Breakdown recovery services are an invaluable service to anyone who drives. You are entitled to use a breakdown recovery service if your vehicle will not start or the vehicle stops working on the road. Most vehicles are repairable on the roadside but on the rare occasion that yours isn’t fixable; your vehicle will be towed either to your home or to the garage.
All breakdown recovery services offer roadside assistance where rescue vehicles are sent to wherever you have broken down, relay which takes the driver and passenger to their destination, and home start to help start your car at home. Higher and more expensive levels of cover may offer a courtesy car or accommodation if you are away from home if you travel regularly abroad it is well worth considering taking out breakdown cover for this.
Some companies offer cover for motorbikes and minibuses as well as cars. For motorcycles this is useful if you suffer from a puncture, have a flat battery or run out of fuel miles away from the service station. Recovery assistance is generally provided by trained mechanics or by a member of the local
garage.
Do check if your cover is for the person or the vehicle. You may not be covered if someone else drives your car. Also it is important to check if there is a maximum amount of callouts allowed or if there are limitations on the cost of parts or mechanical expertise charged. Do you travel long distances regularly?
Some recovery services offer a long distance vehicle recovery service. Does your policy give priority to anyone who may be in a vulnerable position such as lone female drivers? It is important to check the exclusions section of your cover. Some companies may not cover your vehicle if you breakdown within a certain radius of your home or if you lose your keys. Do shop around before committing yourself.
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