By law you are not allowed to drive a car without a licence, an MOT certificate and insurance, but even though it is not a legal requirement you’d be a fool to hit the road without breakdown cover.
There is never a convenient time to break down but it happens to everyone. And of course you can almost guarantee it will be on your way to that super-important meeting, or when you are half way to your holiday destination with three irritable children in the back seat.
When trouble does strike, other than changing a tyre, few of us are qualified to diagnose faults with our cars, let alone fix the problem at the side of a busy road after dark in the rain. So who are you going to call?
There’s the obvious pair - namely the ‘very, very, very nice man’ from the AA or the knight in shining flourescent orange from the RAC. But there’s a few others around too these days, including Green Flag, More Th>n and Churchill which means the breakdown market is now competitively priced and tailored to meet your roadside needs.
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Current membership costs for basic cover average about £30 per year, although what is included will vary from company to company. It is also advisable to compare the average wait time for roadside assistance as this will be the most important issue when you car trouble hits.
One of the first important decisions you need to make is whether you want to cover a specific vehicle - meaning anyone driving that car is covered under the policy - or an individual so they have access to assistance whichever car they are in, even if they are just a passenger.
Personal cover is typically more expensive than vehicle cover but the flexibility is useful for multi-car families. However for a one-car family with multiple drivers the vehicle cover is the ideal solution.
The next decision is what level of cover you require. With most companies the main difference is whether you want to be covered for problems when the car is at home as well as out on the roads. Typically these problems, though inconvenient, are quick and easy to fix such as a flat battery or tyre.
Once you’ve made the first two important decisions it is just a case of what you can afford in the way of extras. If the mechanic cannot fix the problem at the roadside then the car will need to be towed to a garage to be repaired.
Although it will vary from company to company, basic cover typically means that if the problem cannot be fixed then and there, he will tow your car to the nearest garage.
Varying levels of cover will dictate how many passengers he will take with the vehicle or arrange alternative transport for, and how far he will tow the vehicle including back to your home if required.
Some policies will also add another person to your cover free of charge so long as they reside at the same address as the policy-holder.
Now you know the basics visit some of the leading breakdown services in the UK to find one suitable for your motoring needs. Most of the companies offer substantial discounts for applying online.
The AA: www.theaa.com
The RAC: www.rac.co.uk
Greenflag: www.greenflag.com
More Th>n: www.morethan.co.uk
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