Breakdown cover won’t stop your car from breaking down but it can help you get off the roadwaywith a policy you can trust the following guidelines to think about.
What is breakdown cover?
If your vehicle breaks down while you’re on the move It’s a good idea to have breakdown insurance to assist you with repairs. If you’re fortunate you won’t have to contact a repair service but breakdowns do happen when you least expect it (and typically at the most inconvenient locations).
You can purchase breakdown cover in conjunction with your car insurance , or you can purchase it separately. These policies are also referred to as breakdown and recovery insurance.
Breakdown cover can also be included as a perk with some bank accounts so always check to see if you’ve purchased insurance prior to adding on cover.
The type of help you receive when breaking down will be contingent on the extent of cover you choose to take out such as:
Roadside assistance : Your insurance company will make arrangements for assistance to visit you. Technicians are sent to your place and try to repair your car at the roadside. If it’s not fixable and they’ll organize for your vehicle to be taken to the nearest garage. Be aware that there are restrictions apply and some guidelines will require you to be a certain distance from your home in order to be eligible for roadside assistance.
Assistance at home — if your car won’t start at home (or within close proximity to your home) it will be possible to reach out for help and have it fixed right there and then. Certain policies provide home breakdown cover is referred to as ‘homestart’.
National recovery — If your vehicle isn’t repaired by the roadside, you could arrange for it to be tow anywhere within the UK for your convenience.
Onward travel — if your car can’t be fixed this policy will let you travel on. This might include an auto-hire or taxi and accommodation.
European breakdown cover will provide roadside assistance if you crash down in Europe (double make sure that the country that you’re visiting has coverage).
Are there any additional options I can add to my breakdown cover?
As with other kinds of insurance, you can add on other features to cover the full range of situations. Optional extras can include:
Replacements for keys lost
Replacement of the Tyre
Battery replacement
Misfuelling
What is the cost for breakdown cover?
The cost will largely depend on the type of cover you select and the extent to which you’ve added any extras. Remember that insurers set its own rules and regulations, so their features may differ.
Cheap breakdown cover might appear to be an ideal idea at the time you buy it, but it might not be a good value once you actually require it. For instance, if are only covered by roadside service and require transporting your vehicle back to your home, since it’s not able to be repaired, you’ll have to make arrangements for this yourself. Plus, if you’ve broken down on the way, you’ll have to consider additional travel expenses and, possibly accommodations too.
However policies that include national recovery and onward travel might look expensive but could provide greater value for money and be a lot more practical.
Do I have to pay for the car breakdown cover per month?
It is possible to pay for breakdown cover every month, however paying it annually is the more affordable alternative. Paying in installments might allow you to spread the cost , but you may end up paying more once the interest charges are added.
Are there other people I can add to my breakdown and recovery insurance?
Breakdown cover is typically flexible and in many cases, you’ll be able to add several named drivers as well as their respective vehicles to your insurance. Multi-car insurance policies can be beneficial if each family member has their own vehicle.
You can also get policies that cover only one car but multiple drivers, making them perfect when you share a car with family members.
What do I need to do if my car breaks down?
A road accident could leave you in a state of panic, but try to stay calm — here’s what you’ll have to do:
You should park in a safe area on motorways or carriageways, you should park as far to the left of the hard shoulder as you can.
Be noticed — you need to wear a high-visibility jacket or jacket. You should also put on your car’s hazard lights on.
Get out of your car (if it’s safe to do so) — If you’re traveling on a busy highway Try getting out on the passenger side to ensure you don’t risk getting stuck in traffic. In the Highway Code recommends heading to the verge at the side and road. Pets must be kept out of the vehicle unless they can be properly controlled.
Call for help — in the event that you have breakdown or recovery insurance, contact the company you have. They’ll arrange for the required arrangements and provide you with advice based on your immediate situation.
What happens if I break down and I don’t have a breakdown cover?
If you don’t carry breakdown or recovery insurance, you have several options:
Utilize emergency phone lines- these are placed just one mile apart on the highway’s hard shoulder that connect with the Highways Agency or the police. The caller should be able to describe where they are and the situation and they’ll be able to send help. Your face should be towards traffic while making the phone call. Go back to your car after you’ve completed the call and stay at the edge.
Contact a local garage -If you know where you are and you need assistance, contact the garage in your area for assistance.
Buy breakdown cover the moment you need it. Afterwards — you can buy emergency breakdown cover at by the highway from providers like the AA The RAC, and Green Flag.
It is important to remember that all of these options could cost considerably more than the price of an insurance policy for breakdowns. If you opt to buy emergency cover on in the middle of the highway, you’ll be paying an extra amount than purchasing the policy prior to.
What isn’t covered by my car breakdown insurance?
Your policy will include a number of exclusions and conditions. The conditions and exclusions will vary according to the insurer but the policies might not cover:
Private land is prone to breakdowns.
Traveling with pets on the road
Accidents can cause breakdowns
Failures due to poor maintenance (for instance , if it wasn’t topped up the oil)
Is breakdown cover worth it?
This is really up to you. If you’re not worried about your car breaking down, or the car you drive is relatively new and you’re convinced that it’s unlikely to happen, then you may not be in need of or even want to get insurance.
The nature of breakdowns implies that you’re never sure the time when it could happen, and there’s much to be said for peace of mind on the road.
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