to any location of your choice, anywhere in the country.

This could be handy if you're on a trip a long way from home. You can choose to be taken back home or to your local garage, instead of to the garage nearest the place where you broke down.

Most breakdown cover providers will recover you and your passengers, but there may be a limit on how many people can be recovered with you. It'll cost more to add National Recovery to your cover.

At Home - Home Start

At Home cover provides the same services as Roadside Assistance, but with the benefit that:

• Your car will be covered for breakdowns at home and close to home.
• Usually this applies within a certain distance from home, for example within 1/4 of a mile from your house.

You'd be surprised how many breakdowns happen on someone's own driveway. It could be a flat battery overnight or a slow puncture that means you wake up to a flat tyre in the morning.

With At Home cover, a mechanic will come to your home to try to fix your car there and then. It'll cost a bit more to add this to a standard Roadside Assistance policy.

Onward Travel - Stay Mobile

Onward Travel has the same services as Roadside Assistance, but it also includes:

• Help to continue your journey, so a breakdown doesn't leave you stranded.
• A choice of a hire car, costs for public transport or an overnight hotel.

Imagine you're on your way to a special event, like a wedding, when your car breaks down. With standard Roadside Assistance, your car will be recovered to the nearest garage and you'll have to figure out how to get to the wedding yourself.

With Onward Travel, you'll get extra support so you can finish your journey. Your breakdown provider will help arrange a hire car for a few days, or a train or bus if you'd rather take public transport. If your car's being fixed overnight, they can cover the costs of a hotel stay.

It can be a bit pricier to add Onward Travel on top of the standard Roadside Assistance.

We fix 9 out of 10 vehicles that break down at home.⁵

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Will replacement parts be paid for?

With standard roadside assistance, a mechanic will try to fix your car on the spot. But if you need new parts or need repairs at a garage, you'll have to pay for it yourself.

You can usually pay a bit more to add cover to your policy that helps you out with the cost of repairs.

Here's how cover for replacement parts and garage labour works:

• It pays for many of the spare parts used in roadside repairs that normally include a charge.
• It'll pay towards work done in a garage after a breakdown, as long as the work's included in the policy.
• You'll usually have to pay an excess (a small sum of money) towards the cost of repairs.

Our Parts and Garage Cover lets you claim up to £535 towards repairs each time you use it. You can claim up to 5 times a year, with just a £35 excess to pay each time.

Get up to £535 towards repair costs

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Can I be covered in Europe?

Breakdown cover will only cover you if you're driving in the UK. If you're driving your own car in Europe, you'll need to add European breakdown cover.

This won't apply if you're hiring a car abroad - you should call your hire company to deal with a breakdown in a rental car.

You'll be able to choose between:

• Single-trip cover, which will cover you for 1 trip to Europe.
• Annual cover, which covers you for unlimited trips in a year.

Why should I get European breakdown cover?

The benefits of European breakdown cover are:

• You'll be covered if you break down in your own car while driving in Europe.
• You can get help to finish your holiday, for example with a hire car.
• If your car can't be fixed, it can be towed back to the UK for repairs.

You'll need to double check what's included with your European Cover. Some companies' standard policy might include a replacement hire car and towing your car back to the UK. Other companies might charge extra for these services.

We're linked to breakdown services across Europe

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How do I get breakdown cover?

There are lots of different ways to get breakdown cover.

• Direct - You can buy breakdown cover directly from a provider. This is usually an annual policy.
• Insurance - Some insurance companies include breakdown cover in their policies.
• Banks - You might find you have breakdown cover as a perk with your bank account.
• Manufacturers - When you buy a new car, the manufacturer might include free breakdown cover for a year or so.
• Pay and claim - This offers a cheap way to cover your car. You'll have to pay any mechanic, garage or recovery fees upfront and claim the money back from your breakdown policy provider. You'll need to make sure you have enough money to pay upfront and then send receipts to reclaim the cost, much like how expenses work.

Before you buy a new policy, you'll need to consider the best level of cover for you and whether you might already have a policy you've forgotten about.