How much does car breakdown cover cost?
Thinking about buying car breakdown cover? Here’s how to get the best cover at the right price
Car breakdown cover can seem like just one more motoring cost, right up to the moment you need to make that call. Then, it’s worth every penny to rescue you from the side of the road and get you going again.
How much is that peace of mind worth? It varies depending on the type of breakdown cover you choose and which company you go with. Here, we look at what you get for your money with breakdown cover – and how to get it for less.
What is car breakdown cover?
Breakdown cover is an insurance policy, so it covers you for what might happen. There are different levels of breakdown cover, and different companies use a variety of names. This means it’s vital to check the small print when comparing policies from different breakdown providers to ensure that what you are paying for includes all the things you want and need.
The starting point for breakdown cover is homestart. This will send a vehicle recovery operative (VRO) to your home address, or nearby if your car has a problem. This type of policy applies a distance limit to how far you can be from the address where the policy is registered, generally ranging from a quarter of a mile to a mile. If you’re further away than that, you need roadside assistance.
With a roadside assistance policy, a VRO will try to fix the problem at the roadside. If that’s not possible, the VRO will recover your car to a nearby garage. You might not have a choice in which garage the car is taken to, as roadside assistance often states a limited radius within which the VRO will transport the car.
Not all roadside assistance policies will attend to your car if it fails to start at home. Nor will this policy apply unless your car is a specified distance away from the address on the policy.
Nationwide recovery sends a VRO to fix the car, but it will also deliver you, your passengers and the car to anywhere in the UK.
Above this comes onward travel breakdown cover. If your car cannot be repaired, this level of cover will help get you to your destination by offering alternatives such as rail travel, hotel accommodation or a hire car. If you travel long distances regularly, this is a good option.
European cover does as it says and will come to your aid across multiple countries. You will need to check individual breakdown companies’ policies for what is included and which nations it operates in.
For drivers who use more than one car regularly, a personal breakdown policy could be a good bet. It means you are covered – not a specific car – and it also allows you to make a claim even if you’re a passenger, rather than the driver.
How much does car breakdown cover cost?
The cost of breakdown cover will vary depending on what it includes and which provider you use. You can find a simple roadside assistance policy from as little as £20 per year ranging up to around £120 per year for more comprehensive cover within the UK.
European cover varies between £80 and £150 for a year. Some companies offer European cover for shorter periods, so you only pay for the number of days you intend to be abroad. However, this can quickly add up if you are away for two weeks or more, so annual cover may be more cost-effective if you travel abroad for longer periods or more than once a year.
Don’t assume the more a breakdown policy costs, the better it will be. Compare what is included in different cover options to be sure you get the best value for your needs.
How can I get car breakdown cover for less?
There are a number of methods for reducing the cost of breakdown cover. You should check with your bank or credit card provider to find out if breakdown cover is included with these accounts. It might also be included in your car insurance or membership of some clubs and organisations, although this may only be a low level of cover.
Most new cars come with roadside assistance included, which often runs for the same amount of time as the warranty, although it can be conditional on having the car serviced at a franchised dealer workshop. Some used cars sold with a warranty might also have breakdown cover as part of the deal.
Shopping around is always the best way to get a keener deal. Comparison websites help here, as well as checking different providers online.
When it comes to renewing your breakdown cover, don’t automatically accept the renewal price from your existing provider. Don’t be afraid to query the price as most companies will reduce the cost when challenged, and check if there are better deals from other breakdown companies.
With most breakdown cover, it’s cheaper to pay in full for a year’s cover rather than pay monthly, which is the same for most insurance policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your car breaks down and you buy cover there and then, there may be a delay in getting help as there’s often a 24-hour period before the cover becomes active. This is to prevent people doing just this, which could see you unwittingly committing fraud by insuring after the event.
However, help is available as most breakdown providers will come out when you call, even if you’re not a member of their breakdown group. This is an emergency call-out and you’re likely to be charged a fee that will be more than the price of a standard policy.
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