Under roadside assistance, the patrol team from the company providing the service will assist you when your car breaks down at a distance that is more than a quarter mile from your home. If an hour of repair work cannot fix your car, then it will be towed to a local garage or your home.

Home assistance allows you to get help when your car breaks down within a quarter mile from your home or at home. This car breakdown cover is especially helpful when your car’s engine refuses to start in the winter months.

If a roadside repair cannot fix your car, it is towed to your home or a local garage, under vehicle recovery. The driver and passenger(s) are also transported. Including vehicle recovery in your car breakdown plan is a good idea if you will be travelling across the UK extensively.

Under onward travel, you are provided alternate means of transport to get to your destination in the event that your car has to be fixed at a garage.

For frequent night journeys by car and overnight car trips, breakdown cover assumes a lot of importance.

Standard car breakdown and pay-and-claim car breakdown cover are available. In a standard car breakdown cover, you can cover your vehicle (personal car breakdown cover) or your car (vehicle breakdown cover). The former protects you as a driver or passenger and for any vehicle you are in while the latter covers only the car you have nominated. Car rescue and repair is offered against a yearly fee.

Some companies send their recovery patrols for roadside assistance while others may have an agreement with local recovery services to provide assistance to their customers. There is no limit to the callouts you can make to get your car rescued and repaired.

A number of services can be offered under nationwide recovery cover. The company can repair the vehicle by the roadside or at a local garage on the same day. If the repair work is expected to take time, overnight accommodation (usually at a Bed&Breakfast) is provided. The car breakdown cover may also offer alternate means of transport to allow you to continue with onward travel. It may also offer towing services, where you can choose to get your car towed to your home or a local garage. The cover may include the car as well as a specific number of passengers.

National recovery typically doesn’t form part of a basic car breakdown cover. It can be included as part of the overall vehicle breakdown plan. Companies offering car breakdown cover may provide assistance in different ways. Look for value deals when you compare national recovery cover offered by different companies. See if you can get a discount on the plan or extra benefits built into the plan.

You can choose the cover based on the services you need and your budget. Apart from basic protection, you can also consider other service packages. These include provision of alternate means of transport to return home or successfully complete your foreign trip or a replacement vehicle driver in the event that you fall sick. For big travel groups on a trip aboard, group breakdown cover is also offered. Depending on your needs, you can opt for a comprehensive car breakdown cover or a basic cover.

Even as you plan your trip itinerary and details, arrange for car breakdown cover in advance. Research the top providers offering this service, compare prices and terms, and purchase the car breakdown cover that best meets your travel requirements. Make sure you read the company’s car breakdown policy thoroughly to have a clear picture about the level of assistance you can expect in emergency situations. Note the excess charges you may have to make for every claim made and the exclusions mentioned in the cover agreement.

The services offered under car breakdown cover may include jump-starting the vehicle, help in changing flat tyres, fuelling the vehicle when it is out of petrol/diesel, helping drivers and passengers who have been locked out of their vehicles, helping pull out  vehicles stuck in deep snow and even towing the vehicle.

Companies typically offer 24/7 roadside cover, so regardless of the time of the day or night, you can rest assured that you will get suitable assistance to get out of your road misadventure. Assistance with the vehicle at your doorstep is also provided- this comes to your aid when your car doesn’t start on a cold winter morning. In fact, buying car breakdown cover is a good way to prepare your car for the winter.

When you choose to buy car breakdown cover, make sure you compare the prices, terms and solutions offered by different companies providing this service. This will help you make an informed decision and benefit from timely and quality assistance during emergency situations.

When you add the sums up, what is really cheaper, ensuring the car faullt does happen in the first place with regualr servicing and checks or repairing after words? What is cheaper, saveing money on not having breakdown cover or calling out a 24 hours recovery service on the road? we will not attempt to answer these questions for you, but for some it is an obvious answer on both counts. For some though will get away with things for a time, but when the worst does happen, they will fork out many times an annual policy cost, especially when many breakdown cover organisations are offering basic roadside assistance policies for under £30.

So you d the sums and decide how it adds up for you.

The breakdown cover offered is level one or to you and me, the roadside assistance option. This is where consumers need to be careful as this level of cover may not be sufficient for their needs. It is not clear whether a consumer can pay the difference and upgrade to a level that suits them or not.

What is certain though, is that just because something is free does not mean it is suitable and all consumers should considers their requirements first, before buying the car insurance, providing the free breakdown cover option was the reason for going with Churchill.

