Tips to get cheaper breakdown cover

Key takeaways

• Car breakdown cover provides you with emergency assistance if your car breaks down during a journey or at your home.

• A breakdown cover policy can save you from paying emergency callout or towing charges.

• The most basic breakdown policies just cover emergency roadside assistance; more comprehensive policies include home start, onward travel options, and cover while driving in Europe.

Why do I need breakdown cover? 

Breakdown cover provides reassurance to drivers that in the event of issues such as a flat battery, a puncture, or major engine trouble, you can contact a service provider who will dispatch a mechanic to help you get back on the road. 

Minor issues can often be resolved on the spot but if not, you might be towed to a nearby garage, home, or your intended destination. 

Without breakdown cover, you can still reach out to local services for help, but this can be costly and time-consuming, as you may need to call multiple garages to find one with availability. Breakdown cover offers peace of mind that help is on its way, no matter where you are. 

Remember: 

• Breakdown cover gives you access to emergency help if your vehicle breaks down - whether you're out on the road or parked at home. 

• Having a policy in place can help you avoid costly fees for callouts or towing services. 

• Basic plans typically offer roadside assistance, while more comprehensive cover can include home start, onward travel, and even protection when driving in Europe. 

Top tips for buying breakdown cover   

1. Explore all the cover options before you buy a breakdown cover policy 

Breakdown policies come with varying levels of cover. The appropriate level of cover for you will depend on your driving patterns and financial situation. 

Roadside assistance: This is the basic level of cover. If your vehicle breaks down more than a quarter mile from your home, a mechanic will come and either fix it on the spot or tow you to a local garage. 

National Recovery: With national cover, if your car can’t be fixed at the roadside or locally on the same day, it will be transported either back to your home or to your intended destination. This type of cover is ideal if you often travel far from home. 

Home Start: This type of cover includes breakdowns that happen at or near your home which is something standard policies often exclude if the issue occurs within a mile of your address. Home Start is especially handy for flat batteries on chilly mornings or when your car hasn’t been used in a while. 

Onward Travel: If your car breaks down during a long trip and can't be fixed the same day, onward travel ensures you and your passengers can continue your journey. This could include a replacement vehicle, public transport, or even overnight stay arrangements if necessary. It's typically the most expensive level of cover. 

2. Consider optional add-ons  

If you regularly travel abroad or frequently tow a trailer or caravan there are add-ons to policies which you could benefit from. 

European cover: This covers you if you drive your car in Europe 

Mis-fuelling cover: If you put petrol in diesel car, or vice versa 

Lost keys: Replacement keys if yours are lost or stolen 

Cover for trailers and caravans: Additional cover if you are towing another vehicle 

3. Choose personal cover if you want to keep the costs down 

When you buy breakdown cover, the policy will cover either: 

• A particular vehicle 

• You (the person), whatever vehicle you are driving or a passenger in 

• Multiple vehicles 

The cheapest option is to cover the car rather than a specific person. Vehicle-specific cover is usually cheaper than paying to cover any car you are travelling in. This means anyone legally driving it can call for roadside assistance if they break down. Vehicle-specific cover can be a good option if you have one car driven by several family members.  

A personal policy will cover you in any vehicle as a driver or passenger. This is particularly useful if you frequently drive different cars, or travel as a passenger with friends or family. This will usually be more expensive than covering a specific vehicle. 

Multi-Car cover is a type of policy covers multiple vehicles registered at the same address under a single plan. It streamlines managing your breakdown cover and can often be more cost-effective than taking out separate policies for each car.

4. Don’t pay twice 

Before you buy breakdown cover, double-check whether you’re already covered. 

Some car insurance policies include it as an optional extra - it’s convenient, but make sure the level of cover suits your needs. Y

ou might also have breakdown cover through a packaged bank account (where you pay a monthly fee for added perks). These policies are often backed by major providers like the AA, RAC, or Green Flag. If you’ve bought a new car, it may come with complimentary breakdown cover for one to three years - usually matching the length of the manufacturer’s warranty.

5. Remember to compare prices 

Comparing breakdown cover quotes can help you find the best policy for your needs at the best price.  

• Use MoneySuperMarket to quickly and easily compare quotes. You can tailor your quote to your needs, and include any optional extras you think might be useful. 

• Read customer reviews of providers on sites such as Feefo, Google or TrustPilot. 

• Check if the policy has a call-out limit (e.g. a maximum number of times you can use it per year). 

• If you have an older car, check it is covered by the policy. Some policies have a maximum age for vehicles. 

 6. Don’t auto-renew 

Once you’ve decided which policy to take out for breakdown cover, don’t let cover automatically renew. Some breakdown policies automatically renew unless you cancel them in advance. However, the renewal price isn’t always the same—you might end up paying more than before. 

7. Don’t be afraid to haggle 

If your car breakdown provider tries to charge you more at renewal time, give them a call and try to negotiate. 

8. Don’t buy cover you don’t really need 

For example. When choosing local or national recovery, choose it wisely. If you only drive locally, rather than long distances, then national recovery won’t be worth it. 

9. Consider smaller providers 

The AA, RAC and Green Flag are the big names in car breakdown, but there are plenty of smaller providers too, and these are often cheaper. 

10. Pay upfront if you can 

Paying an annual lump sum up front rather than monthly payments is usually the cheaper option.