When you compare cheap insurance quotes, breakdown cover is often an optional extra, so is it worth the extra expense? Here, comparison site mustard.co.uk explore some of the benefits of breakdown cover and why it could be worth adding to your car insurance deal.
Flexible car breakdown policies let you choose the level of cover
If you opt for breakdown insurance, you’ll be given a choice of cover:
- Roadside assistance — provides help if you break down while you’re out and about. Your insurer will arrange for a mechanic to come to you and fix your car there and then. If it can’t be repaired, your car will be taken to the nearest garage.
- National recovery — if your car can’t be fixed at the roadside, your insurer will arrange for it to be taken to a garage anywhere in the UK for your convenience.
- Onward travel — if your car needs to be repaired at a garage, your insurer will help you continue your journey. This could include a hire car or taxi, as well as overnight accommodation if necessary.
- Home start (at home assistance) — if you can’t get your car to start at home, a mechanic will come to help.
- European breakdown — provides roadside assistance while you’re in Europe. You should always double check the country you’re visiting is covered by your policy.
Choice of personal or vehicle breakdown cover
One of the big benefits of breakdown cover is that you can choose policies that cover either you or the vehicle.
Personal breakdown cover applies to you and any other drivers named on your policy. It means that you’ll be covered whether you’re driving your own car or someone else’s (for example, if you borrow a friend’s car).
Vehicle breakdown cover applies to the car listed on the policy. As it applies to the vehicle, whoever is driving the car, can call for help.
Breakdown cover offers cost effective peace of mind
If your car insurance plan doesn’t automatically include breakdown cover, you’ll usually be able to add it. Alternatively, you can buy it as a standalone policy.
The cost of breakdown insurance will depend on the level of cover you choose and the type of policy it is (personal or vehicle). Typically, vehicle breakdown cover tends to be cheaper than personal cover.
If you’re just looking for basic roadside recovery, you can pick up a policy for around £50 from the larger more well-known providers. More extensive packages that include national recovery and onward travel can cost more than £100 . That said, there are plenty of smaller but well-established breakdown service providers that offer the same level of cover for considerably less (excluding European cover).
In contrast, not having breakdown cover means you’ll need to meet any costs yourself. This includes call-out charges, repairs, onward travel and accommodation, all of which can add up quickly.
You can choose optional extras for added protection
You can enjoy even greater peace of mind by adding on optional extras for a small cost. Popular add-on features include:
- Replacement keys — if yours have been lost or stolen.
- Battery cover — if your battery was the cause of the breakdown, it will be replaced or recharged.
- Misfuelling — drains out the wrong fuel and will replace it with enough petrol or diesel to get your car up and running.
- Out of fuel cover — if you sputter to a stop because you’ve run out of fuel, your insurer will arrange a top up to get you on your way.
- Tyre replacement — replaces damaged tyres with a new one rather than your spare.
Compare great value car insurance at mustard.co.uk
Car insurance might be a necessity, but that shouldn’t mean paying over the odds for it. At mustard.co.uk, you can compare quotes (with or without breakdown cover) from a range of leading UK insurers. You can start your search online right now or call an expert member of the team on 0330 022 8812.
