I know when I look for breakdown cover, I tend to look at price first and worry about the main details last. This is something that has backfired for me in the past so now I constantly look for the right breakdown cover information when the time comes to renew my policy.
You see there seems to be an expectation that if you wee to breakdown, even the basic roadside type policy will get you home, and if there were something more serious, they would help you fix that too. Well that is only true to a point. All companies will send and engineer or garage out to your vehicle, but when they figure out it can't be fixed by the roadside or in a specific amount of time, their only role so then to tow you to the nearest garage. Fine, you think, that will do me. But as someone, who was towed to a country garage, I found myself need to find somewhere to spend the night, as the it could not be fixed that day and needed parts to be ordered in, I them found myself paying for a bill, that was just huge and to be honest a rip off. In these situations, there is nothing you can do, but pay up. You can't catch a bus, or ask a friend to come and pick you up, if you want your car back so you can get home, you will have to fork out the cash. Do you think the local garage knew this, when they present the bill? Of course they did, this was their chance to get business they would not normally have in this small village. We know not all garages are like this, but you have no way of knowing until it happens to you.
Going abroad can and often is a lot worse. For a start, different countries have favorite makes and models of cars, so you should not assume that the car you drive is one that has an abundance of parts out of the UK. Next is the culture of the country you are traveling to, do not think that a garage will stop it's siesta for you, or it's religious holiday, because you have broken down and need to get on your way. Not having the right policy at the point could ruin your holiday or break.
So the way to prevent these dramas happening to you is to ensure you have the right breakdown cover information, before you purchase your next agreement.
Fully research what would happen in different situations, for example, if I broke down away from home, will my car and family be transported to anywhere in the UK I choose.
Of course you may want cover, for if your car does not start on a winter morning standing your drive. Find out if the policy you own or are about to buy will cover you for non-starting vehicles on your drive.
All breakdown cover policies are not the same and only by getting the right information from the providers websites, or even ringing hem first will ensure you buy the right policy on the end, that suits your needs and not just the cheapest option.
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Insurance