Is breakdown cover really needed?

EssexHebridean

I'm in the "have cover" camp - and also one of those who only pays around £40p/a for it per vehicle. (Cars are both under 15 years old). A lot of our driving is done on motorways, and while I am quite happy to change a tyre if needed in some circumstances, having seen a vehicle on the hard shoulder being hit by another some years ago, and having seen how much was(n't) left of the vehicle that was hit subsequently, I'm not doing ANYTHING by the side of my car in that situation! If you have to be towed off a motorway then that is an expensive operation all on its own - and certainly makes my £40 a year ish seem like peanuts! 

(And while this subject has been raised - if you break down on the hard shoulder, put your hazard lights on, then get EVERYONE out of the car, on the opposite side of the barrier, up the embankment a little way if there is one and critically slightly behind your vehicle too. Never mind if it's raining, snowing, whatever - this is the reason to always carry a blanket or spare coats - just get out.)

Asdgdsf

This is absolutely personal thing.

My cover that's my small toolbox with 50/50 purchased/DIY tools.

I'm on road about 25 years.

I had two major breakdowns: one in Netherlands, family trip, Honda 14years old, alternator gone. Bought online one in Poland, arranged next day delivery to my parking location (blablacar, but instead of passenger the task was to pick up alternator and bring it to me), fitted and followed my way. Before blablacar idea I've tried call some local garages but all rip off! They tried to tell me that I'm unable fix it on my own etc etc, when I proved things then because it's Honda they won't provide parts this week etc etc. No, we were not stressed, abusing, accusing etc etc - our way of our life, positive way, things happens, we still found the way to enjoy day in middle of nowhere, because biggest privilege is to wake up in the morning in one piece fully healthy.

Another breakdown in the UK:

On my own.

First time ever in my life I bought breakdown cover while purchasing second hand car and new insurance. I'm getting older, maybe breakdown cover is good idea? Start to buy it yearly now? Car unfortunately broke badly while traveling home so I needed tow it home, about 350miles, Fiat 14years old. I rand my breakdown cover and I was told that not passed 24h or something like that. What a con! I fully understand that a lot people are over use breakdown cover and buy it only for one trip so timing rule was introduced. I fully understand that, but I'm not one of those people. I tried to explain through the phone that was my very first purchase of cover, I never ever had any in my life, I'm not familiar with terms at all - no excuses, 650pounds quote to tow. Not a chance! I said - if they won't help me I'll never pay them a penny, never ever! So, this is my story, I won't get ANY breakdown cover ever again. My toolbox that's my cover. Oh, what happened with my broken car on the end? I was towed away from motorway only to the nearest carpark. I went to some random Facebook recovery groups, raised questions and went sleep, next morning I had dozens of messages, picked not cheapest quote but quote from persons who seems to make nice conversation, 4h later I was in his lorry, car on the back, 7h later home, paid 450pounds, thank you very much :-D A lot money? Not really, when calculated how many thousands I would pay during years for cover.

That's why is personal matter - if you like to live or not like to live my own way.

^If you don't know how to live survival way or you're caged with working days etc -  you need breakdown cover, don't waste your body for stress.

^If you like survival way but if you feel that you need to learn a lot, you have so far not enough skills to repair your car - take a cover as a piece of mind until you reach my point.

^If you don't like this what I've done - then you definitely need breakdown cover for your own lifestyle (nothing wrong, I'll still respect your own lifestyle. this is my own lifestyle described above. Don't waste your body for stress.

^If you don't bother about sleeping night away and you're fully skilled for your own life - you definitely don't need this tip as you won't waste money for breakdown cover then.

vacheron

Over 32 years of driving, I have never needed to use breakdown cover (which is lucky as I have never had any!) 

I am a big fan of self-insurance, so if I ever do need it, I will pay a couple of hundred quid for their "instant breakdown cover" from the thousands of pounds I have saved over the years by not taking any out previously! 

I am mechanically inclined, so I can change my own tyres, I can jump start a flat battery, and change a fuse at the roadside. I can also feel when something is wrong with the car and accommodate for it before it becomes a major problem. We don't regularly commute huge distances from home and have 2 cars and 2 insured drivers, plus my parents live close by, so "family AA" is always an option.

