Breakdown Cover in the UK What to Look For
WeCovr's expert breakdown cover guide for UK motorists
As an FCA-authorised expert in UK motor insurance, WeCovr knows that a vehicle breakdown is a major disruption. This guide explains what to look for in a breakdown policy, ensuring you're prepared for the unexpected. A sudden fault can leave you stranded, stressed, and facing a hefty bill.
The right breakdown policy provides peace of mind, knowing professional help is just a phone call away, 24/7. But with so many options, how do you choose? We’ll break down the different levels of cover, explain the jargon, and highlight what to look for to ensure you get the protection you truly need, without paying for features you don't.
What Exactly is Breakdown Cover?
Breakdown cover is a dedicated insurance service designed to rescue you if your vehicle suffers a mechanical or electrical failure. It provides roadside assistance to either repair your vehicle on the spot or tow it to a garage if an immediate fix isn't possible.
It's crucial to understand that breakdown cover is entirely separate from your standard motor insurance. While your car insurance policy covers costs related to accidents, fire, or theft, it typically does not cover issues like a flat battery, an engine fault, or a puncture. Breakdown cover is the service that fills this specific gap.
You can purchase it in two main ways:
- As a standalone policy: Bought directly from a specialist breakdown provider like the AA, RAC, or Green Flag.
- As an add-on: Included as an optional extra with your primary motor insurance UK policy.
At WeCovr, we help thousands of motorists find comprehensive motor policies where high-quality breakdown assistance can be seamlessly integrated. This often provides better value and simplifies your paperwork, giving you one less thing to worry about.
Do I Legally Need Breakdown Cover in the UK?
No, breakdown cover is not a legal requirement for UK motorists. However, motor insurance is a legal necessity. This distinction is vital. While you won't be penalised by law for not having breakdown cover, the consequences of breaking down without it can be severe and expensive.
Without cover, you would be responsible for arranging and paying for your own recovery. According to industry figures, a simple tow from a motorway can easily cost over £250, and that's before any repair bills. Considering the average age of a car in Great Britain was 9.0 years at the end of 2023, as per DVLA data, the risk of a breakdown increases with every passing year. For a relatively low annual cost, breakdown cover is widely considered an essential purchase for most drivers.
Understanding Your Legal Motor Insurance Obligations
Before diving deeper into breakdown options, it’s critical to understand the mandatory insurance every UK vehicle owner must have. The Road Traffic Act 1988 requires all vehicles used on public roads or in public places to have at least Third-Party Only insurance.
Here’s a simple breakdown of the three main levels of vehicle cover:
| Type of Cover | What It Covers | Who It's For |
|---|---|---|
| Third-Party Only (TPO) | This is the minimum legal requirement. It covers injury to other people (the 'third party') and damage to their property or vehicle. It does not cover any damage to your own car or your own injuries in an accident. | Often chosen by owners of very low-value cars, but it is not always the cheapest option. |
| Third-Party, Fire & Theft (TPFT) | This includes everything from TPO, plus it covers your vehicle if it is stolen or damaged by fire. | A popular mid-level option that offers more protection for your own vehicle against specific, common risks. |
| Comprehensive | This is the highest level of protection. It covers everything in TPFT, plus it covers damage to your own vehicle in an accident, even if you were at fault. It often includes windscreen cover and personal belongings cover as standard. | The best choice for most drivers. Surprisingly, comprehensive motor policies can often be cheaper than lower levels of cover as insurers may view drivers who choose it as being more responsible and lower risk. |
For businesses, fleet insurance or business car insurance is essential. These policies are specifically designed to cover vehicles used for work purposes, protecting the business against liability claims and ensuring all company vehicles, from cars to vans, are legally compliant.
The Different Types of Breakdown Cover Explained
Choosing the right level of breakdown cover depends entirely on your driving habits, your vehicle's age and reliability, and your budget. Providers typically offer tiered packages, so understanding what each level includes is key to not overpaying or being underinsured.
| Level of Cover | Description & Key Features | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Roadside Assistance (or 'Local') | This is the most basic and cheapest level of cover. A mechanic will be dispatched to your location and attempt to fix your car at the roadside. If it can't be fixed, they will usually tow you, your vehicle, and your passengers to the nearest suitable garage (typically within a 10-20 mile radius). It does not cover breakdowns at home. | Drivers who mainly make short, local journeys and don't venture far from their home area. It's a safety net for local trips. |
| 2. National Recovery (or 'Relay') | Includes everything in Roadside Assistance, but with a crucial addition: if your car can't be fixed at the roadside or locally that day, the provider will tow your vehicle, you, and your passengers to any single destination in the UK. This could be your home, your original destination, or your own trusted garage. | This is essential for anyone who travels long distances, commutes far from home, visits family across the country, or goes on UK holidays. It prevents you from being stranded hundreds of miles away with a broken-down car. |
| 3. Home Start (or 'At Home') | This valuable add-on covers you if your car breaks down at your registered home address or within a short distance of it (usually ¼ to 1 mile). Standard policies often exclude breakdowns at home, yet this is where many issues, like flat batteries, occur. | Virtually everyone. The RAC reports that a huge number of their call-outs are to people's homes before a journey has even begun. A car that won't start on a cold morning is a very common scenario. |
| 4. Onward Travel | This is the most comprehensive and premium level of cover. If your car can't be repaired at the roadside or on the same day at a garage, this cover provides you with options to continue your journey. This may include a replacement hire car for a few days, reimbursement for alternative public transport costs (e.g., train tickets), or payment for overnight hotel accommodation. | Business travellers, families on holiday, or anyone for whom getting to their destination on time is critical and non-negotiable. |
| 5. European Cover | This extends your UK breakdown cover to include driving on the continent. It provides local assistance and recovery services across most European countries, often with English-speaking support lines and assistance with navigating local repair networks. | Anyone planning to drive their car to mainland Europe for holidays or for business trips. |
Personal vs. Vehicle-Based Cover: Which is Right for You?
Another crucial choice when buying a breakdown policy is whether to cover the vehicle itself or you as a person. The right choice depends on your personal circumstances.
Personal Cover
- How it works: This policy covers you as an individual, no matter what eligible car you are in. This means you are covered whether you are driving your own car, a family member's car, or are even a passenger in a friend's car when it breaks down.
- Pros: Highly flexible. It's ideal for individuals who own or drive multiple cars or who frequently travel in other people's vehicles. A single personal policy provides comprehensive peace of mind across various situations.
- Cons: It can be slightly more expensive than vehicle-based cover. It is tied to the named person on the policy.
Vehicle Cover
- How it works: This policy covers a specific vehicle, identified by its registration number. Any person who is legally driving that car is covered if it breaks down.
- Pros: Often the more cost-effective option if you only have one vehicle in your household. It's perfect for families where multiple people (e.g., partners, children) drive the same car.
- Cons: It's restrictive. If you are driving a different car (a hire car, a friend's car) and it breaks down, you are not covered by this policy.
Real-Life Example:
- The Jones Family: They have one main family car which both Mr. and Mrs. Jones drive. Their son, Tom, also uses it occasionally. A vehicle-based policy is perfect for them, as it covers the car no matter which of the three is driving.
- Sarah, a Young Professional: Sarah owns a small city car but often borrows her parents' larger estate car for weekend trips. She also frequently shares lifts with colleagues for work events. A personal policy is the best choice for Sarah, as it covers her in any of these scenarios.
Key Features to Compare When Choosing Breakdown Cover
Beyond the main levels of cover, the small print contains details that can make a huge difference during a real-life breakdown. Here’s a checklist of what to scrutinise when comparing policies.
1. Call-Out Limits
Some cheaper policies will limit the number of times you can call for assistance within your policy year. A typical limit might be 3-5 call-outs. If you have an older or less reliable vehicle, a policy with unlimited call-outs offers better protection and value.
2. Policy Excess
An excess is a fixed amount you must contribute towards the cost of a call-out or repair. A policy with a £50 excess might have a lower annual premium, but it adds an immediate out-of-pocket cost when you're already stressed. Many comprehensive policies have no excess, so check this carefully.
3. Misfuelling Cover
Putting petrol in a diesel car (or vice versa) is a surprisingly common and potentially engine-destroying mistake. Standard breakdown cover often excludes this as it's considered driver error. Look for policies that explicitly include misfuelling cover. This will typically cover the cost of draining the wrong fuel, flushing the system, and providing a small amount of the correct fuel to get you going again, saving you from a bill that could run into many hundreds of pounds.
4. Lost Keys and Lock-Outs
Losing your car keys or accidentally locking them inside the vehicle is incredibly frustrating. Check if the policy includes cover for a locksmith to help you gain non-destructive entry to your vehicle or assist with the costs of a replacement key and reprogramming.
