All You Need To Understand About Car Breakdown Cover

Most of us depend on our vehicles to get us where we want to, and it usually is really annoying, not to mention inconvenient if they break down, causing us to miss a vital appointment, end up being late for work, or spoil our getaway. It's bad enough if your vehicle breaks down in the middle of town, but it can be far worse if it leaves us stuck and by yourself in the middle of nowhere.

Luckily for us, help is available from the huge range of breakdown insurance companies, who can offer a number of breakdown services, often at inexpensive prices. A few, like the AA and RAC give roadside assistance making use of their own dedicated patrols, whilst others (including Green Flag) instead make use of a countrywide network of independent garages and recovery providers.

Policies are usually split into two categories: vehicle and person. Vehicle cover implies that a specific car is insured for breakdown, no matter who's driving it, whilst person cover means that you personally are insured as the driver or passenger of any vehicle - a beneficial option should you drive a number of vehicles. You are often given the option to increase this coverage; for example, if you select person coverage you may extend this to joint membership (yourself and another named person living at your home address), family membership (you, and up to 3 additional named persons living at your household address) or vehicle membership (anyone who drives the vehicle). These extended options will obviously increase the policy premium.

Once you've decided the kind of cover you're looking for, you'll then have to select the level. This may range from the most simple entry level plans that simply include roadside assistance if you breakdown when driving away from home, in addition to a tow to the nearest garage, to the most comprehensive plans, that will provide transport home for you, your car and your passengers, or if required, a replacement hire car and overnight accommodation expenses. It may also be possible to include European cover into your policy, to provide peace of mind when you are driving abroad. You need to work out which of the options offered are essential to you, to help you to build a breakdown package customized to your needs.