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Breakdown cover

Find cheap breakdown cover to suit your needs

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  • Get a breakdown cover quote in just 1 minute

  • European cover available for your car, van or motorbike

  • Compare policies with some of the biggest UK providers like AXA, Greenflag and RAC

Why do I need breakdown cover?

Every vehicle at some point will experience problems that can leave you stranded at the side of the road, but cheap breakdown cover could provide peace of mind should you run into difficulties.

The most common reasons for breakdown call outs include engine issues, flat/faulty car batteries, flat tyres, losing your keys or misfuelling.

If any of these happen to you and you don’t have breakdown cover, you’ll have to cover the costs of getting rescued from your own pocket.

What kind of breakdown cover do I need?

The kind of cover you need depends on the type of vehicle you want to insure and what you are using it for.

To find your quotes we’ll ask what type of vehicle you want insure, car, van or motorcycle, and how old it is.

Just like car breakdown cover, there are multiple levels of cover for motorbikes and vans. These range from Roadside assistance cover to National or European cover. So be sure to choose your cover carefully depending on your needs.

Some providers may exclude cover for certain types of bikes like quad bikes or trikes. Always check if there are any excluded vehicles in the policy before purchasing.

If you are insuring a van that you use for business you may need more comprehensive cover so you are able to continue working while your van is repaired. Check the policy details to see what is and isn’t included.

What are the different features of breakdown cover?

As with most things, you get what you pay for. A cheap breakdown cover policy will generally offer only the basics, but a more comprehensive policy could have many more features.

When comparing breakdown policies, the main features to consider are:

  • Roadside assistance
  • Local recovery
  • National recovery
  • Home start
  • Onward journey
  • European cover

Roadside assistance provides cover to help get your car restarted at the roadside.

Local recovery allows your car to be towed to a local garage if it can’t be fixed at the roadside.

National recovery protects you if your vehicle can’t be fixed at the roadside. Your vehicle will be towed to any location in the UK.

Home start covers you if you break down close to your home. The breakdown company will attend your vehicle and try to repair it. If it can’t be repaired they’ll arrange to have it towed to a local garage.

Onward journey covers the cost of a replacement vehicle or public transport to your destination if your vehicle can’t be repaired at the roadside.

European cover protects you if you break down while driving your vehicle in Europe. The length of cover can vary depending on the provider.

What do I do if I break down?

If you’re unlucky enough to break down, follow these simple instructions to keep safe:

  • Pull over safely before doing anything else
  • Turn your hazard warning lights on. If it’s dark, turn on your sidelights too
  • Get out of the vehicle. Use the passenger doors rather than the driver door to reduce the risk to you and your passengers from traffic passing on the right
  • Keep a safe distance. Keep yourself and your passengers away from the carriageway and hard shoulder. Use the bank or get behind the barriers if possible. If you have animals, it’s best to leave them in the car, but in an emergency keep them under control and away from the road
  • Call your breakdown cover provider to let them know where you are. Look out for driver location signs to help pinpoint your location. If you’re not covered you’ll need to call the Highways Agency for assistance

For more information, take a look at our guide on what to do when you break down.

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Need more help?

Can I change the level of my breakdown cover?

This will depend on your provider. Some may allow you to upgrade or downgrade during a policy but others may not. If this is something you think you may want to do, it's always best to contact a provider before taking out a policy.

Is there a yearly limit on the number of callouts?

Some policies will have a limit, while others may offer unlimited callouts. The number of yearly callouts for each provider will be displayed on our breakdown cover quotes page once you've input the details we've asked for.

Is there an age limit on vehicles that can get cover?

This will vary on what provider you choose. In our quote details page we'll ask you the age of the vehicle and then give you a list of providers that will cover it.

What details do I need to get a quote?

You'll need to provide the type of vehicle you want covered, its age and some of your personal details.

What if I break down abroad?

Breaking down in Europe will require a specialist European cover breakdown policy. This comes in two forms - annual multi-trip and single trip.

How you’re rescued will depend on the country you’re driving in, but generally they’ll either help and repair your vehicle on the roadside or tow it to a local garage. Check the policy details and driving laws of the country or countries you’ll be visiting, to get a better idea of what to expect.

What if I break down without cover?

A number of providers allow you to start your policy on the day of purchase. However, the policy isn't likely to cover you if you've already broken down. Almost all companies will provide assistance if you've broken down without a policy, but you'll have to pay a one-off charge.

What if I break down while I'm towing a caravan?

Some providers will include caravan cover in their policies but others may not. Providers will have varying sizes of recovery vehicles so it's best to contact them to make sure your caravan isn't too big to be towed.

What do I do if I get a puncture, use the wrong fuel or run out of fuel?

If you drive a newer car that doesn't come with a spare wheel or you have a spare wheel but aren't sure how to fit it, the majority of providers will cover this in their policies. Using the incorrect fuel or running out of fuel is covered by some providers as standard. Each provider will vary in what they offer so check the policy details or contact them to check.

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Breakdown cover guides

Red warning triangle placed on the road behind a broken down car

What should you do if your car breaks down?

Being prepared and knowing what to do can be crucial in keeping you and your passengers safe with a broken down car.

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