Last Updated on October, 2024
If you ask me, ‘Why a personal breakdown cover?’ I have a lot to say. If you regularly drive, it will help to,
- To ensure your safety.
- To avoid disappointments during a special outing.
- To make sure there’s a team to help you 24/7, no matter what.
The list goes on.
However, I know these alone will not answer your doubts.
That’s why I have collected plenty of things to discuss with you.
If your peace of mind is important, keep reading.
Quick Summary
- Personal breakdown cover is important for regular drivers for multiple reasons, including ensuring safety, avoiding disappointments during special outings, and having 24/7 assistance.
- Personal breakdown cover is different from vehicle breakdown cover and offers benefits such as national recovery, home-start, and key, tyre, and battery replacement.
- Personal breakdown cover is a good choice for those who drive their own car, have a family that shares a car, own multiple vehicles, or go on long drives. Prices and coverage may vary, so it’s important to compare and consider adding extras as needed.
Contents
- 1 About Personal Breakdown Cover
- 2 What is Included With Personal Breakdown Cover?
- 3 Types of Personal Breakdown Cover
- 4 Who Should Use the Personal Breakdown Cover?
- 5 Personal Breakdown Cover Vs. Vehicle Breakdown Cover
- 6 How Much is a Personal Breakdown Cover?
- 7 Which Vehicles are Covered With Personal Breakdown Cover?
- 8 Can I Add More People to My Policy?
- 9 Pros and Cons
- 10 Conclusion
- 11 FAQs
About Personal Breakdown Cover
A breakdown cover helps when your car, van, or motorbike STOPS WORKING. There are two types:
- Personal Breakdown Cover
- Vehicle Breakdown Cover
With personal breakdown covers, a trained mechanic assists you on the roadside if your particular vehicle breaks down. The main difference is that personal covers protect you as a driver or passenger in any vehicle.
A vehicle breakdown cover might be better for you if you usually drive only one car. They’ll send a mechanic to try fixing it on the spot. If that doesn’t work, you and your vehicle will get a ride to the nearest suitable garage.
However, if you have a personal breakdown cover, you can get help even when you’re a passenger in a friend’s car.
What is Included With Personal Breakdown Cover?
Choosing your breakdown cover level determines what benefits you get. There are three options such as: Basic, Extra, and Complete.
- Basic: This includes roadside assistance and five callouts per year. If you add more people to your vehicle-based policy, you get an extra callout for each person.
- Extra: Like basic, you get roadside support and five callouts yearly. Adding more people means more callouts. Plus, you get a local recovery.
- Complete: The level offers unlimited callouts, roadside assistance, national recovery, and assistance at your home.
Also, at selected garages, you get a free MOT. If you have family cover, you receive free MOTs. (In that case, your family will also benefit from the same level of assistance.)
You can customise your cover by adding extras such as Onward Travel, Battery Replace, Key Replace, and Tyre Replace.
Types of Personal Breakdown Cover
Having a personal breakdown cover is like having a safety net for your car. (I hope you understood why through the above explanation.)
You can make your cover even better by ADDING EXTRAS like:
- National Recovery: If your car can’t be fixed on the spot, they’ll take you and your vehicle anywhere in the UK.
- Home-Start: If your car won’t start at home or breaks down nearby, they’ll come to help.
- Misfuelling: If you put the wrong fuel in your car, they’ll fix it, refill your tank, and get you to the next gas station.
- Onward Travel: If the mechanic can’t fix your car immediately, this cover can pay for a ride or a hotel so you’re not stuck while your car gets fixed.
- Key, Tyre, And Battery Replacement: This covers lost car keys, flat or damaged tires, and a battery that won’t charge.
European Breakdown Cover: When you’re in Europe, this works like a UK cover, giving you roadside support and a ride to a nearby place.
Who Should Use the Personal Breakdown Cover?
Personal breakdown cover is for people who drive their own cars. It helps when your car breaks down, no matter who’s going.
