No one wants to be stranded by the roadside with a broken down car – this is how breakdown cover works and can help you when your car is acting up.
What exactly does breakdown cover?
Breakdown cover is a kind of policy that could help to get your vehicle back on track if it breaks down. For instance, if your car’s battery is dead or your tyres get punctured, breakdown cover can help you so you and your vehicle don’t end up stranded along the roadside.
It’s important to note that although breakdown cover can be bought as a policy on its own, some insurers offer breakdown cover as an additional option included with car insurance. Some even include breakdown cover as an included feature. It’s best to search around and evaluate your options to ensure that you’re getting a good deal you can get.
What kinds of breakdown cover are there?
You can purchase different types of break cover:
A personal breakdown cover or vehicle
Personal: With personal breakdown you’ll be covered on any vehicle so long as it meets the conditions stated in the policy. You’ll have the option of claiming regardless of whether you were driving or as a passenger, and depending on the company and the type of policy, the cover could also cover other people in the same residence – however there could be a limit on the number of
Breakdown of a vehicle cover
Vehicle breakdown cover lets you claim for any specific vehicle, be it a van, car or motorcycle. you might be able to include multiple vehicles that are covered in this policy in the amount of a predetermined amount.
Traditional breakdown cover
A traditional breakdown cover is when you pay a set amount, usually annually, and in return , you receive 24/7 cover for everything included in your insurance policy. This could include calls – at times up to a specific amount each year – along with roadside and garage repairs, plus towing services.
Insurance breakdown cover
If you break down you’d pay upfront for things like callouts repair, recovery, and callouts before you can claim the costs to your breakdown cover provider
What’s covered in breakdown cover?
The breakdown coverage may differ based on the level you take out and the company you choose to use The policies could include:
Local cover The most basic form of breakdown cover This is when your insurance provider sends a mechanic and recovery vehicle to attempt to fix your vehicle’s roadside. If they’re not able to repair it, they’ll usually bring it to an nearby garage
Recovery of vehicles or national cover: With the option of vehicle recovery included in the breakdown cover you’ll be able to choose any place you’d like you and your vehicle to be taken should your vehicle not be repaired.
At-home breakdown: A breakdown at home cover is a way for you to call for help in the event that your vehicle breaks down at home, or even just a few kilometers from your home. For instance, if you haven’t driven your car in a while, the next time you try to start it up you might be surprised to discover it has an unreliable battery. An at-home breakdown cover can help you get up and running
Onward travel: When you purchase an onward travel cover as part of your breakdown deal you’ll have additional options for getting to your destination. Based on the service provider and extent of cover you purchase it could include courtesy vehicles, overnight accommodation and alternative public transportation arrangements
Optional extras
Beyond the basics of cover You can also purchase additional policies such as:
Key replacement: standard breakdown cover could be inadequate if keys are damaged, lost or damaged, or stolen
Replacement of the battery: You may also need an extra level of cover to change your car battery if it runs out
Tyre replacement: If your tyre is punctured and then becomes flat, it is possible to opt to get a policy in place to make sure that the company you choose to use will repair it.
The wrong fuel: you might require an additional insurance if you’ve used the incorrect fuel for your vehicle and it fails to function as a result.
Family and multi-car: if your household is comprised of multiple vehicles or drivers it could be cheaper and more convenient to place them all on the same insurance policy rather than arranging individual breakdown cover for each. The majority of vehicles and/or people should be registered to one address, but certain policies may cover children at university
Special vehicles: If you own a caravan or trailer attached to your vehicle, you may need a special policy in order for these to be included in the breakdown cover. In the same way, if you have motorcycles or a motorbike, they may not be included in the normal breakdown policy.
European breakdown cover: if you break down on mainland Europe then standard breakdown cover is likely not enough to help you, therefore it could be a good idea to purchase European cover – even if it’s just for one-time trips
Common exclusions, with breakdown cover
It’s important to remember that there could be a situation when your breakdown cover company won’t be able to help you because your policy may not cover:
Breaking down on private land If you crash on privately owned land, your policy may not cover this. Or your provider may be charged extra for their help
Breaking down due to pets and animals: travelling with pets isn’t an issue, but you may have to let your insurance company know beforehand in order to allow them to be able to transport your animal(s). However livestock could be a different problem it’s possible to take out separate cover for horses and livestock trailers which is why it’s worthwhile looking for it if you’ll require it.
Broken down as a result of a traffic accident: If you’re involved in an accident that results in your vehicle breaking down, your service provider could not be able assist you. Even if they’re able, if they’re able, to to your vehicle, they may need to wait for emergency services to issue the go-ahead first.
Failure to repair due to the absence of routine maintenance: as your driver, it’s your responsibility for you to make sure your vehicle is kept in working order. If you suffer a breakdown as because of improper maintenance, like unchanged engine oil or filling up with the wrong fuel, you may not be covered by insurance.
If you’re stranded abroad and break down, even if your insurance policy provides the most comprehensive breakdown cover that you can get, if it is only applicable in the UK then you’ll need an additional policy for when you’re driving in foreign countries.
Visit this website to compare breakdown cover.
How much does breakdown cover cost?
The kind and the amount of cover you take out – local cover is typically the cheapest and most basic level that is available and will almost surely cost less than a policy that includes in-home or onward-travel cover. Whether you choose personal or vehicle cover will affect the price of your premium
The extras you add to your breakdown policy adding extra cover for things like fuel mismatch or key replacement could make your breakdown cover more costly
The number of cars on the policy – having multiple vehicles on your policy could add cost to your policy, though it is less expensive than purchasing separate policies for each car.
The type of vehicle you’ve got – vehicles, vans, and motorcycles may require various kinds of repairs and taking different amounts of time for the repair. The type of vehicle you pick could influence your quote for premium.
Your vehicle’s make, model and age. Different makes and models can also differ in repair costs particularly as newer vehicles will often have more complicated and technological features. Older cars can also be more expensive to repair, due to the availability of parts.
Breakdowns without breakdown cover
If you experience a breakdown without already having breakdown cover in place, don’t worry because you have options. Certain providers provide immediate breakdown cover but there are a few that do not. Also, certain providers may charge an additional cost for calls within the first 24 hours, while other providers may not offer any help even if they do help.
Certain companies will also provide a breakdown service even if don’t have cover however, bear in mind that this service will likely cost you money.
