Why it is so important to have car breakdown cover

Cost is a big factor!

If you have a family then you might like the peace of mind that comes with having breakdown cover. You'll have fast service and know that your family can be taken away from the breakdown to safety and have your journey completed.

What are the main reasons for having breakdown cover?

If you break down on the motorway you shouldn't attempt any repairs or tyre changes at all yourself. You'd be putting yourself and other drivers at risk by attempting it.

To get something sorted out you need to get a tow truck. You can use the emergency phone system to contact someone or try and call a tow company.

They will come and remove your car from the motorway. They may drive you to a garage or to a compound depending on whether you are paying their fee immediately or not. You may need to pay daily charges at a compound until you recover your car.

Think about the time it'll take for a tow truck to come and get you. How many tow trucks do local garages have? You may have to wait sometime for one. You may not be allowed to stay with your car - and certainly won't be allowed to remain in your car whilst it is on the back of a truck. There may be an additional fee or you will therefore also need a taxi to take you to the where they are taking your car.

Some tow companies will only remove you from the motorway - to be taken on to a garage or other location will cost an additional amount. In some areas - ie: no hard shoulder, recovery can be free but it will probably be only to the nearest safe place from which you'd need to them organise your own repairs and recovery.

They may take you to their preferred garage, not one of your choice - it may be their own and they will want paying for any minor repairs that are carried out. The charges on these can be high.

This is all part of the service you could expect to get for free if you join the breakdown company. And if you are a member of the AA you can have cover which enables them to take you on to your destination too - safely transfering your family with you to arrive where you wanted to go.

The expense, hassle, and dealing with an unknown garage can be very stressful. Paying out for recovery and basic repairs could easily cost you in excess of three hundred pounds.

Being a member of a breakdown company is like having a good friend with a toolkit and a recovery truck!