The majority of drivers will have a breakdown at some point. having a breakdown insurance policy will make the situation less stress-inducing. The breakdown service provider will provide assistance to fix your vehicle or tow it to repair it, so you will not be stranded at the side of the road should your vehicle cease to function.
Drivers aren’t legally obliged to be covered for breakdowns, but it’s a good idea to have in case there’s a problem. What is breakdown insurance and what kind of protection can an insurance policy provide?
What is breakdown for?
Breakdown insurance is a type of insurance that will help you out in the event that your car is damaged at home or while on the road. Breakdown cover is a way to ensure that in the event that your vehicle stops functioning and requires repairs then you can contact your breakdown service provider to assist you solve the issue.
While breakdown insurance isn’t legally mandatory, having this insurance will reassure drivers, particularly prior to a long trip. Drivers can be confident knowing that should their vehicle fail it won’t leave them stranded and won’t have to shell out a fortune to get an emergency call-out from an auto repair shop in the area.
The help you will receive from breakdown insurance will depend on the provider you choose and the amount of coverage you choose.
What is the breakdown cover process?
You can buy breakdown insurance as a separate insurance policy or buy it in conjunction with other services like your car insurance, or the bank account you have. Most of the time you’ll pay for your breakdown insurance either monthly or annually, however there are certain “pay and collect” policies that require you to pay for the cost of repair upfront, and claim them later.
If you are covered and your car breaks down, after you’ve stopped in an area that is safe, you can contact your breakdown service to get help. They’ll send an engineer to try to fix your vehicle or, if they are unable to repair it on the spot and they need to take you to an area garage at minimum. The next step will depend on the issue with your vehicle and the breakdown insurance you’ve got.
In the majority of breakdown policies will not require you to pay an extra amount for assistance.
What are the various types of breakdown insurance?
There is a variety of different breakdown insurance packages that are available based on your driving habits as well as the degree of protection you require.
First, you have the option of choosing between a single breakdown insurance for your car or yourself or one for several vehicles or individuals.
There are two kinds of breakdown covers:
Personal breakdown insurance that will protect the person regardless of the vehicle they are driving or a passenger in.
The breakdown insurance will only cover the specific vehicle or vehicles according to a policy.
Whichever breakdown plan you pick you’ll have the choice of various levels of coverage, ranging from roadside assistance for the simplest to complete, comprehensive travel insurance.
Roadside Assistance Breakdown Coverage
It is the most common and basic breakdown cover plan available. It ensures that the provider will visit your car that is damaged and fix it there and after, or arrange that it be tow towards the nearest garage to make a more complex repair, when needed.
National Recovery Breakdown Cover
Most of the time, these providers provide you with a recovery service, and up to seven other passengers traveling along with you, who will be tow anywhere in the country, whether to your destination of choice or to a garage close to the location you want to go.
Home Start Breakdown Coverage
Home Start breakdown cover will not just provide the basic roadside assistance and if your vehicle should malfunction at home or within one quarter mile of it, you’ll be covered under the breakdown plan you have signed up for.
Travel Breakdown Cover for Onwards
If you purchase Onward Travel breakdown cover, the provider will provide you with a car rental or cover other transportation expenses, or cover the cost of an night-time accommodation so that you can drive on while your car is being repaired.
Additionally the fact that many breakdown companies offer an optional addition to their coverage, such as:
key replacement
misfuel cover
Tyre replacement
battery replacement
Parts and labor
Does insurance for cars provide coverage for breakdown repairs?
Your car insurance does not include breakdown coverage in the standard way, even if you have a comprehensive insurance policy. However, many insurance companies collaborate with breakdown companies to offer drivers the option of purchasing breakdown insurance at the same with purchasing their auto insurance.
Insurance on cars can cover expenses in the event of an accident, however not if your vehicle is damaged or breaks down.
The claims you make on your breakdown insurance won’t be considered a claim on your car insurance , nor will they affect the no-claims bonus since they’re two separate policies regardless of whether you purchase both of them.
What is breakdown cover?
While the details may differ between providers as well as the level of coverage generally speaking breakdown insurance provides you with 24 hours roadside assistance throughout all of the UK (and Europe, if you have European coverage).
Breakdown insurance typically covers the cost of a mechanic who will help you on the roadside to help you continue on your way or, if needed it will tow the vehicle to an auto repair shop for additional repairs.
Breakdown covers can assist with a variety of issues like punctures, flat batteries, or any other mechanical issue that stops the driver from operating.
Your breakdown insurance may include coverage for caravans or trailers towing by your vehicle, but it is important to check the terms of your policy to determine the specific coverage that is available.
Does breakdown insurance cover parts and repairs?
Costs of part like a new tyre or the repair costs of your vehicle in a garage, is not typically covered under breakdown insurance unless you have signed an express policy that covers the costs of these items.
In the majority of cases the insurance will be used to cover repairs done by the mechanic who was responsible for breakdown on the site.
If you decide to add additional insurance to cover the cost of garage repairs and parts typically, there is an amount limit that the breakdown service provider will allow therefore you will have to cover any excess that exceeds the limit.
What is the breakdown coverage exclusion?
The specific exclusions may differ between breakdown companies and policies, however your breakdown insurance may not be able to assist in the event that you:
Contact breakdown support within 24 hours of obtaining the cover.
Repeat calls-outs to fix the same issue.
You must reach the maximum number of calls that your provider will allow you to make.
Break down in your home or near home (unless there is Home Start cover). If you are breaking down on private property rather than an open road.
You are involved in an accident on the road.
Contact us for assistance with routine maintenance or repairs that aren’t urgent. For instance, breakdown insurance will not typically cover windscreen repairs.
You haven’t taken care of your vehicle properly. This could be due to filling it up with the incorrect fuel, or not topping the engine oil or driving without addressing the issue that eventually resulted in a breakdown.
Bring pets or other animals accompany you in case you have to stop. Pets in the vehicle might not be an issue but it’s something you should be aware of in the terms of your insurance policy.
Make use of the car to race or for any other prohibited activity.
Who is the provider of breakdown insurance?
There are a variety of providers of breakdown insurance to choose from such as traditional, pay-and-claim or directly from the car manufacturer when you buy the latest car.
The majority of car makers offer free breakdown coverage as part of the car warranty when you buy an automobile. Based on the manufacturer the amount of coverage and the duration of the breakdown insurance plan will differ, but the typical length of coverage is between to three years, particularly when you have your vehicle maintained at the main dealer.
When can you start using breakdown cover?
Usually, your complete breakdown insurance will start within 24 hours of purchase or at the time you choose your date of commencement. Certain providers might offer an unrestricted recovery service in the interim, however it could be subject to certain terms.
If you’ve already gone down, but do not have insurance You can still seek help from an emergency breakdown service.
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