Compare Car Insurance with Breakdown Cover

  • Save up to £515* on your car insurance
  • 97% of reviewers recommend Free Price Compare
  • Compare car insurance quotes from 120+ insurers
GB
Retrieve Quotes

Don’t have your registration number? No problem, click here.

Tip: Some insurers offer discounts for low annual mileage. Consider this if you don't drive often.

4000+ reviews

We compare car insurance quotes from 120+ companies...

Wide variety of insurance options available to help you find a suitable policy

Happy Customers

We've served thousands of policies to
thousands of happy customers.

Price Comparison Market

10+ years experience in
the Price Comparison Market.

Car Insurance Companies

We'll display quotes from
120+ car insurance companies.

Car insurance that comes with breakdown cover can give you more peace of mind and make your life easier. In the UK, you do not usually get breakdown cover included as part of a standard car insurance plan. But many car insurance providers offer it as an extra feature or let you put it in a package together with your car insurance. This guide will help you understand the benefits of having breakdown cover, what options you have, and what things to think about when you want to add breakdown cover to your car insurance.

What Is Breakdown Cover in Car Insurance?

Breakdown cover is a service that helps if your vehicle breaks down. It gives support like roadside repairs, recovery vehicles, or towing to the nearest garage. If you add it to your car insurance, you will not be left alone if your vehicle breaks, or if there are engine problems, flat batteries, or clutch issues. This service is there to get you back on the road as soon as possible.

Benefits of Combining Car Insurance with Breakdown Cover

  • Convenience: It is easy to handle car insurance and breakdown cover in one policy. This makes things simple when you have to renew or manage your plan.
  • Potential Discounts: Some places give you lower prices if you get european breakdown cover and car insurance together.
  • Comprehensive Protection: You can get more help if you want, like home start, personal cover, national recovery, or European breakdown cover. All this can be added.
  • Single Point of Contact: You just talk to one company for both services. This makes it easier to talk and make claims.

Types of Breakdown Cover Available

  • Roadside Assistance: Get help if your car breaks down when you are away from your home or within a quarter of a mile. Someone will come to where you are.
  • Home Start: If your car will not start at your home address, help will come to fix it there.
  • National Recovery: If needed, your car will be taken to a nearby garage or another place you choose in the UK.
  • Onward Travel: If your car cannot be fixed soon, you may get public transport, a hire car, or a place to stay for the night.
  • European Cover: You get help while driving in other European countries. This is perfect for a single trip holiday or as year-long annual cover.
  • Breakdown Recovery: If your car breaks down, you and the other people in the car are taken, along with the car, to the place you like best.
  • Instant Breakdown Cover: With some providers, you can get instant breakdown cover and help starts as soon as you buy the plan.
Types of Breakdown Cover Available

Additional Features to Look Out For

Breakdown cover is not always the same. You can look at optional extras and what coverage you get, such as:

  • Wrong Fuel Assistance: Get help if you put the wrong fuel in your car.
  • Car Keys Replacement: Get support if you lose or break your car keys.
  • Replacement Parts: Cover that pays for parts needed to fix your car.
  • Legal Expenses Cover: Help with the cost if you have legal fees after a crash.
  • Motorbike Breakdown Cover: Cover for two-wheel vehicles if you break down.
  • Cheapest Breakdown Cover: Find low-cost choices by looking at different providers.
  • Breakdown Cover Packages: Check what is in the bundle, like roadside help, recovery, and travel on to your destination.
  • Standard Breakdown Cover: See what you normally get with basic or entry-level protection.

Get Quotes

Considerations When Adding Breakdown Cover

  • Level of Cover: Pick the type of cover that matches your driving style. It can be basic roadside assistance or full national and European help.
  • Cost: Check the price of yearly cover against the price of a standalone policy.
  • Breakdown Provider Reputation: Look at how the breakdown provider handles claims and how fast they show up when the car breaks down. The big names often will have different call-out times.
  • Policy Documents: Read your insurance product information document carefully. Make sure to see what’s included and what is not.
  • Right Cover: See that the policy is right for your lifestyle. If you travel often or need a hire car, it is good to check that the type of cover and level of cover meets your needs.

How to Compare Car Insurance with Breakdown Cover

When you shop for car insurance, you need to look at breakdown cover options. Here are some steps that can help:

  1. Assess Your Needs: Take time to look at what type of vehicle breakdown cover you need. Think about the age of your car and how much you use it.
  2. Compare Providers: Go to Free Price Compare. You can get a breakdown cover quote with your motor insurance there.
  3. Look for Discounts: Some companies give lower prices for electric vehicles or if you need a family breakdown cover.
  4. Check for Business Breakdown Cover: Make sure you pick a business breakdown cover if you use your car for commercial use.
  5. Watch for Exclusions: Always read what is not included. There may be limits on further repairs, trade plates, or emergency services.
  6. Type of Breakdown Cover: You should pick between personal breakdown cover and vehicle cover. It depends on if you want to cover just the car or every driver of the car.

FAQs About Car Insurance with Breakdown Cover

No, breakdown cover is usually something extra that you can add. It is not part of the standard package.

Yes, many insurers let you add breakdown cover at any time. But it is often best for your wallet to add it when you first get the policy.

It depends on what you want. Bundling breakdown cover with something else can give you a discount. But if you buy breakdown cover on its own, it might cover more or fit what you need better.

This depends on the policy. Some will cover the car no matter who is driving it. Others are made only for the person whose name is on the policy.

Get in touch with your breakdown service provider. You can find their emergency number in your policy papers. They will send a recovery vehicle to help you at the side of the road, your home address, or another place that you choose.

Car Insurance Comparison

Convictions Car Insurance Comparison

Car Insurance Provider

Car Insurance Guides

Page last updated on: 18/07/2025

Page reviewed by: Shay Ramani

4000+ reviews