When you've made a decision to put a car on the road, you want to make sure that you have the best rates and policies for what you can afford. This means that you must spend time reviewing rates from multiple companies. There are certain things you must have to ensure your safety on the road, and knowing what questions to ask will help you find the best value for your money. Use the tips below to learn how to compare car breakdown covers and get the best protection for your family.
Some of the things you’ll want to include in your coverage are:
Roadside Assistance
Local Vehicle Recovery
No Callout Charges
Message Service
At-Home Cover
Long Distance Recovery
Cash to Collect your Car
European Cover
While it’s important to choose the best company that can offer these services, you must first understand what each service entails to assess your needs and what each company can provide for you.
National Cover
This coverage provides the service of a tow truck to take your vehicle to a garage if it cannot be repaired at the site of the breakdown. National cover also provides transportation to anywhere in the U.K.
Onward Journey
If you’re stranded due to your car needing overnight repairs, Onward Journey will provide you with transportation to your chosen destination in the form of a rental car. The rental car will be provided at no charge until your car is repaired. In some cases, the coverage might include overnight accommodations at a hotel. Every car breakdown company will have their own policies in regards to this, so you should speak with your agent before you make a decision.
Home Start
Standard breakdown cover for this policy provides assistance if your car breaks down within a one-mile radius of your home. This option is not the most popular type of coverage, but the benefits are priceless if you’re ever stuck in your driveway on your out to work. If you’re unsure of the benefits of this cover, be sure to speak with your agent to get full details.
Personal Cover
Personal cover offers assistance even when you have a breakdown in a vehicle that’s not your own. Most standard breakdown policies will cover the vehicle only. This coverage will cover you no matter what vehicle you may be driving.
Many of the car breakdown cover policies you can find from places like Rescue my Car, Swiftcover, Allianz and other popular companies range in price from £25 a month to £140. Take the time to go over the details of each policy to make sure that your needs are met.
Keep your costs down
It’s important that you shop around for your car breakdown cover to compare the options available in your area. As with anything in life; the cheapest coverage may not work out best. It’s more important to choose a policy that will meet all your needs.
Car breakdown cover costs depend on many factors, such as the purpose for which you use the vehicle, the age and condition of the car, and your annual mileage. A well maintained car will be less likely to break down, so make sure to keep up with your car’s maintenance. It will not only ensure your safety on the road but also reduce the cost of your premiums.
Use consumer focused comparison sites to compare car breakdown cover at a glance. Browse the reviews from other customers to see how they rate the service offered by various providers – as much as you’d like to focus on price, customer service is important when you’re stranded on the highway.
Filter the results based on the benefits that are most pertinent to you, and when you've found a fantastic deal, submit your application online for faster service.
Submitted by : This article is contributed by Sam Jones. The author advises many of his friends and readers wanting car breakdown cover to use uSwitch for personal finance advice.