Compare cheap breakdown cover
COMPARE LOCAL, NATIONWIDE AND EUROPEAN BREAKDOWN COVER QUOTES
- Compare prices from 13 trusted providers with 351 products[1] to choose the right policy for you
- Cover for cars, vans, motorbikes and scooters
[1] Correct as of September 2024.
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What is breakdown cover?
Breakdown cover gives you roadside assistance if your vehicle breaks down. A trained professional will be despatched to fix your car and get you back on the road. If your car can’t be fixed at the roadside, you’ll usually be towed to a nearby garage.
When it comes to breakdowns, there are two safe bets – they’ll happen at the most inconvenient times and in the most inconvenient places.
Having the right cover means that if your car, van, motorbike or scooter fails unexpectedly, you’ll be able to get the help you need.
How does breakdown cover work?
Breakdown cover works in a similar way to insurance. You buy a policy that typically lasts for 12 months. The assistance you’ll get depends on the level of cover you take out.
1. Choose a policy
Decide on the level of cover you want and whether you want to cover yourself or the vehicle. You could also add extras and tailor your cover to suit your needs.
2. If your vehicle breaks down
Contact your breakdown provider. They’ll send out a mechanic to either fix the problem or tow your vehicle. If you have onward travel cover, you may be offered a courtesy car or travel expenses to complete your journey.
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Which breakdown cover providers do we compare?
We compare prices from 13 providers with 351 products[1] to help make sure you get a good deal.
See the options available to you in one go from the UK’s leading providers:
- 2Gether
- Auto National
- AXA
- Cover My Breakdown
- Dynamo Cover
- Eversure
- Green Flag
- LV= Britannia Rescue
- Nova
- Ping
- RAC
- Rescue My Car
- Start Rescue
[1] Correct as of September 2024.
What is the cost of breakdown cover?
Prices vary among providers but, in general, the cost of your breakdown cover will depend on:
- The level of cover – you should expect to pay more for a comprehensive policy, compared to cheap breakdown cover that offers basic roadside assistance.
- The type of cover – personal breakdown cover (which covers you travelling in any vehicle that meets the conditions listed in your policy) is usually cheaper than cover for a specified vehicle.
- How many vehicles and people you want to cover – the more you add, the more expensive it will be.
- Any extras you want to add, such as fuel cover or key replacement.
What types of breakdown cover are there?
Breakdown insurance can cover you or your vehicle, it’s up to you.
Personal cover
With this option, a named person is covered rather than a specific car.
You’ll be covered in any vehicle that meets the policy conditions. You can also make a claim whether you’re the driver or a passenger.
The policy can be extended to cover people who live at the same address as you, usually up to a maximum of four.
This type of breakdown cover can be useful if you regularly travel in different cars or have several cars in your household.
Vehicle cover
This type of breakdown insurance is applied to a specific car, van or bike. This means anyone could be driving it when it breaks down and still be covered.
Vehicle breakdown cover is most useful if you only drive one vehicle. It’s also the ideal choice if you have a family car shared by several members of your household.
Can I get breakdown cover with car insurance?
Breakdown cover doesn’t usually come as standard with car insurance. However, some providers may offer it as an optional extra at an additional cost.
Breakdown cover through car insurance or other financial products, such as packaged bank accounts and some credit cards, is usually basic. And you probably won’t get a choice of breakdown providers.
If you have breakdown cover through another policy, check the documents carefully. It’s also worth comparing against a standalone policy. You don’t want to take out new cover unnecessarily, but you also want to make sure you’re getting the level of cover you need.
Is breakdown cover worth it?
For peace of mind alone, breakdown cover could be well worth the annual expense.
If you break down without cover, getting help could end up being expensive and stressful.
If you don’t have any cover for your vehicle, just one breakdown in 12 months could end up costing you more than the annual premium for breakdown insurance.
What’s covered by a breakdown policy?
The main levels of cover you need to think about are:
Roadside assistance
This is the most basic level of cover. With roadside recovery or assistance, a mobile mechanic will be sent out to try to fix your vehicle at the roadside if you break down while on the move.
If your car can’t be fixed, you’ll typically be towed to the nearest garage.
At home car recovery
Also known as ‘home start’ recovery. It gives you assistance if you break down at home or very close by, typically a quarter of a mile from your home address.
National breakdown recovery
As well as getting your roadside assistance, this level of cover allows you to be towed to any location in the UK.
