Q: How long will it take for a recovery vehicle to get to me if I breakdown?
A: Average response times vary between breakdown cover providers but generally they all aim to get to you within 30 and 40 minutes.
Q: If I borrow a friend’s car and it breaks down, will I be able to use my breakdown cover policy and call for assistance?
A: This will depend on the cover held. If you have ‘personal based’ cover, it will cover you as a person irrespective of whom the car (or other type of vehicle covered by your policy) belongs to.
On the other hand, if your friend has vehicle based cover, you should also be covered by that policy as it will likely provide assistance for the vehicle no matter who’s driving it (as long as you have the owner’s permission and the correct insurance cover).
Q: Will my caravan be covered if my vehicle happens to breakdown?
A: The answer to this question depends on the type of cover you have and who it is with. Some providers will tow your caravan as well as your broken down vehicle, providing it is within a certain size.
You will have to pay extra if you want to cover your caravan in the event of it breaking down.
Q: I am a woman who regularly travels on my own. If my vehicle happens to breakdown, will I be given priority by the breakdown service?
A: Some providers specifically state that they will give priority service to those in potentially vulnerable situations for example elderly drivers who have broken down on the motorway, drivers with young children and lone females.
Others do not specifically state that they offer this priority service, but it is likely that they will have some sort of system for prioritising callouts which may involve helping vulnerable customers first.
Q: Can I pay an extra premium so that the breakdown cover policy will cover the cost of getting my car fixed in a garage after a breakdown?
A: Generally speaking, you cannot get the option to have the cost of repairs covered under your breakdown cover policy. However, some providers offer this as an additional policy option, which would be separate to your breakdown cover policy.