What Is Covered By Standard Car Insurance?
Standard car insurance in the UK is designed to protect against certain types of damage, but this typically doesn’t include mechanical failures or wear and tear. In most cases, your insurance might cover the following:
- Accidental damage: If your car is damaged in an accident, your comprehensive insurance may likely cover the repair costs.
- Theft and fire: Insurance usually covers damage caused by fire or if your vehicle is stolen.
- Third-party damage: If you’re involved in an accident and another vehicle or property is damaged, third-party liability might cover the cost.
However, issues like engine failure, a flat battery, or a transmission breakdown are considered mechanical problems rather than insurable incidents, meaning they’re not covered by standard insurance.
What Is Breakdown Cover And How Does It Work?
To protect yourself against the costs of a breakdown, you can add breakdown cover to your car insurance or purchase it separately. Breakdown cover ensures that if your car stops working on the road, help may arrive to get you back on track. This service doesn’t typically cover repair costs but offers assistance in the event of a breakdown, such as:
- Roadside assistance: A mechanic may attempt to fix your car at the roadside.
- Recovery: If the car can’t be fixed, it may be towed to a garage or location of your choice.
- Home start: If your car won’t start at home, breakdown cover can arrange for a mechanic to visit.
- Onward travel: If your car can’t be repaired quickly, onward travel cover can provide transport to your destination.
Whilst breakdown cover is valuable, it’s important to note that it doesn’t usually cover the cost of repairs once your car reaches the garage. Those costs would still be your responsibility unless additional cover is in place.
Can You Add Breakdown Cover To Your Insurance Policy?
Yes, many insurers offer the option to add breakdown cover to your existing car insurance policy. This can be a convenient way to combine both services under one provider. When adding breakdown cover, it’s important to understand the levels of cover available:
- Basic breakdown cover: Offers roadside assistance, but may not include recovery if the car can’t be repaired on the spot.
- Comprehensive breakdown cover: Includes recovery, home start, and sometimes onward travel for more comprehensive protection.
- European cover: If you drive abroad, this could ensure you have assistance in case of a breakdown on the continent.
Adding breakdown cover is often a simple process, and you can tailor the level of cover based on your needs. However, you’ll still need to consider how to handle repair costs if the breakdown requires expensive fixes.
Does Comprehensive Insurance Include Mechanical Repairs?
Comprehensive car insurance offers the broadest level of protection, covering accidental damage, fire, theft, and third-party liability. However, even with comprehensive cover, mechanical repairs following a breakdown are rarely included. This is because insurance is designed to cover unforeseen events rather than the wear and tear that naturally occurs over time with regular use of your vehicle.
If your car breaks down because of a mechanical failure, repairs for engine problems, gearbox issues, or other components are typically seen as maintenance responsibilities, not something insurance covers.
What Is Mechanical Breakdown Insurance?
Whilst standard car insurance policies don’t cover mechanical failures, some insurers offer a separate type of policy known as mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI). This specialised cover can help with the cost of repairs to certain components in the event of a breakdown. MBI is typically offered for newer cars and covers major mechanical failures, such as:
- Engine and transmission repairs
- Suspension and steering components
- Electrical system malfunctions
- Cooling system issues
MBI can be a good option if you’re worried about high repair costs for specific mechanical issues. However, it’s important to carefully review what’s included in the policy, as there are often exclusions related to age, mileage, and regular maintenance.
What Is Covered By A Car Warranty?
If your car is still under warranty, either from the manufacturer or through an extended warranty, some repair costs might be covered in the event of a breakdown. Warranties are designed to protect against faults in manufacturing or specific mechanical failures, typically for a set period or up to a certain mileage limit. With a warranty, you could receive cover for repairs like:
- Faulty parts replacement
- Engine or transmission issues caused by manufacturing defects
- Electrical faults within the car’s system
It’s important to understand that warranties don’t usually cover wear-and-tear items like brake pads or tyres. Additionally, they may not cover repairs resulting from lack of maintenance or general usage over time.
Can You Claim For Breakdown-Related Damage?
Whilst mechanical failures aren’t typically covered by insurance, there are situations where a breakdown could cause damage that might be covered. For example:
- Accidental damage: If your car breaks down and is subsequently involved in an accident (such as being hit by another vehicle), your comprehensive insurance may cover the resulting damage.
- Fire or theft during a breakdown: If your car catches fire or is stolen after a breakdown, your comprehensive policy should cover those events.
However, the initial breakdown itself won’t be covered, so the repair costs for fixing the mechanical failure would still need to be handled separately.
How Can You Reduce The Cost Of Repairs After A Breakdown?
Whilst car insurance and breakdown cover might not fully protect you from repair costs, there are ways to manage and potentially reduce those expenses after a breakdown:
- Regular maintenance: Keeping up with routine servicing and maintenance can help prevent costly breakdowns. Replacing worn parts before they fail could save you a lot of money in the long run.
- Extended warranties: Consider purchasing an extended warranty, especially if your car is older or out of manufacturer warranty. This can provide cover for major mechanical components and reduce repair costs.
- Mechanical breakdown insurance: If you’re particularly concerned about expensive repairs, adding MBI could help with certain mechanical issues.
- Compare repair quotes: If your car needs repairs, shop around for quotes from different garages to look for the best price for the work required.
Proactively managing your car’s upkeep and knowing your options for cover can go a long way in minimising the financial impact of a breakdown.
What Should You Do If You Experience A Breakdown?
Breaking down on the road can be a stressful experience, but knowing what to do next can help you stay safe and resolve the issue as smoothly as possible. If you experience a breakdown:
- Move to safety: If possible, pull over to a safe location off the road and turn on your hazard lights.
- Call for breakdown assistance: Contact your breakdown cover provider, or call a local mechanic if you don’t have cover.
- Stay with your vehicle: If it’s safe to do so, stay inside your car whilst you wait for help, especially on motorways or busy roads.
- Prepare for repairs: Once your car is towed to a garage, ask for a detailed quote on the repair work and explore your options for reducing the costs.
Being prepared for breakdowns, both in terms of safety and finances, can make all the difference when dealing with an unexpected situation on the road.
If you’re looking for more protection from breakdowns or want to look for the best car insurance policy for your needs, compare quotes today and choose cover that works for you.
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