Onward travel
This will help you continue your journey and get to where you need to be if your car can’t be fixed at the roadside. You could be covered for a courtesy car, or even the cost of overnight hotel accommodation or taking public transport.
European vehicle recovery
If you’re holidaying in Europe (within the EU) by car and need breakdown recovery, this will give you cover for your trip. At Compare the Market you can also compare cheap European breakdown cover for vans and bikes.
All breakdown providers offer an emergency helpline and breakdown assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Finding the best breakdown cover for you will depend on what you need it for. For example, is the best policy for you the cheapest breakdown cover or is it the policy with the most inclusions?
See more on the different types of breakdown cover.
What extras can I add to my breakdown cover?
There are several optional extras you might be able to add to your standard breakdown cover for an additional cost. These vary among breakdown providers.
Tyre replacement cover
Ideal if you get a puncture or damage a tyre.
Battery replacement
Covers the cost of a replacement car battery if yours is flat and you can’t start your vehicle.
Key replacement
Some standard breakdown policies offer key replacement if yours are stolen, lost or damaged. If not, this add-on could be useful as replacement car keys can be very expensive.
Special vehicles
You might need a specific policy if you’re driving with a trailer or caravan attached to your car. Check with your breakdown provider before you travel.
Family and multi-car breakdown cover
This covers multiple drivers sharing the same address as you. Multi-car breakdown policies allow you to add a specified number of cars to the same policy.
Fuel cover
Wrong fuel – if you’ve filled your car with the wrong fuel and then break down.
Out of fuel – offers help if you run out of fuel. The breakdown provider will rescue you, but you’ll need to pay for the fuel yourself.
What happens if I break down without cover?
If you break down without cover, it’s possible to get instant membership with some providers. However, it’s an expensive way to get cover. You may be charged a hefty one-off emergency fee.
Your alternative options include:
- Calling a breakdown provider to check if they offer a service to non-members – several of them do.
- Calling a local garage to see if they’ll tow your vehicle to the nearest mechanic. This could be very expensive and is only an option during garage opening hours.
- Friends or family – but this might be an issue if you break down in the middle of the night or are far from home.
What our expert says...
"If you’re on a budget, you might be tempted not to bother with breakdown cover – but you’ll likely regret it if you find yourself stuck by the side of the road. Fortunately, there are lots of breakdown cover options available, to help you find a policy to suit your needs and budget."
- Julie Daniels, Motor insurance expert
How to compare breakdown cover
Comparing policies with Compare the Market is quick and easy – you can get a quote in just 3 minutes[2].
Give us a few details
Including your vehicle registration and what features you’d like your policy to include.
We’ll compare
We’ll search, then show you a list of quotes starting with the cheapest breakdown cover from our panel. You can filter the results by price and Defaqto rating.
Buy your cover
Once you’ve found a deal you like, just click through to the provider’s website to apply.
[2] Correct as of September 2024.
Frequently asked questions
How many call-outs can I make in a year?
The number of callouts you can make will depend on the breakdown cover you choose.
With some policies, you can make up to three callouts in a year. Policies that offer unlimited cover let you call as many times as you need, usually for a higher upfront premium.
However, some providers won’t cover you for repeat callouts for the same fault. Be sure to check the policy before you buy.
Will I be covered if my car breaks down at home?
If ‘home start’ recovery is included as part of your breakdown cover, you’ll be able to get assistance at home. Generally, policies that include home recovery will provide cover up to a quarter of a mile from your home. So, if you break down just up the road, you’ll be able to get help.
Home start cover could prove very useful, especially considering a flat battery is one of the most common causes of breakdown.
Should I buy the cheapest breakdown cover?
Simply choosing the cheapest breakdown cover policy might not give you the level of protection you need.
For example, if you’ve broken down far from home and don’t have national recovery, you’ll need to find a way to get your vehicle home. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay for somewhere to stay while it’s being repaired locally.
And policies that are cheaper to buy generally have a higher excess charge.
Can I pay for my breakdown cover monthly or annually?
The breakdown policies we compare all have an annual membership fee. A small number of policies let you pay monthly, but usually it’s cheaper to pay annually as you avoid paying interest.
What should you do if you break down?
Here’s what to do if you break down:
- Park somewhere safe and turn on your hazard warning lights
- Get out of your vehicle through the passenger door
- If you have one, and it’s safe to do so, place a traffic warning triangle down
- Stay a safe distance from the carriageway
- Call your breakdown provider.