As far as Green Flag are concerned offering something for free is good marketing as there is a good chance that most will renew next year, in fact Green Flag have a policy of auto renew, so unless you cancel at the 12 month period you may find your credit card charged for next year. They do however send out reminder letters, stating they will automatically renew you breakdown cover policy, but if you are like most people, you will probably treat such letters a junk mail and may not even open it.

Anyway for some people this is a great offer, especially of they currently have no cover, or the policy offered is ideal for their driving needs. For everyone else, you should research the details first.”

Due to the high demand for road safety in today’s times, there are a large number of auto clubs offering breakdown cover at highly competitively prices. Listed below are a set of important considerations to be kept in mind while purchasing a suitable cover in order to ensure that you have availed the best value deal in the market:
• Wide coverage – While considering a suitable breakdown cover, enquire about the strength of the company’s patrol team and the areas that they cover in order to ensure that you will be rescued anywhere and as fast as possible.
• Multiple driver plans – Opting for a scheme that has the choice of multiple driver plans can be very helpful, especially if you have more than one driver in your family who uses the car.
• Tracking services – Lookout for auto clubs that have the facility of tracking your location through your cell phone when you are stranded in an unfamiliar location.
• Minimum call out time – While considering various breakdown cover options try to choose a company that offers the minimum call out time so that you get timely and efficient roadside assistance.
• Additional recovery services – Apart from availing standard services like towing and lockout assistance, flat tire replacement and refueling it is a good idea to include additional recovery services like alternative transportation, hotel accommodation and maps and directions in case you have lost your way while driving.
• Round the clock availability – Another important consideration to keep in mind while getting a suitable breakdown cover is to make sure that the auto club offers round the clock roadside assistance facilities.
• Professionally skilled rescue staff – It is also a good idea to research the web and read customer reviews and feedbacks about various roadside assistance companies and ensure that you are purchasing a breakdown cover scheme from an organization that has a skilled team of professionally trained rescue staff.

Now that you are aware of the important considerations of buying a breakdown cover, go ahead and get yourself a suitable plan for a safe driving experience.
Summary – Having a breakdown cover is one of the wisest plans a car owner can have to deal with an emergency breakdown situation. Important considerations to be kept in mind while choosing a suitable roadside assistance scheme includes, looking for wide coverage, multiple driver plans, tracking services, minimum call out time, additional recovery services, round the clock availability and professionally skilled rescue staff.

By guest blogger atul

Not sure how successful this campaign was as most stranded motorists would be more concerned about the ability to fix cars at the roadside that their vocal range. But marketing is marketing and you never know.

If you travel frequently to foreign countries, then it is advisable to buy a comprehensive international breakdown cover which not only provides for regular services like on road assistance, minor repairs, lockout assistance, towing the car, but also services like legal assistance, arranging for an emergency driver or even for an ambulance. Ensure that you get the most comprehensive international breakdown cover at the lowest possible rates. Carefully see under what all circumstances you will not be covered so that you can determine the extent up to which you will be personally liable.

International breakdown cover is helpful in making travelling abroad simpler and relatively tension free due to the following reasons:
1.    It provides a sense of security while driving overseas as you will not have to worry about dealing with a breakdown situation while you are in a foreign country.
2.    It provides on road assistance and undertakes minor repairs. If the vehicle cannot be repaired, it is towed to the nearest workshop.
3.    While travelling long distances, people usually hire a driver. If due to any circumstances, your driver becomes incapable of driving, then an emergency driver will be provided.
4.    If you meet with an accident in a foreign country, then you can seek assistance by contacting the insurance company.

Keep in mind the following points while buying international breakdown insurance:
1.    Make of the car is a deciding factor in deciding the premium amount. A hatchback will have lower premium rate compared to SUV’s.
2.    Determine the driver among your group who can get the cheapest cover based on various criteria’s like age, sex and experience.
3.    Compare policies offered by various service providers to choose the one that suits your requirements the most and is cost efficient.
4.    Buying international breakdown cover online is a good idea as it not only offers insurance cover at great prices, but also provides tips to ensure safety while travelling abroad.

Your car is one of your most valuable possessions. We spend so much money on buying the car of our choice then why not spend a little more to get an international breakdown cover which will help in resolving a breakdown situation which is likely to occur in everyone’s life at some point or the other.
Summary- Don’t let a breakdown situation spoil your holiday mood when you travelling abroad and choose the most comprehensive international breakdown cover. It provides a sense of security, services like on roadside assistance, minor repairs, lockout assistance, towing the car, and premium services like legal assistance, arranging for an emergency driver or even for an ambulance.

By guest blogger Atul