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Affordable Breakdown Cover

Smoking cars on the motorway hard shoulder, hours worth of queuing to get around cars on B roads; we all think it will never be us, but broken-down cars are an inevitable risk when travelling day to day, making car breakdown cover a worthwhile investment.

Breakdown organisations such as the AA or the RAC are popular for annual cover, but with new companies starting up in the UK everyday, the same cover is becoming available at a lower cost. The big supermarket chains have had a big influence on the car market as a whole, offering vehicle insurance over the last few years; now, though, they have now moved into the breakdown market.

When it comes to insuring your car against the unfortunate possibility of breaking down, there are some points that can be followed to ensure that the cover arranged is affordable yet comprehensive.

Make sure that you don't pay for features that you do not require; most packages, fortunately, are offered on a scale basis from basic to premium. Basic breakdown recovery packages offer UK roadside recovery, assistance to a local garage and onward transport to take you to your original destination. These features are generally what is required from a breakdown policy and it is only the extras like home starts, personal protection and multiple car coverage that is implemented by more expensive policies.

There are also pay and claim options that can suit some car owners better than others. If you are driving a relatively new car then pay and claim may be the best option; this is where you pay for the repair costs up front and then claim them back at a later date from your breakdown provider. Realistically though, if you are driving a car that is over 10 years old and has a fair few miles on the clock, then an annual fully comprehensive breakdown policy from a supermarket provider could work out more financially suitable.

Don't fall into the trap of insuring you and your car against European breakdowns. If you regularly travel abroad and you are driving, European breakdown cover can be a worthwhile investment. If, however, you only take the car to the EU once or twice a year, then single trip breakdown insurance should work out a lot cheaper.

Although it can be easy to assume that the best cover comes only from the big names, there is a multitude of other companies that can offer the same cover but for considerably cheaper each month or year. Despite the cheaper cost, they still offer UK national assistance, quick response times and even the option to add further vehicles to make your policy a multi-car one.

People often worry that the standard of service they will receive from smaller companies or from the supermarkets won't be on par with that of the bigger providers. Yet, particularly with the supermarkets, these cheaper options are often provided for by some very well known breakdown companies; for example Asda is provided by Britannia Rescue, six times winners of a Which? Best Buy award.

Many people have families that mean multiple people are insured on one car; therefore when considering which breakdown policy to sign up for, be careful to make sure that your vehicle is covered for everyone who drives it rather than the one that is simply targeted to the policyholder. This means that whoever is driving the car, should a breakdown occur, assistance can be called out regardless of the driver.

Personal cover is an option. If you drive more than one car; it means you are covered as a person rather than the vehicle itself. While this is a more expensive option it does mean that you are covered irregardless of whether it is your car you're driving or someone else's.

Breakdown insurance is a necessity but it need not be an expensive commodity. There are a number of comparable sites and companies out there offering a full and reliable service the same as some of the bigger providers but for a fraction of the cost.

To ensure that you get the most from your policy and you get the best value, it is all about tailoring what cover you want to your specific needs. If you travel abroad then European cover can be well suited but for the average UK driver, roadside assistance and recovery to a near by garage is generally all that is required. Whether you drive a brand new car or you are more into the classics, there is an affordable policy to suit all drivers of all ages and of all locations.