Cheap Breakdown Recovery Insurance - Shop Around for the Cheapest

Shopping around for cheap breakdown recovery insurance

Unlike motor insurance which is based on things like your age and driving history, shopping around for cheap vehicle breakdown recovery insurance is made easier because premiums are based on which type of insurance you want, i.e. personal or vehicle, and the combination of optional extras you select.

Once you've worked out what you want in your breakdown insurance package you can compare like for like packages across the market place. Apart from well known British institutions such as the Automobile Association (AA) and the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) breakdown insurance is available from:

other motor vehicle rescue organisations such as Britannia Rescue, Green Flag, Axa Assistance

Most banks & building societies (as part of their motor insurance packages)

Supermarket chains such as Tesco, Asda, Marks & Spencer

The Post Office

Breakdown insurance brokers who trade under names such as Autonational Rescue

The main factor insurers take into account is either your age if you are being insured, or the age of the vehicle being insured.

Insurance companies such as Direct Line (who also underwrite Green Flag), Europe Assistance Holdings Ltd, Aviva (formerly known as Norwich Union).

There are also specialist insurers such as www.greenflag.com/breakdown which is the official UK breakdown cover provider for The Caravan Club, and offers no weight or size restrictions and covers you whether you are towing or not. Some other insurers have weight or size restrictions, so check your caravan or camper van fits within these.

It's also worth considering a specialist breakdown insurer who can cater to your specific needs and vehicle type, if you:

own a high performance car or sports car

have a classic car

import or own a non-standard vehicle or kit car

use your vehicle(s) for commercial purposes

want to insure a motorcycle, van or camper van

Using a specialist insurance provider or broker also enables you to get cover for when you are attending track events, rallies and club functions.

Things to look out for when shopping around for breakdown insurance are:

Guaranteed response times, for example within 40 minutes, is compensation offered if they can't get to you within that time?

Is there a 24hr English speaking helpline available?

Online and iPhone services which include GPS locators and call-out options

Time limits and amount of labour covered for roadside assistance cover

Priority response services for high risk situations or lone female drivers

High percentage rate for fixing vehicles at the roadside

Discounts for being a permanent member of a vehicle rescue organisation

How soon can you claim on the insurance once you've taken it out?

Is the number of call-outs you can make each year restricted?

No claims bonus schemes

Free cover for caravans and trailers

Access to a national network of repairers and roadside assistance vehicles

Is your insurer or broker a member of the Financial Services Association (FSA)?

Make sure you know what you are getting for your money, low premiums may not necessarily mean you're getting the best type of cover.

Most breakdown insurance companies have online sites which have an online quote/application form and detailed information about their policies and terms and conditions. This can be the quickest way to shop around. If you don't know which insurer you want to use. Just doing a search from your home page, for example typing in exactly what you're looking for, i.e. "car breakdown insurance", or "driving abroad break down insurance" will bring up several links for you to investigate.

You can also take advantage of independent comparison sites which compare several different breakdown insurers, and can present like for like quotes just by entering a couple of details such as your age and vehicle registration date and/or mileage. It's advisable to compare at least three quotes of the same type of breakdown cover to make sure you get a good deal.

We've included links below to some independent comparison sites to help start your search: