Breakdown Cover
Breakdown Cover Comparison
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- You could pay from £15.49 per year*
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You could pay from £15.49 per year* for breakdown cover
What is breakdown cover?
Breakdown cover is there to help you get back on the road if your vehicle stops working. Professional assistance will be sent to repair your vehicle on the side of the road or tow it to a repair garage if needed.
You can take out breakdown insurance for your car, van or motorbike. Most standard motor insurance policies will not automatically cover breakdowns. Whether you are looking for personal or vehicle breakdown cover, Quotezone is here to help you find better quotes.
How does breakdown cover work?
Breakdown cover typically covers you for a 12-month period, and works in a similar way to an insurance policy. When you compare breakdown policies, you will be asked for the type of coverage you want, and any optional extras you want to include. Types of breakdown cover include:
Local cover
This cover typically offers roadside assistance or transport for your car and passengers to the nearest garage. Cover usually starts when you are beyond a mile from your home. However, distance limits are specific to the provider, so always check the coverage details.
Nationwide cover
Nationwide cover offers similar coverage for a wider area, usually the whole of the UK. This can give you the option of where you want to be towed. So it is a good option if you regularly travel longer distances.
European breakdown cover
European breakdown cover gives you all the coverage you would get at home, while you are in Europe. Providers often include more extras in these policies, so you could get onward travel, or courtesy car cover too.
Breakdown insurance options
With this type of insurance, you can choose to cover yourself with personal breakdown cover or a vehicle. Many providers will allow you to cover up to four vehicles, or persons on a single policy, as long as they are registered to, or live at the same address.
Personal cover
Personal cover is where a named driver is covered against breakdowns rather than a specific vehicle. This means you can call for breakdown assistance if you are driving any vehicle that meets your policy conditions, even if it’s not your own.
Vehicle cover
This covers a specific car, van or motorbike against breakdown and is not restricted to use by the vehicle’s owner. This means any motorist can use the vehicle and be covered against breakdown. These motorists would still need the permission of the owner of course.
What is the best breakdown cover?
The easiest way of finding the best protection for you is to consider your coverage needs and overall budget. While cheap breakdown cover is usually the first thing motorists will search for, it is still important to think about your level of cover too. The cheapest policy may not always offer you the best level of coverage.
To find the right level of cover for you, it is a good idea to use our breakdown cover comparison form to compare several providers. This way, you can get a clear idea of the prices and levels of cover available, making it easier to choose the best insurance for you.
What does breakdown cover include?
Breakdown insurance can provide instant peace of mind and someone to call in case your vehicle stops working. Here is what different levels of breakdown policies offer you:
Home start
If your vehicle breaks down or doesn’t start while it’s still in your driveway, home start recovery will get you back on the road.
Roadside assistance
This is the most common and often cheapest kind of roadside insurance.
European cover
This will cover you for travelling in Europe. European cover is typically not included with standard breakdown insurance.
Onward travel
Onward travel will help you continue your journey when your vehicle is no longer working.
National recovery
This cover will offer roadside assistance along with transportation of your vehicle to any location in the UK if it cannot be fixed on the spot.
What extras can be added to a breakdown policy?
- Tyre replacement – If you get a punctured and need roadside assistance, then having tyre replacement can be a handy add-on to have.
- Key replacement – Key replacement can be a useful extra to add to your coverage. It can protect you against stolen, lost or damaged keys.
- Misfuelling – If you accidently put the wrong fuel into your vehicle, then misfuelling cover will help you remove it. ‘Out of fuel cover’ can also be used to get your vehicle back on the road although you will need to pay for the fuel yourself.
- Battery replacement – Having battery coverage included in your breakdown policy will protect you when your battery runs out or needs to be replaced.
- European breakdown protection – If you plan on driving in Europe then It is a good idea to have European cover in place. Not all breakdown policies will include European coverage as standard.
- Special vehicle cover – If you tow a caravan or trailer, then you may require a specialised policy.
How much does breakdown cover cost?
The cost of breakdown insurance will vary depending on several factors.
Your level of coverage
Roadside assistance is the most basic and cheap level of breakdown protection. It will only cover you for breakdowns on the road and does not cover home start. Onward travel or home start insurance is the most comprehensive cover and typically more expensive.
Your vehicle
The type of vehicle you drive will impact your breakdown insurance premiums. This means your premiums for your chosen level of cover will vary depending on if you are insuring a van, car, bike, or caravan.
Number of vehicles
If you are looking for multi vehicle breakdown insurance then you will typically need to pay more for your cover. It is common for the cost of breakdown coverage to increase with each additional vehicle added to your policy.
Optional extras
Breakdown cover can come with some additional add-ons to help you get the cover you need. If you decide to add-on replacement tyre or car key cover then you will typically pay more.
How to get cheap breakdown cover
There are a few things you can do to save on your insurance.
- Compare policies – Comparing multiple policies is the easiest way of finding cheap breakdown cover that’s right for you. By comparing multiple policies you can significantly increase your chances of finding cheaper cover.
- Don’t auto-renew – Allowing a policy to auto-renew means you may be missing out on policies from other providers that are cheaper.
- Joint policy – Getting a joint policy with your partner is typically cheaper than taking out individual cover.
- Opt for vehicle cover over personal cover – This can usually offer you more value for money as you’ll be covered for all the vehicles you drive.
How to get breakdown insurance
Breaking down without breakdown insurance
If you breakdown without cover then you can still get emergency cover to start immediately. This option is typically more expensive as emergency call-out fees usually apply. It is recommended that you have breakdown cover already in place to save on expensive emergency call-outs.
Can I get breakdown cover with my car insurance?
It is not common for breakdowns to be covered with standard car insurance policies. This is because insurers tend to view breakdown policies as a separate product. Some comprehensive car insurance polices will offer policyholders breakdown protection as standard. Check your policy details to see if your car insurance comes with breakdown cover.
How do I compare breakdown cover?
Quotezone.co.uk can help you compare breakdown cover from over 10 top UK providers – simply enter your coverage requirements and a few basic details to start comparing quotes.
Frequently asked questions
How many call-outs can I make?
Do I pay excess on breakdown cover?
How much is european breakdown cover?
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*Based on quote data provided by Seopa Ltd during November 2024. This quote was provided to the majority of customers. The quote price you could achieve is dependent on your individual circumstances