5. Battery and Tyre-Related Breakdowns
According to major UK providers like the AA and RAC, battery and tyre issues consistently rank as the top two causes of breakdowns.
- Batteries: All patrols will attempt to jump-start or recharge a flat battery. The key question is what happens if it's dead. Will they fit a new battery at the roadside? Note that you will almost always have to pay for the new battery itself, but a good policy will cover the call-out and labour for fitting it.
- Tyres: Most patrols will help you change a flat tyre if you have a roadworthy spare. However, many modern cars now come with a tyre sealant kit instead of a spare wheel. These kits are useless for larger tears or sidewall damage. Check if the policy includes towing you to a tyre fitter if a roadside fix isn't possible.
6. Specialist Vehicle Cover
Standard policies are designed for regular cars up to a certain age and weight. If you own a different type of vehicle, you need to ensure your policy covers it.
- Motorhomes & Campervans: These are larger and heavier, requiring specialist recovery vehicles.
- Classic Cars: May require specialist mechanics or careful 'low-loader' transportation to avoid damage.
- Motorcycles: Need specific equipment and expertise for safe recovery.
- Vans (Commercial Use): Business van breakdown cover is essential to minimise operational downtime. WeCovr specialises in finding tailored fleet and commercial van insurance that can include robust breakdown protection designed for business use.
Breakdown Cover for Modern Motoring: EVs, Hybrids and Vans
The UK's roads are evolving, and your breakdown cover needs to keep pace with modern vehicle technology.
Electric Vehicle (EV) and Hybrid Breakdown Cover
Electric and hybrid vehicles have unique requirements that a standard breakdown patrol might not be equipped to handle.
- Running Out of Charge: This is the EV equivalent of running out of fuel. Good EV breakdown cover will include recovery to the nearest suitable and working charging point. Some providers are now trialling and rolling out mobile charging vans that can give a stranded EV enough of a boost to get to a static charger under its own power.
- Specialist Technicians: Diagnosing faults on complex EV battery systems, inverters, and electric motors requires specific training. Ensure the provider has EV-aware technicians who won't cause further damage.
- All-Wheel-Up Towing: Many EVs (and some all-wheel-drive hybrids) require 'flatbed' or 'lift and slide' recovery trucks that lift all four wheels off the ground during towing. This is to avoid damaging the electric motors and regenerative braking systems.
Breakdown Cover for Vans and Fleets
For any business, a vehicle off the road means lost productivity and lost revenue. Van and fleet breakdown cover is a non-negotiable part of effective risk management.
- Minimising Downtime: The primary goal of commercial breakdown cover is to get the vehicle fixed and back in service as quickly as possible, often with priority service.
- Load Continuation: If a van is carrying time-sensitive or perishable goods, some specialist policies offer to arrange for the load to be transferred to another vehicle to complete its delivery.
- Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs): This is a highly specialised area requiring providers with heavy-lifting capabilities and a network of commercial vehicle repair specialists.
As an expert broker, WeCovr works closely with businesses to build comprehensive fleet insurance policies. These often incorporate breakdown cover tailored to the specific operational needs of the company, whether they run a fleet of sales cars, delivery vans, or specialist commercial vehicles.
Practical Steps: What to Do If You Break Down Safely
Knowing how to react safely in a breakdown situation is as important as having the right cover. Your safety and the safety of your passengers is the number one priority.
If you break down on a regular road (A-road, B-road, or in town):
- Activate Hazard Lights: Switch on your hazard warning lights immediately to alert other drivers.
- Pull Over Safely: If possible, pull over to a safe place on the left-hand side of the road, away from junctions or blind corners.
- Angle Your Wheels: Turn your steering wheel towards the kerb. This prevents the car from rolling into traffic if it's knocked.
- Exit with Care: Exit the vehicle from the passenger side, away from the flow of traffic, if it is safe to do so.
- Find a Safe Spot: Stand well away from the vehicle and the road, behind a safety barrier if there is one.
- Call for Help: Call your breakdown provider. Be ready to give them your exact location (road name, town, nearby landmark, or use a map app on your phone), your vehicle registration, and a description of the problem.
If you break down on a motorway:
- Aim for an Emergency Refuge Area (ERA): On a smart motorway, follow the orange signs to the nearest ERA. If not, use the hard shoulder.
- Position Your Vehicle: Pull over as far to the left as you can on the hard shoulder or in the ERA. Turn your wheels to the left.
