Car Breakdown Cover – Have You Got Yours?

It’s only other peoples’ cars that break down, right?

Wrong. Breaking down can happen to anyone, at any time, and for a new or inexperienced driver it can be a very daunting experience if you don’t have breakdown cover.

Luckily, you can get breakdown cover very cheaply, so that when it happens to you, you know you can get moving again quickly, without it costing the earth.

There are two different types of breakdown cover you can buy.

Automatic Service

This is the most popular type of policy. With automatic service policies you pay an annual fee and then, for no extra cost, receive assistance when your vehicle breaks down. This type of cover is hassle free, but may end up costing you more in the long run if you don’t claim on it. This cover may also limit you to how many times you can call upon them in one year – be sure to check the small print.

Pay On Call Out

A pay on call out policy means that when you break down a local firm will be sent out to fix your vehicle. You will have to pay for the work they do and then claim the money back later. If you don’t have cash at the time then the firm will accept card, or will invoice you for the work they have done. This normally works out cheaper than automatic service, but is more hassle.

As well as which type of policy to get, you must also choose personal cover or vehicle cover. Vehicle cover is normally cheaper – this means your vehicle will be covered no matter who is driving it. Personal cover is usually more expensive, but will allow you to call your breakdown provider no matter which vehicle you are travelling in.

Each breakdown cover policy will provide you with something different if you break down – from basic roadside assistance and recovery to a local garage, to fully comprehensive onward travel costs and a hire car. You can also purchase European breakdown cover for when you are travelling in Europe. This is normally be the highest level of cover and will include benefits such as repatriation back to the UK if you car can’t be fixed abroad, and a hire car so that you can continue your holiday.

The level and price of breakdown cover will differ between breakdown providers, so it’s worth looking around to see if you can get the same level of cover for a better price.

PetrolPrices.com have a great explanation of breakdown cover on their site. They’ve compared all breakdown providers, policies details and prices so you can see which is best for you.