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.

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Last week we published the second instalment of our Breakdown Cover special: “PART 2: What to do if you breakdown on the motorway”.

This week’s instalment, Part 3, will guide you through the procedure to follow if you break down on other roads, as advised by the AA.

If you break down on other roads, the procedure to follow is quite different to that you would use on the motorway.

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Part 2 of our Breakdown Cover special will guide you through what to do if you break down on the motorway.

The procedures for what to do if you break down on the motorway are quite different to those you need to follow if you break down on any other type of road (we will talk you through these next week in Part 3).

If you find you are in a situation where you need to stop your vehicle, it can be both dangerous and hard, especially on a motorway. The first thing that you must remember is that motorway hard shoulders are only for emergency use and you should only stop on one if you find you really have no other choice. If you can, it is best to try and find a place off the motorway to pull over.

The hard shoulder is not to be used to go to the toilet, have a quick nap, use your mobile phone or for reading maps/checking routes.

If you do need to stop in an emergency on the motorway, here’s what the AA advises you to do. Why not print off a copy and keep it in your glove box in case you ever need it. Don’t forget to keep your breakdown cover details with your vehicle too.

1. Pulling over
2. Exiting your vehicle
3. Making yourself seen
4. Getting help
5. When help is on its way
6. Leaving the hard shoulder
7. Can’t get on the hard shoulder...?
8. If you have a disability so cannot follow the advice above

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This section of Part 1 of our Breakdown Cover Special will talk you through how to minimise the chance of the top-ten causes of car breakdowns happening to your vehicle.

According to the AA many of the most common problems dealt with at the roadside can “be avoided with the correct preventative care”.

1. Flat battery and other battery related problems
2. Lost keys
3. Flat/damaged tyres and wheels
4. Faults with alternators
5. Problems with starter motor
6. Distributor cap faults
7. Problems with fuel
8. Broken clutch cables
9. Faulty spark plugs
10. Broken HT leads

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Breaking down is not only inconvenient; it can also be very dangerous.

This section of the first part of our Breakdown Cover special will guide you through the ten most common causes of breakdowns

1. Flat battery and other battery related problems
2. Lost keys
3. Flat/damaged tyres and wheels
4. Faults with alternators
5. Problems with starter motor
6. Distributor cap faults
7. Problems with fuel
8. Broken clutch cables
9. Faulty spark plugs
10. Broken HT leads 

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Any vehicle can break down, regardless of how old or new it is. You could buy a brand new car and be driving it home from the garage on the motorway and accidently puncture a tyre, or you could be driving your 14-year-old 1.1 litre Peugeot down the road when the exhaust decides it’s time to fall off, suddenly making your small car sound like a tank.

In this five-part special, which will be released over the course of eight weeks, we are going to talk you through different aspects of car breakdowns. Part 1 ‘What are the ten most common causes of breakdowns and what can I do to prevent them?’ will be released tomorrow and will provide handy hints and tips which will hopefully reduce your chances of breaking down in the first place.

Later parts will guide you through such things as what you should do if you break down on motorways and standard roads, how to use jump leads and the importance of a good breakdown cover policy.

More Than is offering a new and improved no claims discount offer to its car insurance customers as of today.

When you buy a More Than Car Insurance policy you will get a 10% discount. You will then get a 20% no-claims discount in the 2nd year, and every year after that, providing you stay claim free.

Also, if you have accumulated 4 years or more no claims discount More Than will protect it for the life of your motor insurance policy.

What’s more, you will also receive a 50% discount off More Than Breakdown Cover.

Plus, you will be given a free courtesy car to use while your car is being repaired by a More Than recommended repairer following an accident (if you have Comprehensive cover).

Click the link for additional information about More Than Car Insurance
 

This offer is current as of 21st JULY 2008. Terms and Conditions apply. For more offers please refer to the Offers section of compareandsave.com’s ‘Your money matters blog’.

Sainsbury’s Car Insurance recently conducted research and found that 17% of UK drivers are planning on taking their cars abroad this year.

We thought we would bring you some top tips to help if you decide to take a road trip abroad in 2008.

1. Minimise the risk of a breakdown
2. Be prepared in case you do breakdown
3. Plan your route
4. Ensure your car conforms to road laws
5. Speak to your car insurance provider
6. Don’t rush your journey
7. Ask for hints and tips
8. Consider European Breakdown Cover

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We have today launched a new poll on the site asking you, our readers, about how much you use your breakdown cover.

Breakdown cover is a service you can buy which would mean you could call for roadside help should your vehicle unexpectedly stop working. A mechanic will come and either try and temporarily fix your vehicle or, if that is not feasible, will arrange a recovery service back to your home or to the nearest garage so it can be repaired.

We would like to know how many times you have had to use your breakdown assistance in the last 12 months, if you have breakdown cover. If you don’t have breakdown cover we would like to know if it’s because you don’t have a car or just because.

The poll is dotted around on most pages of the site and just involves a simple click on the relevant answer and then a quick click on the submit button. You will also get to see how others have voted once you have submitted your response.

You can click on the link to find out more about the breakdown cover poll.