Basic Breakdown Cover

Basic breakdown cover is the cheapest option. It provides you with roadside assistance no matter where you are in the UK, regardless of the roads you may drive on. All types of breakdown cover will provide roadside assistance 24 hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, 365 days-a-year.

If you find yourself in difficulty while driving, call your breakdown provider: when you take out the policy, they will give you a telephone number which connects you directly with their nationwide breakdown service. If you simply need advice, such as how to change a flat tire, the breakdown service can give you help over the phone. For more serious problems, or ones that you feel you cannot solve yourself, a recovery patrol will be sent out to meet you as soon as possible.

Every eight in ten call-outs are repairable at the roadside. Usually, identification and repair of the problem is covered by your policy. However, some providers limit the amount of free labour you receive, and so if a problem takes longer than expected to repair you may be charged extra. Generally, you are also charged for any extra parts needed.

If you are unlucky enough to be driving a vehicle that becomes irreparable, you are usually covered for towing your vehicle to the closest garage. Basic cover does not cover the cost of towing your vehicle to your home address or to another destination of your choice.

Basic cover cannot provide roadside assistance if you break down at home. For this level of protection you may wish to consider comprehensive cover. For a small fee, some breakdown providers will allow you to add 'home cover' onto their basic breakdown package.