Compare Breakdown Cover

Being stranded by the side of the road in a broken down vehicle is never fun regardless of whether you were on your way to an important meeting, a weekend away or just driving into town. At times like these the reassurance of breakdown cover is invaluable but with so many different providers and packages available how do you choose the best policy?

Type of cover

The first step in choosing a policy is deciding whether you want ‘Vehicle’ or ‘Personal’ cover. Many, but not all providers offer both options so this is a good way to start narrowing down your search.

Vehicle based cover is often a cheaper option as it entitles you to breakdown assistance for a specific car regardless of who is driving. This can be an economical option if you only ever travel in your own car or share a car with a partner.

Personal based cover will provide you with breakdown protection whatever car you are in.  A policy of this type will be valid whether you are travelling as a driver or passenger and in your own or someone else’s car. Because of its flexibility this type of cover is likely to be more economical if you often drive more than one car or frequently travel with others.

Once you have decided whether vehicle or person based cover is going to work better for you it’s time to start looking at the different levels of cover available.

Level of cover

Most breakdown protection providers offer a number of different levels of cover that differ in price as well as the services they include.

Choosing a breakdown policy is all about matching the features offered by an individual package with the way you travel so that you only pay for protection you’ll use.

While the specifics of each cover level will differ, there are 5 broad levels of cover that are commonly offered. These are.

Roadside assistance - This is the most basic level of cover available and will entitle you to have your car fixed by the roadside or towed to the nearest garage for repair. Free labour (usually for up to 60 minutes) will be included although it’s likely that you will need to pay for any replacement parts needed yourself.

It’s worth bearing in mind that roadside assistance policies tend only to be valid if your car breaks down a certain distance from your home. The exact distance depends on the provider but it tends to vary between a ¼ and 1 mile radius of your property.

Vehicle recovery - Recovery packages will typically include roadside assistance as standard but if your car can’t be fixed by the side of the road, you, your car and any additional passengers (usually up to a 7 person maximum) will be transported to a destination of your choice anywhere in the UK.

Home start - This level of protection extends the assistance a roadside policy provides and will cover you whether your car breaks down at home or on the road. Vehicle recovery may also be included by some providers.

Onward travel - Onward travel policies tend to be the most comprehensive available and usually include the aforementioned protection as well as benefits to cover the cost of accommodation or a hire car while your vehicle is being repaired.

European cover - This protection tends to be available either as a standard feature offering protection on the continent all year round, or as a ‘single trip’ add on. The type that is most suitable for you will depend on how often you plan to travel abroad with your car.