What you are buying
A promise that if your car stops working, somebody will come, try to fix it and, depending on the level, move it and you somewhere useful. You are not insuring the car against the cost of repairs; parts and garage labour remain yours to pay. You are paying for attendance, roadside labour and transport.
Do you need it?
Without cover, a roadside call-out from an independent recovery operator costs more than most annual policies, and a long-distance recovery costs several times more. Over several years without a breakdown you will be ahead by not buying cover; one breakdown away from home wipes out those savings. For most drivers, the maths favours buying at least roadside and recovery cover and refusing the renewal price each year.
People who can reasonably go without: owners of new cars with manufacturer assistance included, people with cover through a packaged bank account, and drivers who stay very local and could afford a one-off tow.
What it costs
Roadside-only cover from online brands is cheap; full personal cover with onward travel and European days from a patrol provider is several times the price. Because prices shift constantly, we explain the levels and the trade-offs rather than quote numbers that will be wrong by next month. The comparison table links through to live prices.
The alternatives
- Manufacturer assistance. Usually one to three years with a new car, sometimes extended with main-dealer servicing. Check the expiry date.
- Bank account cover. Packaged current accounts often include personal breakdown cover. Check the level and whether it includes home start.
- Car insurance add-on. Convenient, but often a basic product with low limits. Compare it properly.
- Pay on the day. Legitimate for someone who never travels far and has savings for a tow.