Who knows, you could be going on a long trip and your car could break down in the middle of it. Experts say that if your car is more than 3 years old, it breaks down more than 10% of the time each year. In the winter, it's worse. You can keep your car from breaking down by doing things like getting it serviced every month. But you can protect yourself financially if your car breaks down when you least expect it to by getting breakdown insurance.
What Kinds of Breakdown Cover Are There?
Roadside Rescue: If your car breaks down more than a certain distance from your home, breakdown insurance will pay for all of the repairs except for the cost of new parts. You will get help from the company in other ways. But if the accident happens at your home or within a certain distance of it, it won't be covered.
Home Rescue: It covers the same things as roadside assistance, but it also covers your house. It includes taking your car to a local garage to get checked out.
"Recovery Plus" means: It covers breakdowns at home and on the side of the road. It gives you a rental car so you can go home or keep going on your trip. It also pays for any other transportation you need to get to your destination or back home. If the breakdown happens a certain number of miles away (as stated in the policy), a hotel room will also be paid for until the repairs are done.
Covering the whole world
In the UK, European Rescue Breakdown covers breakdowns on the side of the road in Europe. It pays for the cost of fixing your car or getting it back to the UK if it can't be fixed. But it doesn't cover the cost of buying new parts. So, if you are driving across Europe, it is always a good idea to have this insurance, since you may have to pay for roadside assistance for every kilometre your car is towed.
"Partners and Family" (b>/b>)
Check with the insurance company to see if your spouse or partner is covered. Some companies check to see if you live with your spouse or partner at the same address. Family coverage covers you, your partner, and usually up to two children under 21 who live with you. Check to see if your policy covers everyone who will be in the car.
You have to wait for roadside assistance for about 25 minutes to an hour. Some rules say that you can only make five or six calls a year. If you have a joint or family policy, you may get more. If you go over the limit, you have to pay for the help. The cost of new parts is not covered by insurance. Not all insurance policies cover trailers and caravans. Most of the time, animals are not covered.
