How to get the best breakdown deal

With the half term holidays coming up many families will be looking to take advantage of the easing of lockdown restrictions with a UK-based trip. Holidaying in the UK takes a lot of the hassle out of travelling and, instead of arranging flights and airport transfers, all holidaymakers simply need to pack up their car and drive to their destination.

To make holidaying in the UK even more stress-free, holidaymakers may want to consider getting breakdown cover, just in case the worse happens and they end up stranded by the side of the road. For those who are not yet covered, or who did not renew their cover during the pandemic, here are some tips on getting the best breakdown cover deal.

Normally, drivers have two different types of breakdown cover to choose from – personal cover and vehicle cover.

Personal cover will cover the insurance policy holder no matter what vehicle they are driving, and often when they are a passenger as well, as long as the type of vehicle is included in the policy. This can be a good option for those who often drive a vehicle that is not their own, for example their partner’s.

Vehicle cover just applies to a specific vehicle and is usually the cheaper option. This type of insurance is often a good choice for those who mainly drive their own vehicle.

Before taking out breakdown cover, drivers should ensure that they do not already have cover. For example, some bank accounts offer breakdown cover as part of account’s incentive package. As well as this, new cars often come with breakdown cover for a limited time period such as two years.

For those that do not have breakdown cover already, the most common types of cover is third-part cover. Well-known companies such as the AA, RAC and Green Flag offer this type of cover which, for an annual fee, will attempt to fix the vehicle or, if it cannot be fixed, will tow it to a nearby garage.

Another type of breakdown cover is pay-and-claim, which also charges an annual fee but is often cheaper than third-party cover. Unlike third-party cover, drivers have to pay for the roadside repair or tow to a garage themselves and then claim the money back from the policy provider.

Just having breakdown cover does not mean that all breakdown scenarios are covered. Instead, the level of cover taken out will usually determine what type of assistance is available. Normally, the most basic type of cover is roadside assistance. Under this cover, a breakdown van will come and assist if a vehicle breaks down more than a quarter of a mile away from the cover holder’s home, although for some cover this is even further. If the vehicle cannot be repaired, it will be towed to a nearby garage.

The next level up is often home cover, which along with roadside assistance, will send a breakdown van if the vehicle breaks down, or cannot start, at the owner’s home. Often this type of cover is significantly more expensive than basic cover, and can be costly to upgrade, but research has shown that the majority of breakdowns happen at the vehicle owner’s home, so may be worthwhile taking out.

Some breakdown cover policies also have the option of national recovery, in which the driver and passengers of the broken-down vehicle will be towed to their destination of choice, or the closest garage to the destination.

Once a driver has decided what type of cover to get and the level of cover they need, they should compare the market to ensure that they get the best possible deal. Our breakdown cover page not only highlights the best deals currently available on the market but also allows drivers to easily compare options to help ensure that they get the best possible deal.