If you use your car for personal reasons, have a family sharing the car, own multiple vehicles, or often go on long drives, this cover is for you.
It ensures help during breakdowns, like towing or roadside assistance. Check the policy details to make sure it suits your needs.
Personal Breakdown Cover Vs. Vehicle Breakdown Cover
If you have personal breakdown cover, you’re covered for roadside assistance no matter which vehicle you’re in. It’s about protecting the person, not the specific car. So, if you break down, you must be in the vehicle covered by your personal breakdown policy to get assistance.
On the other hand, vehicle breakdown cover is about covering the specific car, not the person. This means the vehicle is protected, regardless of who’s driving it at the time of breakdown.
If you own one vehicle that different people drive, then vehicle breakdown cover is a good choice.
When you hire cars, having a personal breakdown cover allows you to get roadside assistance, but you’ll need permission from the rental company first (Because this is not your own car). This is because rental companies often have breakdown cover for their vehicles.
How Much is a Personal Breakdown Cover?
Listen, I checked several official websites for prices, and there were some key differences. However, the price can differ based on the service and the provider you choose.
You can choose the right breakdown cover by comparing Basic, Extra, and Complete. Then, customise it with add-ons like onward travel, battery replacement, key replacement, or tyre replacement.
- Basic: Costs £9.25 a month (7% off). Includes a free car check, five callouts, and roadside assistance.
- Extra: Priced £10 monthly (33% off). Comes with a free car check, five callouts, roadside assistance, and national/local recovery.
- Complete: Available for £13.35 a month (33% off). Offers a free car check, unlimited callouts, roadside assistance, national recovery, and at-home service. You’ll also receive a free MOT at selected garages.
Note: You can check specific websites to know how costs differ and to find out whether you can pay monthly.
Which Vehicles are Covered With Personal Breakdown Cover?
Remember! If you have personal breakdown cover, you’re protected in any vehicle, such as multiple cars, motorbikes (49cc and above), minibuses, and vans – whether you’re the driver or a passenger.
Unlike vehicle breakdown cover, which only protects a specific vehicle, no matter who’s driving, personal cover is about protecting you, regardless of the car you’re in.
For example, let’s say you borrow your brother’s car, and it breaks down – a personal breakdown cover will still help you. Or, if you’re riding as a passenger on a friend’s motorbike, and they don’t have cover, you can still call for assistance.
Are you clear? If yes, I’ll discuss whether you can add more people to your policy.
Can I Add More People to My Policy?
YES!! If you want to add people to your personal breakdown cover policy, it’s easy.
If you’re a new member, select ‘Personal Breakdown Cover’ and choose how many people (multiple people) you want to cover.
If you’re already a member, tell your insurance company how many people you’d like to add to your policy.
It’s as SIMPLE as that!
Pros and Cons
Pros of Personal Breakdown Cover
- You can cover up to four or five people who live with you on a joint policy.
- If you break down in someone else’s vehicle without a breakdown cover, you can get help from that particular vehicle.
- You’re protected when you drive or ride in almost any vehicle, like cars (even electronic or hybrid), bikes, vans, and campervans of a specific size and weight.
- There is no need to buy different policies for more than one vehicle. You’re covered when driving any allowed vehicle, including family cars and rentals (as long as you have the right vehicle cover.
- You don’t need to remind your provider even if you change your vehicle.
Cons of Personal Breakdown Cover
- Most vehicles above a certain weight, length, and width are not included in a personal policy.
- You must be in the car for it to be covered, even if it’s registered. For example, if a family member without cover breaks down in your car and you’re not with them, they won’t get help.
- More expensive.
Useful guides:
- About the van breakdown cover
- About the temporary breakdown cover
- What Can Breakdown Recovery Mechanics Fix At the Roadside?
Conclusion
Here is a RECAP.
You can choose cover for an eligible vehicle or a specific person. Which means you’re covered as a driver or passenger in any car.
Plus, if you get a lift from a family member or a friend and their vehicle breaks down, you will get covered again.
My advice is that PRECAUTION is worth more than regret.
