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10 Things to Check When Buying Breakdown Coverage

Choosing car breakdown coverage is an important decision. Having good coverage makes all the difference when you and your family are stuck in bad weather in the dark in some remote location, or when you’re on your way to a business meeting or to catch a ferry. Are you going to be helped efficiently and professionally? Does the person who attends to your breakdown know what he is doing?

There are plenty of types of auto breakdown coverage to choose from, provided by organizations with an automotive heritage, insurance companies, major retail brands, and other sources. But how do you find the best for you?

Here are some fundamental questions to ask:

1. Does the regime cover the vehicle or the driver?

With so many households owning more than one car, a breakdown scheme that covers just one car can be a false economy.

Even if you only have one car, you’ll appreciate breakdown coverage that covers the vehicle you drive if you borrow or rent a car. In the same way, if you change cars, you don’t have to bother notifying the breakdown service.

2. Can I cover my partner or my family?

Why take out more than one breakdown cover when one policy can cover you and your partner? Or your entire family or household? Most breakdown providers offer deals for more than one driver or vehicle. But remember that coverage for drivers rather than vehicles is almost certainly better.

3. What happens if my vehicle breaks down?

A fast, helpful and professional call center can make all the difference in a stressful time. They should take your details and arrange for a qualified mechanic to be with you as soon as possible.

4. What if it can’t be fixed?

Now it’s time to look at the recovery deck. Under your recovery policy, your vehicle may only be towed to the nearest authorized repair shop, or to your home if it is not too far away (distance will be indicated in the coverage).

However, with schemes that offer more comprehensive cover, you can request a recovery to any destination of your choice, regardless of how far away it is.

5. Does it include help at home as well as on the road?

Many breakdowns occur outside motorists’ homes, often on frosty mornings when you need to be at work or take the kids to school. And, because this is a high-risk location for breakdowns, many low-cost breakdown services only cover breakdowns more than a certain distance from your home.

6. What happens to me and my passengers if my vehicle breaks down?

Many options are offered in different breakdown packages for you to choose from. Usually, you will have the option of being driven home or to a local hotel. The most complete offers allow you to be taken to your destination.



7. Does it cover accommodation?

If you’re traveling long distances, for business or pleasure, you may want to check that your breakdown and recovery cover will accommodate you and your passengers if you get stuck.

8. How can I tell how good the breakdowns are?

Let’s face it, one advertiser or website owner’s claim is just as good as another’s. You need to know about the real experiences of real people.

Has the breakdown provider won any awards recently? Customer or reader awards are often more valuable than journalist reviews or industry awards.

9. Is it worth paying a little more?

It depends on how much your time is worth. A better performing breakdown provider will get to you faster and is more likely to fix the problem on the road.

If your chosen provider is covering your family car, paying a little more for a well-checked service should get them safely back on the road faster.

10. What type of vehicles does it cover?

If you drive a car 100% of the time, almost any breakdown policy will give you the basic coverage you need. But what about your caravan, trailer, motorcycle, or even small van?

Check carefully that you don’t have to pay extra, or that there is coverage available for other types of vehicles.

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