What is breakdown cover?

Key takeaways

• Breakdown cover provides essential roadside assistance, towing, and support for vehicle malfunctions. It can be purchased as a standalone policy or included in car insurance

• Basic cover includes roadside assistance and vehicle recovery; more comprehensive options might offer at-home assistance and onward travel arrangements

• The cost varies based on cover type, extras, number of vehicles, and vehicle specifics. Common exclusions include private land, pets, road accidents, and lack of maintenance

What is breakdown cover and how does it work? 

When you're on the road, the last thing you need is for your trip to be halted by a vehicle breakdown. Whether it's a flat tyre or a dead battery, these issues can be more than just frustrating and they can leave you stranded. 

Breakdown cover offers a safety net that ensures you and your vehicle are taken care of in such situations. Breakdown cover provides essential roadside assistance, towing, and support if anything goes wrong with your vehicle. It can be purchased as a standalone policy or included in car insurance. 

Basic breakdown cover includes roadside assistance and vehicle recovery, while more comprehensive options might offer at-home assistance, onward travel arrangements, and additional extras. 

The price depends on the level of cover, any additional features, the number of vehicles, and the details of the vehicle. Typical exclusions include private property, pets, accidents, and failure to maintain the vehicle. 

How do I choose the right breakdown cover?

There isn’t one standard policy that suits every driver when it comes to breakdown cover. 

Here are the different types to consider: 

• Personal cover

This provides cover for you as the policyholder, no matter which vehicle you're in - whether you're driving or a passenger. It can usually be extended to others living at the same address, though there's often a limit on the number of people covered. 

• Vehicle cover

This policy is tied to a specific vehicle, whether it's a car, van, or motorcycle. It can cover multiple vehicles under a single policy, depending on certain limitations. 

What does breakdown cover include? 

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

Can I add optional extras to my breakdown cover policy? 

If you want to get a more comprehensive policy, you can add some extras to ensure you are fully protected for all those breakdown possibilities. 

• Family and multi-car: It might be more cost-effective to cover multiple vehicles or drivers at one address under the same policy. 

• Special vehicles:  If you have a caravan, trailer, van, or motorcycle, you will be covered but there are size restrictions depending on weight/ width and length.  

• European cover: If you’re planning on a holiday or adventure abroad, you'll need separate breakdown cover for mainland Europe .All our annual European policies cover the UK too. You can also get extra cover for things like: 

• Key replacement: if your keys are lost, damaged, or stolen. 

• Battery replacement: for when your car battery gives up the ghost. 

• Tyre issues : If you have a puncture or flat tyre, it will be repaired or you will be taken to a garage for a new one.  

• Mis-fuelling: this provides assistance if you accidentally fill up with the wrong type of fuel. 

What isn’t included in breakdown cover? 

There are some common exclusions that may apply to your breakdown cover. These include: 

• Private property: Your policy might exclude breakdown assistance on private land, or it could incur extra fees. 

• Travelling with animals: Let your provider know in advance if you have pets onboard. Livestock will require a separate policy. 

• Road accidents: If you’re in a collision, recovery might require clearance from the emergency services before a tow can be arranged. In the event of an accident, you should always contact your car insurer in the first instance rather than your breakdown provider. 

• Maintenance issues: Your vehicle has to be fully MOT’d and serviced regularly according to the manufacturer’s schedule. If your vehicle breaks down due to lack of upkeep, it might not be covered. 

• Overseas travel: Breakdown cover typically only applies within the UK—additional cover is needed for driving abroad. 

How can I get cheaper breakdown cover?

The cost of breakdown cover can vary depending on: 

What happens if I breakdown and don’t have cover? 

Don’t panic if you do happen to breakdown and you have not taken out breakdown over. Some insurance providers offer instant breakdown cover, although you might face extra charges or restrictions for immediate callouts. 

How can I find the best breakdown cover?

The simplest way to save on your breakdown cover is to compare different providers. By using MoneySuperMarket and our trusted partner, Comparison Creator, you can easily explore a range of deals tailored to your needs. Just share a few details about yourself, your vehicle, and any past breakdowns to get personalised quotes. 

Life's journey can be full of surprises, but with reliable breakdown cover, you're never alone on the road—you’ll have the help you need to keep going, no matter what obstacles come your way.