- Lights On: Switch on your hazard lights. At night or in poor visibility, also use your sidelights.
- Exit Left and Get Behind the Barrier: All occupants must exit the vehicle via the left-hand (passenger side) doors. Move to a safe location up the embankment or behind the crash barrier, well away from moving traffic. Never wait in the vehicle.
- Do Not Use a Warning Triangle: It is dangerous to place a warning triangle on a motorway hard shoulder.
- Call for Help: Call your breakdown provider from your mobile phone. If you don't have a phone or signal, walk to one of the free orange emergency telephones. These are spaced along the hard shoulder and connect you directly to National Highways, who can pinpoint your exact location for the recovery service.
Saving Money on Breakdown Cover and Your Motor Policy
High-quality vehicle cover doesn't have to be excessively expensive. Here are some smart ways to get the best value.
- Compare the Market Annually: Loyalty doesn't always pay. Don't simply accept your renewal quote. Use an independent, FCA-authorised broker like WeCovr to compare quotes from a wide panel of insurers for both your motor policy and breakdown cover. We do the hard work for you, at no extra cost.
- Buy Only the Cover You Need: Be realistic. Don't pay a premium for European cover if you have no plans to drive abroad. If you only ever make local trips, a basic roadside policy might be sufficient.
- Pay Annually, Not Monthly: Paying for your policy in one annual lump sum is almost always cheaper than spreading the cost over 12 monthly payments, as monthly plans often include interest charges.
- Look for Multi-Product Discounts: At WeCovr, we often find that clients who purchase their motor insurance through us can get preferential rates on other products, such as home or life insurance. Bundling your policies with a single trusted broker can lead to significant savings.
- Check Your Bank Account Perks: Some premium or 'packaged' bank accounts include breakdown cover as a benefit. Before you rely on it, check the policy documents carefully. The level of cover provided is often very basic (e.g., roadside only) and may not meet your needs, so you may need to purchase a top-up policy.
The Final Verdict: Is Breakdown Cover Worth It?
For the vast majority of UK motorists, the answer is a resounding yes. The potential cost of a single breakdown without cover can easily exceed the price of several years' worth of policy premiums. It's not just about the money; it's about the safety, convenience, and peace of mind that comes from knowing an expert is on their way to help you.
The key is to choose the right policy. It's about finding the perfect balance between cost and coverage for your specific circumstances. By understanding the different types of cover, comparing key features, and thinking honestly about your driving habits, you can secure this valuable protection.
As an FCA-authorised broker with high customer satisfaction ratings, WeCovr is dedicated to helping you navigate the complexities of the motor insurance UK market. We'll help you find the best car insurance provider for your needs, complete with the breakdown protection that keeps you safe and on the move.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Does making a claim on my breakdown cover affect my car insurance no-claims bonus (NCB)? No, a claim on your breakdown policy is completely separate from your car insurance. Calling for roadside assistance for a mechanical fault will not impact the no-claims bonus you have built up on your main motor insurance policy. The only exception is if the breakdown was the result of an accident, in which case the subsequent insurance claim would affect your NCB as normal.
2. Can I buy breakdown cover on the spot after I have already broken down? While some providers do offer an 'instant cover' or 'pay on use' service, it comes at a significant premium. You will typically be charged a substantial one-off emergency fee that is far higher than an annual policy premium. It is always much more cost-effective to have a policy in place before you actually need it. Many standard policies also have a 24-48 hour activation period to prevent people buying cover only when they're already stranded.
3. What is the main difference between personal and vehicle breakdown cover? Vehicle cover insures a specific car, van, or motorcycle, identified by its registration number. This means anyone legally driving that vehicle is covered if it breaks down. Personal cover, on the other hand, insures you as an individual. This means you are covered in any eligible vehicle you are driving, or even if you are a passenger in a friend's car when it fails. Personal cover offers greater flexibility if you use multiple vehicles.
4. Will my breakdown service tow me to a garage of my choice? This depends entirely on your level of cover. A basic 'Roadside' or 'Local' policy will usually only tow you to the nearest garage from where you have broken down (often within a 10-mile radius). To guarantee you can be taken to any UK destination, such as your trusted local garage back home, you will need a more comprehensive policy that includes 'National Recovery' or 'Relay' cover.
Ready to find the right protection for your journey? Let WeCovr compare the market to find you a competitive motor insurance quote with the perfect level of breakdown cover.
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