The benefits of car breakdown insurance
May 14, 2024The modern motor car probably doesn’t break down as often as in the past. But when it does, you can be sure it’s when you’re least prepared and most reliant on it getting you from A to B.
That’s when you’ll be thanking your lucky stars for having decided on that small investment in breakdown insurance.
What does car breakdown insurance cover?
Depending on the type of policy you buy, typically car breakdown insurance can include:
- Roadside assistance: Breakdown insurance typically includes roadside assistance, which means if your car breaks down unexpectedly, a trained professional will come to your location to help you get back on the road.
- Vehicle recovery: If your vehicle cannot be fixed at the roadside, car breakdown insurance often covers the cost of towing your vehicle to a nearby garage or your preferred location for repairs.
- Onward travel: Some policies offer onward travel benefits, which may include a replacement vehicle, alternative transportation, or accommodation if your car cannot be repaired quickly, ensuring you can continue your journey or return home.
- Home start: Many breakdown insurance policies assistance if your vehicle won’t start at home or within a certain distance from your home address.
- Peace of mind: Having breakdown insurance gives you peace of mind knowing that help is just a phone call away in case of an emergency, reducing stress and inconvenience when faced with unexpected car troubles.
- Cost savings: While car breakdown insurance requires a premium payment, it may save you money in the long run by covering the potentially high costs of roadside assistance, towing, and repairs that would otherwise come out of your pocket.
- Additional benefits: Depending on the policy, you may also receive extras such as coverage for lost keys, emergency fuel delivery, or assistance with flat tyres.
Overall, breakdown insurance provides valuable support and protection for drivers, ensuring they can quickly resolve issues and get back on the road with minimal hassle.
How much does car breakdown insurance cost?
As we have explained above, the principle of breakdown insurance is straightforward – in the event of your car breaking down, the insurance is there to help get the wheels turning once again.
Even better is the fact that with Alan Blunden, annual premiums for this kind of cover start at just £49.44*, whether you are driving in the UK or in Europe – a small price to pay for such peace of mind.
That headline price might seem especially good value for money when you realise that some policies may be restricted to breakdowns only in the UK – if you’re going to be driving abroad, therefore, it’s important to check any geographical limitations.
What to consider when buying car breakdown insurance
When buying your car breakdown insurance, bear in mind that many policies – especially those offering more basic cover – do not cover breakdowns if your car is stuck at home or within anything from a quarter of a mile to a mile away from the house.
There is also likely to be a maximum towing distance – of, say, 10 to 15 miles – if the vehicle needs to be recovered and towed to a repair shop or back to your home.
These are not the only variations you are likely to encounter in what is a competitive and diverse insurance market. If your car is new, for instance, you might be able to get by with a basic – and, therefore, more attractively-priced – policy. If it is older and less reliable, of course, you’ll probably opt for a more comprehensive policy.
For these purposes, a comprehensive car breakdown insurance policy is likely to cover assistance with a car that has broken down at home (often known as a “home start” package”), nearby, or even dispense with any towing limit and offer you a national recovery plan that covers towing your car to wherever you nominate in the UK (including your home).
Roadside assistance in Europe
Comprehensive packages are almost certain to include cover while driving in Europe – essential if you want to avoid the difficulties of requesting roadside assistance in a foreign land and the expense of arranging towing and repairs locally.
If you regularly drive in Europe, you might want to buy the annual – rather than single-trip – cover that is offered by most insurance providers. Nevertheless, there is still likely to be a maximum number of days (90 days, for example) in any one year for which European cover is provided. So, check any limits on the duration of cover and make sure that you are covered for the countries in which you will be driving.
Car breakdown cover from £49.44* for UK and European cover
To find out more about car breakdown cover and to get a quote, please contact us on 01702 826060.
*As at May 2024