Break down covers

It is a good idea to obtain breakdown cover if you regularly travel by car. It is a practical way to ensure that you get a fast and efficient service should you have a breakdown and can give you peace of mind whether you're just travelling to the local shops or driving long-distance on the continent.

There are a growing number of breakdown cover providers, and the range of products they offer are ostensibly similar with mostly standardised features and benefits. However, there are a number of, often subtle, differences between policies that can affect the price you pay and the cover you receive. This breakdown recovery guide is provided to help you choose between policies and providers so that you can ensure that you acquire decent breakdown cover that suits your needs.

Breakdown cover pricing
One of the most significant differences between breakdown cover providers is the way in which their pricing system operates; understanding how each company prices their products and which system suits your particular situation can play an important part in keeping the cost down. First, you need to decide whether you want cover for yourself or your car; since some companies provide policies that cover the member no matter what car they are in (even if they are just a passenger, in many cases), whilst others cover the vehicle itself - this can often present better value for families who share a car, for example, than family membership policies that cover each family member.

Some providers offer predetermined, vehicle-based premiums, while others calculate policy prices through criteria such as your vehicle's age, your average annual mileage and the age of the policy holder. In the case of the latter, this generally means that if you or your car is seen as 'high risk' your premium will be a lot higher, and you would be better off shopping around for a fixed-price system (and, therefore, conversely if you are 'low risk', this may be the cheapest option).

The vast majority of breakdown cover providers offer an automatic system through which they send out their own patrols to deal with vehicle breakdowns or tow them to a local garage for repair. This type of system is very convenient and practical but the membership premiums can be quite expensive. However, there are a few companies who offer a 'pay and claim' service in which they arrange for a local recovery firm to deal with the situation, you pay for your garage repairs and/or recovery costs and then reclaim the expenses back from your provider. This system is not as common, and certainly not as convenient, but it can provide some degree of cover at a much lower price.

Make sure you check out any discounts on offer. Some companies operate no claims discount systems for returning customers through which you can make substantial savings. Others offer online discounts, limited-period seasonal offers and a few grant substantially discounted premiums to customers with new or nearly new cars.

What's covered?
The other major factor that you need to consider is the degree of cover a policy provides. Most basic packages offer on-the-spot repairs and local recovery only (usually to the nearest garage). You will have to pay extra for home assistance and other services such as long distance recovery (which generally means that you, your vehicle and passengers can be taken to any mainland UK destination) and emergency accommodation, car hire or travel expenses should same-day repair prove impossible. Be aware that most companies do not provide recovery in the event of accidents or vandalism on their policies, but there are a few who do, so always check the small print to find out exactly what is covered.

Most of the major providers package their policies into about four or five different products with increasing levels of cover and benefits. These packages are usually fixed, so that you may find that in order to get a particular feature you may have to pay for others that you don't really need. However, there are some companies that offer a 'pick and mix' system, so that you can just pay for the features that you require without paying extra for superfluous cover. Finally, beware of policies that advertise 'free' features such as European cover; this is fine if you require it but, generally, it will be built into the price of the premium.

European breakdown cover
If you intend to travel by car on the continent, whether it's for a business trip to Germany or a booze cruise to France, European cover could prove to be a prudent financial investment. Expenses incurred through breakdowns abroad are rarely covered by car insurance, travel insurance or standard breakdown cover policies and can be very costly - repatriation costs for your vehicle alone can run into thousands of pounds.

European breakdown cover policies are available from a number of providers, most offer it as a stand-alone product, while others include it as an add-on to standard membership.

European breakdown membership usually features full roadside and recovery assistance via English-speaking staff in each country which makes dealing with a breakdown abroad much quicker and less complicated. However, European breakdown cover can double your premium so think hard about whether you will really need it on an annual policy.

Breakdown cover tips