Is a puncture a breakdown or an accident?

jim_walton

As the title suggests..
I just read an article that highlights a misconception that people may have about vehicle breakdown cover. A local lady got  a puncture on the motorway and the breakdown cover she had refused to assist her as they said it was an accident and not a breakdown. 

My wife had a similar issue with the same breakdown service when she crashed her car and it was undriveable..On the back of her breakdown card it said " in case of an emergency ring this number"  when she rang they said it was nothing to do with them and she should ring her insurance ..The police arranged to have the car towed away and when we complained to the breakdown service they said the operator made a mistake and offered us a refund..

chrisw

I would have said the first one was a breakdown and the second one was definitely an accident so covered by insurance.

I guess it depends on how the puncture was caused - hitting an object or running over a nail.

DullGreyGuy

As always it comes down to the exact wording of your policy. 

To pick on the RAC it states "breakdown" is:

an event during the policy period that stops the vehicle from being driven because of a mechanical or electrical failure, including as a result of battery failure or flat tyres but not as a result of mis–fuel, road traffic collision, fire, flood, theft, acts of vandalism, or any driver–induced fault;

As you can see an RTC is explicitly excluded; later in the policy they advise they may be able to assist but it will be a paid service and then go on to talk about their accident management services.

You would need to know the circumstances of the puncture but assuming it doesnt fall within that of an RTC (ie its not because you hit another vehicle) and if you have their tyre cover then:

If your vehicle cannot be driven due to accidental damage, malicious damage or a puncture to one or more of your tyres currently fitted to your vehicle we will send help

So whilst a puncture from driving over a nail would be "accidental damage" it is explicitly covered because of the above term and because it doesnt fit in their definition of an RTC. 

jim_walton

Full story here.

A Blackburn woman said she has been left feeling angry and nervous to get back on the road after the RAC “refused” to attend her stranded vehicle - but the RAC say the incident was not classed as a breakdown. 

Sophie Clayton said she was left stranded on the M60 in the early hours of Thursday, January 19, when one of her car's tyres got a puncture after hitting a pothole or debris on the road.

She called the RAC, a company she has breakdown cover with, and was reportedly told no-one from the company could come to help her.

The RAC said Sophie told them she hit debris in the road which is considered "a road traffic collision", not a breakdown. 

The company said a call centre agent should have told her to call call 999 as she was on a live lane of a motorway.

The RAC has apologised for the call agent's error and is in the process of offering her a goodwill gesture. 

DullGreyGuy

jim_walton said:

Full story here.

A Blackburn woman said she has been left feeling angry and nervous to get back on the road after the RAC “refused” to attend her stranded vehicle - but the RAC say the incident was not classed as a breakdown. 

Sophie Clayton said she was left stranded on the M60 in the early hours of Thursday, January 19, when one of her car's tyres got a puncture after hitting a pothole or debris on the road.

She called the RAC, a company she has breakdown cover with, and was reportedly told no-one from the company could come to help her.

The RAC said Sophie told them she hit debris in the road which is considered "a road traffic collision", not a breakdown. 

The company said a call centre agent should have told her to call call 999 as she was on a live lane of a motorway.

The RAC has apologised for the call agent's error and is in the process of offering her a goodwill gesture. 

Did she have the optional Tyre Cover?

The current wording from the RAC is terrible on the definition of RTC as its almost circular:

means a traffic collision involving a vehicle within the UK that immobilises the vehicle;

It would therefore be very subjective as to if a pothole would meet the definition or not... as mentioned previously though, if they have the optional tyre cover then it does cover accidental damage and so they would respond assuming that the damage is limited to the tyre/wheel and nothing further to the steering etc that can result from hitting an object at motorway speeds.

Herzlos

If you're driving along and the tyre goes flat then it's a breakdown and should be covered.

If you're driving along, hit something which causes the tyre to go flat, then it's a collision and won't be covered.

diystarter7

Hi

In hindsight, people could say, 'hi, my tyres gone flat, please come and help, thanks.'  It would not be lying unless they asked you "have you hit anyinf" IMHO.

We are with the mafuatcures breakdown service and TBH, other than its the top flight cover, onward travel etc not sure re the punctures and our suv does not have a spare, nearly put me off from buying the machine as i was considering which classy suv to buy.

Thnaks

ontheroad1970

diystarter7 said:

Hi

In hindsight, people could say, 'hi, my tyres gone flat, please come and help, thanks.'  It would not be lying unless they asked you "have you hit anyinf" IMHO.

We are with the mafuatcures breakdown service and TBH, other than its the top flight cover, onward travel etc not sure re the punctures and our suv does not have a spare, nearly put me off from buying the machine as i was considering which classy suv to buy.

Thnaks

Mnaufacturer's breakdown service will be RAC or AA.

Car_54

ontheroad1970 said:

diystarter7 said:

Hi

In hindsight, people could say, 'hi, my tyres gone flat, please come and help, thanks.'  It would not be lying unless they asked you "have you hit anyinf" IMHO.

We are with the mafuatcures breakdown service and TBH, other than its the top flight cover, onward travel etc not sure re the punctures and our suv does not have a spare, nearly put me off from buying the machine as i was considering which classy suv to buy.

Thnaks

Mnaufacturer's breakdown service will be RAC or AA.

But almost certainly not with the same Ts and Cs.

jim_walton

I've just spoken to my breakdown cover providers and they said that " provided you have a either a spare wheel or a puncture repair kit " they will attend regardless of how the puncture was caused.. 

Alexd52

diystarter7 said:

Hi

In hindsight, people could say, 'hi, my tyres gone flat, please come and help, thanks.'  It would not be lying unless they asked you "have you hit anyinf" IMHO.

We are with the mafuatcures breakdown service and TBH, other than its the top flight cover, onward travel etc not sure re the punctures and our suv does not have a spare, nearly put me off from buying the machine as i was considering which classy suv to buy.

Thnaks

Honda Assist (through AA) do include punctures regardless of how caused, used it a couple of times within the past 2 years