Before you go ahead and buy a breakdown cover policy, it is important that you learn the basics. This will help you to get the information necessary to make a choice that will match your needs. Most people don’t take the time to learn about this cover before buying a policy, and they are only hurting themselves. You will be glad that you took the time to do this research because of how much it can help you.
What is Breakdown Cover?
Breakdown cover is a type of insurance that provides you with roadside assistance. This typically covers services like battery jumpstarting, flat tyre changes and towing. Most car insurance companies offer this, either as a standard feature or an add-on. While you might have to pay a little bit extra for breakdown cover, it is certainly worth it. You should inquire with your current provider as to whether or not you already have this type of cover. If not, take the time to see what your insurance provider offers.
How to Use Breakdown Cover
Once you have a breakdown cover policy, you will have a phone number that you can call if you ever experience car trouble while on the road. Just call the appropriate number and give them some basic information. You will have to tell them the nature of the problem with your vehicle, where you are, and your policy number. It is a good idea to have your policy number in your car just in case.
After you have placed the call, a technician will be sent to your location. It usually takes around 10-30 minutes for help to arrive, depending on where you are and how busy the provider is. You can most likely expect the wait to be longer during the weekend when a lot of people are out on the road.
Features to Look for
There are a number of features that you should look for when you are going about getting breakdown cover, including:
- European breakdown cover: This optional feature of breakdown cover will provide you with full services no matter where you are in Europe. If you are travelling outside of the UK, this can be extremely beneficial. The last thing you want is to break down on the road far from home without this sort of assistance.
- Onward travel: The Onward Travel feature can provide you with a ride for you and your passengers to your destination if your vehicle breaks down and has to be towed. This can be a huge convenience when you are in a difficult situation.
- Single trip: You can also decide to get breakdown cover for a single trip. If you are planning on taking a long trip somewhere in Europe, you should look into getting this. It shouldn’t cost very much and will provide you with peace of mind for the duration of your trip.
- Home Start: This feature can be useful if your car is at home but won’t start due to a dead battery or some other issue. You can get someone to come out and either fix the problem or tow it to a nearby garage. It can also come in handy if you lock your keys in your car and need to get inside. This is usually an extra, but it is worth considering because of how beneficial it can be.
Choosing a Provider
While you can certainly decide to go through your current car insurance provider for breakdown cover, there are many independent providers to consider as well. If you want to get the absolute best deal on this cover, you need to review your options very carefully. The more research you do into these providers, the easier it will be to make the right decision.
Restrictions
There will be certain restrictions that come with a breakdown policy that you should also know about. Every policy and provider is different, so you need to keep that in mind. You will only be able to make so many claims over the course of a year. This number varies depending on the provider, so you should find one that gives you a higher limit. You want to be able to make at least three or four claims in a year, even if you never actually need to.
Some people regard breakdown cover as an unnecessary extra to car insurance, but it is actually quite essential. When you consider everything it has to offer, you will need to begin looking into it. There are lots of convenient services that can be of great help in a variety of situations. The more you look into this type of cover, the more likely you will be to get it. You don’t want to go without it and have regrets later on when you break down while driving.