There’s nothing more disconcerting as a car breaking down while you’re on your way to an important occasion. Frustrating, time-consuming and expensive but, generally speaking, the occurrences of this kind are few and far in between. Maybe you’ve never encountered a problem with your car so don’t see the point in obtaining car breakdown cover? Perhaps it’s a risk you’re willing to take? In this article we’ll look at the different kinds of breakdown cover offered and evaluate whether breakdown cover is an option that is nice to have or something you should have.
What is breakdown cover?
Let’s start at the very beginning. What are breakdown cover? The name itself suggests that breakdown cover is a kind of insurance policy that provides assistance when your car is damaged or stops working.
What’s included in the breakdown cover?
The specifics of what’s and isn’t included in breakdown cover will all depend on the type of insurance you pick. There are varying kinds of cover that are available, from basic to premium and the amount that you pay for will differ based on. Most breakdown cover packages include roadside assistance if you break down or encounter an issue while on the move help will either repair your vehicle where it is, or take you to a local garage. The simplest packages don’t transport you to your home or offer the vehicle to get you over while your vehicle is fixed, that’s features of premium packages.
What’s not included in the breakdown cover?
Breakdown cover typically doesn’t cover the cost of the parts or materials needed for getting your vehicle running. In essence, when you purchase breakdown cover generally, you’re paying for the mechanic’s time. If your vehicle cannot be repaired at the location you’re in and requires a trip to a garage, you’ll ultimately be held accountable for the bill of the garage. There is also some limitations on how many calls you can make per year. So, if your car is over 20 years old and regularly struggles, you may have used up your year insurance out at the mid-February point.
What is the cost of breakdown cover?
This all depends on the plan you select. The cost varies from a few dollars a month for the least basic cover to a greater chunk of cash for the best cover that is available.
Is breakdown cover legally required?
No. Breakdown cover isn’t required by law. It’s not mandatory, it’s your choice if you decide to opt for it or don’t, however the peace of mind that breakdown cover can bring is worth the cost. There is no one who wants to crash down on a quiet country road at 2am and have no means of getting home.
What types of breakdown cover are available?
There are two major kinds of breakdown cover that are available: personal and vehicle. The right option for you depends on the requirements you want from your cover.
Personal breakdown cover
Personal breakdown cover signifies that you as a person, are insured. In other words, regardless of whether you’re driving your personal vehicle or in somebody else’s it, you’re able to call to get roadside assistance. This gives you the peace of mind wherever you are and whatever mode of transport you’re travelling within (the cover also applies to bikes and other vehicles) It will ensure that you’re never caught in a bind by the side of the road. If your personal car has a breakdown and you’re not in it, for instance the parent or spouse is in the car, you won’t be covered.
Vehicle breakdown cover
Vehicle breakdown cover like it’s name implies, is the car itself is insured. If anyone is driving is covered in the event of breakdown. This is a good option for multiple drivers who use one car.
Levels of cover
There are different levels of cover depending on what you plan to use your vehicle for. Users who drive far distances around Europe for work, for instance may require an entirely different level of cover than Stan at number 46 who only uses his car to get to the store.
Roadside assistance
If you only use your car for personal trips and don’t often make long distance drives, then roadside assistance should be the right choice for you. It’s one of the cheapest options of cover and comes as standard with all forms or breakdown coverage. If you experience breakdown, a security guard will be there to help you in the event that they can. If they can repair your vehicle right away, however in the event that they can’t, they’ll take you to the closest garage (for the most basic cover, there’s usually a limit to 10 miles).
National Recovery Breakdown
Maybe you have family located in a different region of the country or perhaps you drive for work. If you’re often traveling across long distances, then getting the National Recovery Breakdown will be the best option for you. It’s the next level from roadside assistance and it ensures transportation for you and your vehicle to any point in the nation. According to the Association of Automobiles, British drivers pay around PS104million each year to cover breakdown expenses. If you’re a frequent traveler, it could pay to take out a policy.
At home breakdown cover
Interestingly, a large number of breakdowns are on your own road or within a short distance of your home. A damaged battery is among of the most frequent causes of breakdown and this type of cover allows a mechanic to go to your house (or anywhere within a quarter-mile of it) and either fix the car on site or take you to a garage. This is a good solution if frequently switching off your lights, or if you only use your car for a few minutes.
Travel breakdown on the way to cover
If you experience a breakdown in the middle of a very important meeting or event, onward travel cover will make sure you arrive at your destination. Usually, an alternative method of transportation or transport will be covered. higher-end policies may consist of hotel stays and vehicle hire in the event of need. Great for those who work across the country.
European breakdown cover
No matter if you are employed in Europe often or have five vacations a every year (lucky for you), European breakdown cover may be the best choice for you. Like the name implies the cover protects you in the event of a breakdown in Europe. There’s the option of single-trip cover for those who are taking your family out to France for a vacation, all the way up to annual cover. This type of insurance typically includes hotel accommodations and car hire that will come in handy if you break down in France as you travel for the Swiss Alps.
Things to take note of
There are a host of options available for breakdown cover and they vary in terms of cost and coverage. You may only use your car to get to the store or visit friends and relatives occasionally and think it’s not worth it. However, with breakdown cover comes the reassurance that you’ll never end up trapped without a means to get where you want to get to. The most basic forms of cover can cost very small, yet pay massive dividends in the case of a breakdown. The peace of mind that comes with it is priceless.
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