Ask Our Expert

Should I take out breakdown cover with my car insurer?

Our breakdown expert says…

Whether you buy your vehicle breakdown insurance from one of the largest specialist breakdown providers, such as The AA or Green Flag, or a brand that offers various financial products, such as Tesco, you only need to ask yourself two questions:

1. Which company will give me the best deal?
2. What will my breakdown cover include?

Comparing vehicle breakdown deals online helps you answer both questions quickly and simply.

Who will provide my breakdown cover?

Signing up with a less well-known breakdown provider could mean you get a cheaper basic deal, but the chances are you’ll have to pay more in up-front fees when you do breakdown.

This is because many smaller providers outsource their services to larger breakdown providers in an effort to save costs. So chances are that even if you do sign-up with a less well known breakdown provider, you’ll still be visited by one of the more famous ones when you do breakdown.

Sign a breakdown deal with the RAC, for example, and you’ll be visited by an RAC mechanic, but if you’re with Tesco Breakdown and you’ll also be visited by RAC mechanics.

Other breakdown providers who outsource their cover include:

• ASDA breakdown - provided by Britannia Rescue
• Diamond breakdown - provided by Call Assist Limited
• Churchill breakdown - provided by Green Flag.

Whether you pay a premium for this depends on you package and the provider. But it’s essential that you read the small print first because breakdown packages from smaller providers may include hidden costs that could deals with larger providers, such as the AA, may not.

Compare vehicle breakdown packages

What will my breakdown cover include?

How much your breakdown package costs will be largely based on what’s included as part of the deal.

For example, it follows that a basic breakdown package - one that only includes roadside assistance - will be cheaper than one that covers your car if it breaks down at home and also the cost of all repairs.

Before comparing car breakdown deals, decide what your package must cover. Some of the most popular breakdown deals include:

• European breakdown assistance
• Caravan breakdown cover
• Misfuelling support
• Multi-vehicle breakdown cover
• Multi-driver breakdown cover.

Compare vehicle breakdown deals

Popular Breakdown Deals

Company	Package Name	From	Roadside repair	Online Discount	Tow to nearest garage
	Recovery Plus	£60.00		33%
	Roadside, Recovery & Home Cover (Personal Cover)	£105		27.34%

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