Breakdown Cover Guide

Imagine you are driving down the motorway and one of your tyres blows out. Or maybe you are about to take the children to school but the car won’t start. Or perhaps your car breaks down on holiday in France.

The AA, the UK’s biggest car breakdown service, attended 3.4 million call-outs in 2011 – rescuing about one in ten drivers in the UK. The number of call-outs is particularly high during cold weather. In freezing temperatures in February, for example, the AA responded to 16,000 breakdowns a day, up from the average of about 9,000.

So it could happen to you, which is why car breakdown cover is a wise buy. You can then call out an expert to either fix the car at the roadside or take it to the nearest garage. After all, you don’t want to be the motorist left stranded on the side of the road.

The AA and the RAC are the big names in car breakdown cover. But companies such as Green Flag and EuropAssistance also offer roadside assistance policies. MoneySupermarket compares deals through all of these providers and more in an attempt to find cheap car breakdown cover offers for our customers.

How does car breakdown cover work?

There are broadly two types of car breakdown cover. Most of the well-known firms operate a so-called automatic service. You usually pay an annual membership fee and can then call for assistance if you experience a problem, at no extra cost. However, there will almost certainly be a limit on the number of call outs allowed, typically five a year. So watch out if your car isn’t the most reliable!

Some of the smaller car breakdown cover providers don’t send out their own patrols. Instead, a local firm will respond and in some instances you may have to pay for the call-out and any recovery. You then claim back the cost from the breakdown company. So it’s more like a traditional insurance policy.

The automatic system is obviously more convenient, but if you are prepared to pay up front on call out, it can be cheaper in the long run.

Different levels of car breakdown cover

There are different levels of breakdown cover available. A basic policy costs can cost as little as £20 and covers roadside assistance and recovery. So, if you break down someone will come and either fix the car or tow it to the nearest garage or home. The breakdown must usually occur more than a quarter of a mile from your home – and the nearest garage must usually be within 10 miles. If the car needs towing more than 10 miles, you could be liable for the costs.
Remember that car breakdown cover does not include the cost of repairs to your car in the garage. And if your car can be fixed at the roadside, you might still have to pay for any spare parts.

National or nationwide recovery goes the extra mile – for an extra premium. It will take you, your car and up to a certain number of passengers (usually a maximum of seven) to your chosen destination anywhere in the UK.  In other words, it allows you to reach your destination or travel back home, however far away.

If you are worried that your car won’t start in the morning, or you would like cover in case you break down less than a quarter of a mile from home, most firms offer some sort of home start policy. You then know you are covered even if you break down on your own doorstep. 

You can also upgrade your car breakdown policy to include onward travel. If your car cannot be fixed at the roadside, the policy will then typically include car hire for up to three days, overnight accommodation, or the cost of public transport. The exact terms can vary significantly from one firm to another, so be sure to read the small print carefully.

Some car breakdown cover policies will also add on cover for parts and garage costs. There is, however, usually a limit to the amount you can claim.

There might also be restrictions on the type and age of the vehicle.

European breakdown cover

If you are taking your car abroad it is well worth taking out European car breakdown cover. You can either add European cover to your annual UK policy, which normally allows for up to 90 days cover in Europe, or you can buy single trip European breakdown cover if you are planning on just one journey. If you are a frequent traveler on the Continent, annual cover can work out cheaper, but it depends on your driving habits.

European cover differs from company to company, so you should always study the policy details. It is also important to check which countries that are classed as European to make sure your destination is on the list. This might sound stupid but it can vary – some policies will only cover countries in the European Union, for example.

Most policies should at least offer roadside help and emergency repairs, plus English-speaking assistance. You can also include vehicle recovery to the UK or to your destination, as well as cover for alternative transport and accommodation. But the more extensive the policy, the more it is likely to cost. You can find lots more information in our guide to European Car Breakdown cover.

Personal or car cover

As well as the type of policy, you will also have to decide whether to cover your car or yourself. If you buy personal breakdown cover, you can then call for assistance whether you are the driver or passenger in your own car, or any other vehicle.

Alternatively, you can arrange cover for any driver in a named vehicle. The policy will then cover the car, whoever is in the driving seat. You can also typically cover up to three named vehicles on one policy.

If you regularly drive more than one vehicle, you might be better off with a personal policy. But it makes sense to compare both types of cover to make sure you get the best deal.

However, some car breakdown cover packages may impose age limits on vehicles; meaning that vehicles which are over 10 years old might not be covered. This is something to look out for when you are comparing car breakdown cover deals.

Van and motorcycle breakdown cover

MoneySupermarket doesn’t just aim to find cheap car breakdown cover packages for our customers, as we realise that there are other types of vehicle on the road.

It could be that you are a bike owner in search of an appropriate policy. If this is the case, the MoneySupermarket motorcycle breakdown cover comparison could come in handy.

There are also a number of van owners who might quite possibly rely on their vehicle to undertake their business operations for instance. In this situation, not having your van on the road would be hugely inconvenient and a van breakdown cover would prove invaluable in getting your vehicle back on the road faster.

Car maintenance

Don’t neglect your car just because you have breakdown cover in place. The breakdown service can legitimately refuse to assist if your car is not legal and roadworthy, so make sure your MOT is up to date and there is a spare tyre in the boot.

Car maintenance can also help to prevent a breakdown. Battery related problems are the most common cause of call-outs. So always remember to turn off any lights when the engine is not running.  Try too to take your car for a good run out every now and again. If you use the vehicle only for short local journeys, the battery does not get the opportunity to fully charge. Punctures or torn tyres are another common problem, so check the tyre pressure regularly and avoid hitting the kerb! There are lots more driving tips on our summer and winter car maintenance pages.

Which is the best policy?

It’s tempting to choose the cheapest car breakdown cover, but remember that a low-cost policy might not necessarily be the best. For example, if the thought of trying to jump start your car in the morning fills you with horror, then a home start policy will be a priority. But if you have a brand new car, then you might decide to take the risk. Motorists who regularly travel abroad would be wise to pay an extra premium for European breakdown cover. But if you never take your car onto the Continent, there is no point in paying for cover you will never need. There are more ways to cut the cost of breakdown cover on our breakdown cover money saving tips page.

It’s a good idea also to find out the typical waiting times for roadside rescue – and whether the company gives any priority to vulnerable motorists.

Don’t forget that you can compare the cost of car breakdown cover for cars, vans and motorbikes using our free independent comparison service. We search the details of more than 10 breakdown companies to find you the best deal at the lowest price.

Visit a breakdown cover comparison wesbite for all the latest deal or read Start Rescue Reviews.