Poll results – 1 in 6 have used their breakdown cover in last 12 months | Compare and Save

19 November 2008 :

Poll results – 1 in 6 have used their breakdown cover in last 12 months

by compareandsave.com Editors

The results from our recent poll on breakdown cover are in and have shown that 1 in 6 people have used their breakdown cover at least once over the course of the last 12 months.

Just over 500 people responded to the poll, which we started on June 19, and a lucky 70% didn’t have to use their breakdown cover at all over the past year.

However, nearly 18% of respondents said they had had to use their breakdown assistance at least once during the past 12 months, with 5% calling for assistance twice and 2% needing help three times.

What we also found out is that 12% of respondents didn’t have breakdown cover at all, with just under half of these owning a car and just over half without their own car.

From these results we have several tips to help people get the most from breakdown cover.

70% who didn’t use breakdown cover in the past 12 months

For the 70% of respondents who didn’t have to use their breakdown cover during the last 12 months, it is probably best that you don’t use this as a reason to be complacent and choose not to renew your cover because it could cost your dearly in the long run.

If you breakdown and need to call one of the major breakdown cover providers, but don’t currently have a valid policy with the particular provider, you will pay as much as £93 for the assistance and 12 months free basic membership. With basic cover starting from as little as £30 per month, you will effectively be paying the equivalent of three years membership in one year.

18% who used their breakdown cover at least once in the past 12 months

If you are one of the 18% who needed to make use of their breakdown cover at least once within the past year, it is well worth checking the wording of your current policy to see if you will have a reduced callout entitlement in your renewal year. Some breakdown cover providers cap the number of callouts you are allowed to make in the year and then the following year too. This will be especially relevant to the 2% of respondents who used their breakdown assistance three times in the past year.

5% who have a car but no breakdown cover

If you can relate to the 5% of respondents who have a car but don’t currently have breakdown cover, you can expect a bill of at least £89 if you breakdown and call to join either Green Flag or the AA, or around £200 if you break down 10 miles away from your destination and call a local recovery agent.

Basic roadside assistance breakdown cover policies start from as little as £30 per year and will allow you to call for help should you break down at least ¼ mile away from home. If you did breakdown, the mechanic will try to carry out a temporary repair so that you can get to the nearest garage or to your destination, depending on the nature of the fault.

7% who don’t have breakdown cover because they don’t have a car

If you find you have something in common with the 7% of respondents who said that they didn’t have breakdown cover because they don’t have a car, we possibly have the best tip of all for you.

Just because you don’t own a car, it doesn’t by any means imply that you will never travel in a car. However, if that car breaks down, and the driver doesn’t have breakdown cover, you are likely to be stranded too.

This is where ‘personal based’ breakdown cover membership comes in.

Some breakdown cover providers offer a service where the cover they sell you does not cover the vehicle you drive but you as a person. This means that you can call for assistance even if you are in someone else’s car.

RAC and Green Flag are among the providers who offer this type of breakdown cover.

Click the link to compare breakdown cover

10:00 AM | Categories: Insurance, General Info, Breakdown Cover