Breakdown Cover

What is breakdown cover?

Breakdown cover is a type of insurance policy that provides you with roadside assistance if your vehicle breaks down. As a minimum, breakdown policies will normally cover the costs of sending a mechanic to your car and, if they can’t repair it, towing it to a garage.

More comprehensive breakdown policies will offer extra features and protection, such as recovery to any location, “at home” recovery, and the costs of alternative travel and/or accommodation.

Many drivers may find it useful to have some form of breakdown cover, but if you are unsure, you can read our guide to help you decide if you need breakdown cover.

How does breakdown cover work?

If you choose vehicle breakdown cover, the policy applies to the vehicle. This means that you can only claim on the policy if you break down in that particular vehicle.

If you choose personal breakdown cover, the policy applies to a named driver. This means you can claim on the policy if you break down in any vehicle, sometimes even if you are only a passenger. Personal cover is normally more expensive than vehicle cover.

To use your breakdown cover when you’ve broken down, you will just need to contact your provider on their emergency number. With some providers you can also request assistance via a mobile app.

» MORE: What you should do if you break down

What is the best breakdown cover for me?

The best breakdown cover policy for you will depend on how far you normally drive, how important your car is for your daily activities, and how much you are prepared to spend on cover.

There are several types of breakdown cover that offer different levels of protection. Bear in mind that policy details will vary between providers.

• Roadside assistance: The most basic, and often the cheapest, breakdown cover. It simply covers the cost of an emergency call-out to your broken down vehicle and a tow to a nearby garage if it needs further repairs.
• National Recovery: The same as above, except you can choose where your car is towed to. This policy may be more suitable for people who travel longer distances, ensuring they can get home or to their chosen destination even if they break down.
• Onward Travel: The most comprehensive level of breakdown cover, and consequently one of the more expensive options. As well as an emergency call-out and a tow to a garage, this policy covers the cost of alternative transport and/or overnight accommodation if your car is out of action for an extended period. People who want the peace of mind that they can continue their journey, whatever happens to their car, may want this cover.
• Home Start: Most breakdown policies will only cover you if you break down more than ¼ of a mile from your home. However, adding Home Start to your policy will cover you if you break down at home or in the surrounding area. With many breakdowns happening on the driveway, this cover means you won’t need to pay expensive call-out fees if your car stops working close to home.

You can find out more about the different types of breakdown cover to help you decide which is right for you.

If you own two or more cars, you may want to consider taking out a multi-car breakdown policy.

How do I compare breakdown cover?

To compare breakdown cover, you should first think about your driving habits and what protection would be most useful to you. There’s no point paying extra for cover you won’t use, but equally it may be worth spending more on a comprehensive policy if you worry about breaking down, perhaps because you have an older vehicle, and getting stranded far from home.

Once you know the type of cover you need, you can then compare policies and their costs to find the one that is most suited to you. Make sure you check the details of each provider before buying any cover as policies will have different terms, such as the limit on the number of claims you can make.

You can use the table above to choose the type of cover you want to buy and then compare prices and providers.

Breakdown Cover FAQs