Breaking down and getting stranded can be a nightmare, but breakdown cover can provide you with the peace of mind that help will be at hand if the worst does happen.
Follow uSwitch’s easy guide help you compare breakdown cover and find the cover that’s right for you.
1. Choose which kind of breakdown cover you need
When you compare breakdown cover, there are two different kinds to choose between:
- Standard breakdown cover or automatic service – with standard breakdown cover, you choose the right level of cover for your needs and pay an annual fee. If you need assistance, call-outs are free. Standard breakdown cover is offered by most breakdown companies and is the most popular choice.
- Pay and claim cover – pay and claim cover is not as popular as standard breakdown cover, but it is usually cheaper. With pay and claim breakdown cover you still pay an annual fee, but if you break down the breakdown company will does not have its own roadside recovery vehicles; instead it will call out a local recovery service. You will also have to pay the local recovery service for the repairs, and then reclaim the money from the breakdown cover company.
2. Decide whether to get breakdown cover for your car or for yourself
Some policies cover you and some cover your car, so when you compare breakdown cover, it’s important to work out which option is best for your needs.
- Personal breakdown cover - this covers you, as the driver or passenger in any car you are travelling in. This is a more expensive option, but if you frequently drive or travel in more than one car, it could come in very handy.
- Vehicle breakdown cover – with this kind of breakdown cover, the policy applies to the car, rather than the driver. This means that anyone driving the car will be covered – this could be a good option for a family car which is shared by two or more drivers.
3. Think about what level of breakdown cover you require
There are different levels of breakdown cover, and features vary between different companies. To help you compare breakdown cover and decide what kind of cover you need, here are some of the main features:
- Roadside assistance – this will cover you if you break down away from home (usually you’ll need to be at least a quarter of a mile away from home.)
- Home assistance – this will also cover you if your car breaks down at home or less than a quarter of a mile away.
- Vehicle recovery – if your car can’t be fixed at the roadside, vehicle recovery means it will be towed to a garage or your home.
- Parts and labour cover – this will cover the cost of any parts and labour needed to fix your car.
- Onward travel – this could be as basic as giving you a lift home or wherever you were going before you broke down, or something more comprehensive, like a courtesy car or even accommodation while you car is being repaired. Check the individual policy for details.
- European breakdown cover – this will provide you with cover if your breakdown in Europe. Again, the exact level of cover you get will differ by policy, so check before you buy. With some policies you can ‘upgrade’ to European breakdown cover later on if you need to.