If you spend a lot of time on the road, you know that a sudden mechanical failure or a flat tyre can be incredibly stressful and disruptive. Getting stranded is never part of the plan, which is why having the right breakdown cover in place is essential for your peace of mind. Underwritten by One Insurance Limited, these policies are designed to offer roadside assistance and recovery when your vehicle lets you down.

Let’s explore the key differences between the Basic and Enhanced Breakdown policies so you can choose the right level of protection for your journeys.

The Basic Breakdown Policy

The Basic policy is a great entry-level option if you are looking for straightforward, essential roadside assistance to get you moving again.

Key Benefits:

• You receive up to one hour of roadside assistance to help carry out emergency repairs.
• If your vehicle cannot be fixed at the roadside, you are covered for onward destination recovery for the driver and up to four passengers within a 10-mile radius (with a £3.00 per mile charge thereafter).
• The policy covers any insured driver using your vehicle, provided they have your permission.
• It includes the recovery of a caravan or trailer (up to 25 feet/7.6 metres in length) attached to your vehicle at the time of the breakdown, which is subject to an additional £80.00 excess.

 Things to Keep in Mind:

• You must pay a £20.00 non-refundable call-out excess upfront before assistance is instructed.
• The policy is limited to a maximum of two callouts per insurance period.
• It does not cover breakdowns at your home or within 0.5 miles of your home address.
• Additional excesses apply for specific issues, such as £35.00 for burst tyres or wheel changes, and an £80.00 excess for recovering an attached caravan or trailer.
• Incidents like misfuelling, lost keys, and the cost of replacement parts or materials are excluded.

The Enhanced Breakdown Policy

For those who rely heavily on their vehicles or travel longer distances, the policy provides a much wider safety net, ensuring you are not left stranded far from home.

Key Benefits:

• Includes Home-start assistance, meaning you are covered even if your vehicle breaks down on your driveway or within a 0.5-mile radius of your registered home address.
• You receive up to one hour of roadside help, and the team will even relay urgent messages to your immediate relatives or close business associates.
• If your vehicle cannot be repaired within a reasonable period, you are offered excellent alternative travel options: onward rail or road travel up to £100.00 per person, a single use hire vehicle up to £100.00, or overnight accommodation for you and your passengers up to £250.00.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• The maximum payable amount for any claim is capped at £500.00 or the current market value of your vehicle, whichever is lower.
• While it does offer assistance if you put the wrong fuel in your car, it only covers the recovery to a local repairer, not the cost of draining the fuel or repairing the vehicle.
• Similar to the Basic cover, it does not pay for replacement parts, lost keys, or breakdowns resulting from a lack of standard vehicle maintenance.
• Campervans or any vehicles modified to provide living accommodation are strictly excluded from the cover.

The Policy in Action

Imagine you are heading off on a much-anticipated weekend break, only for your car to suddenly lose power 50 miles away from home or nearest garage. If you had the Basic Breakdown policy, you would need to pay a £20 call-out excess, and if the mechanic couldn’t fix the car at the roadside, you would only be covered for a 10-mile tow. For the remaining 40 miles, you would be charged £3.00 per mile out of your own pocket.

However, if you had chosen the Enhanced Breakdown policy, the situation would be much less stressful. Not only could you be recovered to your onward destination without that extra mileage charge, but if the repair was going to take a while, the policy could cover a hire car or even overnight accommodation, ensuring your getaway is not completely derailed.

Taking your vehicle abroad for your next getaway? For those travelling further afield, the Ultimate Breakdown Cover extends your peace of mind across the EU. It features all the benefits listed above, with the essential additions of EU cover, lost key assistance, and misfuelling protection.

If you are reviewing your vehicle’s documentation, it might be worth checking your current breakdown cover to ensure it meets your needs. Feel free to speak with your insurance broker to discuss your options whenever you are ready for your next journey.