What sort of breakdown cover do I need?

Answer these questions to work out what’s best for you...

How far do you travel? How far from home do you drive and how many miles do you drive in a year?

How many people drive your car? If you need breakdown cover for just one car, how many people will it need to cover?

Do you drive several cars? If you own several cars, or if you drive other people's cars, you may need personal breakdown cover, not just cover for a named vehicle.

Do you use your car abroad? Some policies can be extended to cover European breakdowns too, insuring you for holiday travel or business trips.

Read our full guide

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What is included in my breakdown insurance?

There are different levels of cover: • Roadside assistance is the most basic, meaning a mechanic will try to fix your car where it has broken down • You can add on vehicle recovery (being towed to a garage) and home start • Other options such as accommodation and onward travel are included as part of a comprehensive package, or you can add them on as individual items.

What is the cheapest UK breakdown cover?

Breakdown policies are all different, so you need to carry out an online quote. Be aware that the cheapest may not be the best breakdown cover for your needs. For example, some cheaper policies only cover towing your car to a garage or your home or accommodation within a set mileage limit. If you need your car to be taken further, you will pay a charge per mile set by the insurer or the recovery garage, which can work out very expensive.

What is breakdown insurance?

Breakdown insurance is another name for breakdown cover. Breakdown cover is often sold as an add on to a car insurance policy. It can also be sold on its own - as a standalone policy.

What is personal breakdown cover?

It provides breakdown cover if you’re the driver or passenger in either your own car or another vehicle. It’s worth considering if you regularly travel in different cars or you have several cars in your household.

Some breakdown insurance companies won’t cover you if you drive cars over a certain age, as they are more likely to break down.

What is roadside assistance?

Roadside assistance covers you if you break down anywhere in the UK, typically at least a quarter of a mile away from home. A mechanic will come and try to fix your car at the roadside, or tow it to a garage.

What is home assistance/home start cover?

Home assistance insurance will cover you if your car breaks down at home or less than a quarter of a mile away from your address – if your car won’t start in the morning. Your car will either be fixed at home or taken to a garage for further repairs.

What is vehicle recovery?

If your car can't be fixed at the roadside, vehicle recovery means your UK car breakdown cover will pay and arrange for it to be towed to a garage or your home.

What is onward travel cover?

Onward travel breakdown cover can get you where you want to go even if your car cannot be used. It covers you whether it's a lift home or dropping you off to the destination you were travelling to, as long as it's in the UK. Onward travel breakdown cover can even be more comprehensive and can include a courtesy car or even accommodation while your car is being repaired.

Who offers the best UK breakdown cover?

Breakdown cover was originally offered to members of the RAC and the AA, which are two of the UK’s oldest driving clubs. Other providers of car breakdown in the UK have since been established such as Green Flag. There are other companies offering breakdown cover as part of any fully comprehensive car insurance policy. These include AXA and Swiftcover. Always compare prices and policies when looking to take out breakdown cover to make sure you're getting a good deal.

One of the issues around breakdown cover is that it is always much cheaper to buy when you do not need it. If you have to take out a policy on the roadside after your car has broken down, you will be charged the joining fee plus an emergency fee which could be as much as £100.

What is AA breakdown cover?

The Automobile Association breakdown cover is a form of breakdown cover which it offers to AA members as well as those who have AA car insurance.

What is RAC breakdown cover?

The RAC, like the AA, offers its own form of breakdown cover to members and those with its car insurance. However, some other insurers also offer the RAC’s breakdown cover as part of their package.

Does breakdown cover have limits?

The limit on a breakdown cover policy will vary from policy to policy. Usually the cheaper policies limit your call outs to four or five a year, only tow you and your vehicle to local garages and may not include home start if you breakdown within a couple of miles of your home. At the other end of the scale, some comprehensive policies don’t have a limit on call outs, and will provide a courtesy car while yours is being repaired.

What should I look for in car breakdown cover quotes?

Different providers can offer additional extras such as:

• Battery cover • Replacement key cover • Cover if you fill your car with the wrong fuel It’s worth carrying out a car breakdown cover comparison to make sure you are getting the best deal.

What types of vehicles are covered?

When you buy car breakdown insurance cover you can choose whether you want a van, car, or motorcycle to be covered. If you are looking for breakdown cover for special vehicles, such as a large campervan or a car with a trailer, you will need to make that clear as it may make your breakdown cover more expensive.