You may wonder if your breakdown cover can help you if you are involved in a car accident. The short answer is yes, but there are caveats.
Unless your breakdown cover specifically includes accident management, you could be stuck with out-of-pocket expenses, even after your roadside assistance arranges for your car to be removed from the scene.
In the event of an accident, breakdown cover providers defer to car insurance providers in the matters of getting things sorted. So, while they may be able to arrange a tow after an accident, the cost of that tow won’t be covered unless your breakdown cover specifically includes accident management cover. However, depending on the details of the accident, you could be reimbursed through your own or the other party’s car insurance.
If you are involved in a traffic accident and once the cars are off to the side of the road (if possible) and the scene itself has stabilised, your obligation is to contact your car insurance company and comply with their guidelines as far as giving information to the police and exchanging information with other drivers. Only then would you contact your breakdown cover provider.
This is just one more reason to compare breakdown cover before buying. If you want accident management, read the fine print or ring the provider and specifically ask if it is included.
18 Feb 12
6:29 pm
Yes, do check with the company providing your cover and not just in the brochure. I was caught out sitting in a field by the side of the road having had two deer jump down a bank and land on my car. I phoned for roadside assistance and was transferred to my insurance company’s Asia call centre. I was being told all about national networks of repair centres whilst my car was partially blocking a country lane within 3 meters of a 90 degree bend. All I wanted was the car moved so that nobody lese had an accident and to go home.