My wifes car has had 3 mechanical problems in the last 12 months (slipping clutch, binding rear brake calliper, and a slow puncture). In each situation I was aware something wasn't right as soon as I drove it, diagnosed the cause from how the car behaved, got the car home safely (and sympathetically), and arranged to have the remedial the work performed at a regular garage.


As with all insurance, the "value" is dependent on the requirements and circumstances of the insured, so everyones perception of "worth it" will be different.

Grey_Critic

Along the same lines I am surprised at the number of people who do not take out emergency cover for home. 30 years ago at 2.00am on Christmas Day we had a burst pipe. - rang the emergency number and he sai what time did I plan on getting up - well before this 8.00am I said. OK give me a call at 8.00am. I did and he told me a plumber was on his way. He arrived at 8.30am and 10 minutes late it was fixed.

Quesion where do you find a plumber on Christmas Day AT NO COST?

I have been burgled once and it cost a lot of money replacing my tools my sons bike and varios other stuff. Yesterday we broke down with a flat battery.

None of us likes paying out for insurance until we need it. My annual breakdown cover cost £43. Check MSE website

vacheron

Grey_Critic said:

Along the same lines I am surprised at the number of people who do not take out emergency cover for home. 30 years ago at 2.00am on Christmas Day we had a burst pipe. - rang the emergency number and he sai what time did I plan on getting up - well before this 8.00am I said. OK give me a call at 8.00am. I did and he told me a plumber was on his way. He arrived at 8.30am and 10 minutes late it was fixed.

Quesion where do you find a plumber on Christmas Day AT NO COST?

I have been burgled once and it cost a lot of money replacing my tools my sons bike and varios other stuff. Yesterday we broke down with a flat battery.

None of us likes paying out for insurance until we need it. My annual breakdown cover cost £43. Check MSE website

I've never had emergency cover either. 

In the 14 years we've owned our current home, our "emergencies" have consisted of:

• 2 burst pipes which I had isolated and repaired within the hour at a cost of about £10 each.
  
• 3 electrical faults which I was able to temporarily mitigate against. One did ultimately require a new consumer unit, but that wouldn't have been covered on insurance anyway.
  
• 3 central heating faults, one mid position valve sticking, one fuse blowing due to a poorly quality wiring centre, and one pump failure. All of which I replaced myself while driving the system using workarounds in the interrim.
  
• Last December our boiler packed in at 6am on the coldest day of the year, I identified a faulty impeller fan motor while the wife lit a fire in the woodburner as a heat standby. By lunch I had found a refurbushed spare unit within 2 miles of my home, picked it up on my way home from work and had it fitted by 4pm at a total cost of £35.

Total cost to replace everything emergency insurance would have covered: about £150 over 15 years. 
Total cost of emergency cover (assuming an optimistic £5 per month charge): at least £900 over 15 years.
 
Each to their own, but if you are able to repair (or at least mitigate) a problem until you can address it, emergencies aren't quite so "emergency" any more.

I do have home and contents insurance though, as these events are well outside my control, and while I am happy to learn how to repair household items, "criminal underworld vigilante" is where I draw the line, even if it could save me a few quid in theft cover each month! 

twopenny

Pre pandemic I didn't have breakdown. Confident I could phone, walk into a garage and get a b&b if necessary. Friends to call in a dire emergency to get me home.

Then that wasn't possible and I got a deal with insurance and breakdown through the AA.

Post pandemic no family, reliable friends deceased, I have muscle injury so can't walk far.

Broke down in the middle of the moor with a ravine in front so no push start. Sun went in, getting dark, people went home. The AA found me quickly despite no smart phone and remote location. Diagnosed, got started, protected me on pulling out onto road and followed me in case it stopped again. Came to my garage, left paperwork and drove me home.

So I've nothing but praise for their system - strangely nowhere on the site to give my thanks to their staff - and so far have got a good , affordable price each year for renewing membership.

Don't have home start. I live 10mins from several garages and they are happy to pop out and deal with it as soon as they can. I'm retired so don't have to get to work.

When I was working I had a garage that would lend me an old car to get to work while they fixed mine. One was an exciting all gadgets luxury car. I had fun with that.

So perhaps it's mix and match depending on your circumstances and what you can arrange locally.

Catherine_91

I'm also in the cheap breakdown cover camp - about £35 a year. Currently have an 8-year-old car which is the oldest of the 2 cars I've owned so far, and it's never broken down.