Keep your policy information in your vehicle or where you can easily find it on your smartphone.
Can I claim straight after taking out a breakdown cover policy?
In most cases, cover will start 24 hours after your payment has been accepted. But this can differ among breakdown cover providers, so check your policy conditions before you buy.
Can I cancel my breakdown cover policy?
When you take out a policy, by law you’ll have a minimum 14-day ‘cooling-off’ period. During this time, you can cancel your breakdown cover without any charges.
Be aware that if you’ve used the service within those 14 days and decide to cancel, you won’t be given a refund.
If you want to cancel your policy after the cooling-off period, you might be charged a cancellation or administration fee. Check your policy details to see what charges there are for early cancellation.
What happens if my vehicle can’t be repaired at the roadside?
If your vehicle can’t be repaired at the roadside and you have basic roadside recovery, it will usually be towed to the nearest garage.
If you have national recovery cover, your vehicle can be towed to a location of your choosing in the UK.
What happens if a family member breaks down?
If a family member breaks down and they’re covered by your breakdown policy, they should be able to get the same assistance as you.
If you take out personal cover, you can arrange for family members who live at the same address to be added to your policy.
If you have vehicle cover, your family member will be covered if they’re driving the named vehicle and it breaks down.
Will I be covered if my van breaks down?
Most breakdown providers will also cover vans, if they’re under 3.5 tonnes.
If you use your van to get to work, it could be worth taking van breakdown cover to help you get back on the road with minimal disruption.
Compare the Market doesn’t currently compare van breakdown cover for business and commercial use. However, we do compare van breakdown cover for commuting and private use.
Will I be covered if my motorcycle breaks down?
Yes, you can buy motorbike breakdown cover, which offers the same levels and features as a car breakdown policy.
What isn’t covered by breakdown insurance?
Breakdown cover might not include:
- Repeat callouts for a recurring fault
- Routine maintenance
- A breakdown caused by neglecting a known fault
- Roadside assistance for an accident or breakdown that involves the emergency services.
There may also be conditions attached if you break down on private land.
What if I break down with my pets in the vehicle?
If you break down on a motorway, leave your pets inside the car for safety, where possible. If you have to take them out, keep dogs on a lead.
If your car can’t be fixed by the road, animals can usually travel in the recovery vehicle’s cab. They can also travel in your car if it’s being towed.
Having transferable pet travel carriers or restraints will help make sure your pet is transported safely.
When calling your breakdown provider for help, explain you have pets with you so the mechanic knows what to expect. Most recovery operators will try to accommodate pets; just try to keep your pet as calm and secure as possible.
What happens if the breakdown company damages my car?
If your car is damaged during the breakdown service, you should point out the damage immediately. Take photos, write down what’s happened and report it to the breakdown provider straight away.
You’ll then need to contact the provider to find out how they can resolve the issue. If you’re not satisfied with their response, you’ll need to make a formal complaint.
Procedures for doing this will be set out in your policy.
If you’re not satisfied with the outcome, you may be able to contact the Financial Ombudsman Service. It may provide help in settling your case.
Will I be covered if I break down in Europe?
As long as you have European breakdown cover, you’ll have the same level of protection as before Brexit, unless your provider has told you otherwise.
If you’re planning a trip to Europe, it’s important to make sure you arrange European breakdown cover before you leave the UK. And be aware that breakdown cover isn’t a replacement for European car insurance.
Can a vehicle be too old for breakdown cover?
Some breakdown providers will cover vehicles of all ages, others will have restrictions on age. When comparing breakdown cover, you should check the policy terms and conditions for any limits.
Specialist classic car breakdown cover is also available.
Will I be covered if I’m towing a caravan?
Most breakdown providers will cover you for towing a caravan, although weight and size restrictions usually apply. Go above these and you’ll need additional cover before setting off.
Some providers offer specific breakdown cover for caravans and motorhomes if you’re a member of a caravanning club, like The Camping and Caravanning Club UK. These policies often offer extra benefits, including no weight or size restrictions.
About Compare the Market
At Compare the Market, it’s all about keeping it simple. We help you find the right product at the right price. And you can trust us to be impartial – we only make money when you switch or take out a new product, so it’s in our interests to help you make the right choice.
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Julie Daniels - Motor insurance expert
Julie is passionate about delivering a great customer experience and rewarding people for saving on their insurance through our loyalty and rewards programme. She’s spoken to the media, including outlets like Sky News and Capital FM, about car and home insurance, as well as our rewards scheme.