Breakdown cover

Breaking down is frustrating at any time, but if you’re borrowing a car from a friend or taking a new car home, the last thing you want is to be stuck on the side of the road without help.

Thankfully, when you choose temporary insurance from Tempcover, you can add breakdown cover to your policy for complete peace of mind on the road.

Breakdown cover is provided by the AA and is available for temporary car, van, and motorbike policies from Tempcover.

Whether you’re off on a road trip, or just want reassurance when using a different car, adding breakdown cover to your temporary policy is simple.

Breaking down is frustrating at any time, but if you’re borrowing a car from a friend or taking a new car home, the last thing you want is to be stuck on the side of the road without help.

Thankfully, when you choose temporary insurance from Tempcover, you can add breakdown cover to your policy for complete peace of mind on the road.

Breakdown cover is provided by the AA and is available for temporary car, van, and motorbike policies from Tempcover.

Whether you’re off on a road trip, or just want reassurance when using a different car, adding breakdown cover to your temporary policy is simple.

What’s included with Tempcover breakdown cover?

If you choose to add breakdown cover to your policy, you’ll get the following cover included in your policy:

Roadside Assistance – If you’ve broken down more than ¼ mile away from home, the AA will provide roadside assistance to fix your vehicle by the roadside.  If your vehicle can’t be fixed, we’ll make sure it gets to an AA recommended local repairer.

Home Start – Even If you’ve not made it off the drive, with AA Home Start, you’ll get the assistance you need to get you going again. You’ll also get the same level of cover as Roadside Assistance, so even if it can’t be fixed at home, you’ll be taken to a local repairer.

National Recovery – If you’re stuck and unable to get where you need to go, the AA will get you there. With National Recovery cover, the AA will attempt to fix your vehicle but if a fix is not available, provide recovery of your vehicle, together with the driver and up to a maximum of seven passengers to any single destination of Your choice in England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Mainland Scotland.

Do I need breakdown cover?

Breakdown cover is not a legal requirement when driving in the UK, and you don’t need it to buy a temporary insurance policy. It can however be a real lifesaver should you break down.

As with any purchase, you should consider your circumstances before choosing whether or not to add breakdown cover to your policy. Very few of us know when our vehicles are going to break down, so break down cover provides a bit of peace of mind should something happen.

If, however you feel you could afford the cost of calling a breakdown or recovery service without a policy in place, you may not need it. Of course, even if you do add it to your policy, you may not end up needing to use it.

Whatever your circumstances, having the security of assistance on the roadside or at home can be a comfort when driving – especially if you’re borrowing a vehicle.

What’s covered by Tempcover breakdown cover?

What is and isn’t covered by your breakdown policy depends on the level of cover you select. You can however expect to be covered for the following instances:

• Unlimited callouts
• Finding/diagnosing the fault with your vehicle
• Attempted repair of the fault
• Parts to repair the fault, up to the value of £5
• Recovery to any single UK destination of your choice

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide cover for the following instances:

• The same or similar cause of breakdown attended by us in the previous 28 days (including running out of fuel or charge)
• Faults due to lack of routine maintenance
• Recovery of more passengers than the nominated vehicle is legally able to carry (up to a maximum of 7)
• Transportation of livestock
• Recovery following an accident
• Recovery where the vehicle is outside of England, Wales, Northern Ireland, or mainland Scotland (Mainland UK)

For more information as to what is and isn’t covered under the breakdown cover please review the Insurance Product Information Document here.

What vehicles are covered under breakdown cover?

You can purchase breakdown cover for private cars, commercial vehicles, and motorbikes.

Please note that for commercial vehicles there is a maximum vehicle weight of 3.5 tonnes and a maximum vehicle width no wider than 2.55m.

Assistance will be provided for a caravan or trailer which was being towed at the time of the breakdown, providing it also falls within the above limits.

Where am I covered for breakdown cover?

For breakdown assistance at your home address, or at the roadside in England, Wales, Mainland Scotland and Northern Ireland only.

Breakdown cover is not available for travel outside of England, Wales, Mainland Scotland & Northern Ireland.

Can I get breakdown cover?

If you meet our eligibility criteria for temporary insurance, you can add breakdown cover to our standard car, van, and motorbike policies from 1 hour to 28 days in duration.

When getting a temporary insurance quote as normal, you’ll be presented with the option to add breakdown cover, or one of our other additional extras like excess reduction, to your policy.

You’ll see how much the policy costs and in one tap or click, you can add it to your policy. Once you’ve purchased your temporary insurance policy, you’ll receive all the relevant information about your breakdown cover via email along with your policy documents.

How much does temporary car insurance breakdown cover cost?

The cost of breakdown cover depends on the duration of the temporary insurance policy you buy. When getting a temporary policy, you’ll be presented with a clear price to add breakdown cover.

What do I do if I break down?

If your car has broken down, here’s what to do to stay safe before you call the AA and while they are on their way to you.

1. Make sure you are in a safe place. Move your vehicle off the road if possible or pull up onto the hard shoulder if you are on the motorway.

2. Stay well away from moving traffic – it is usually safest to get out of your car (using the doors facing away from passing traffic) and wait behind a barrier.

3. Put your hazard warning lights on and wear a reflective jacket if you have one.

4. Once you are safe, give us a call on 0330 159 1962 and we will come and rescue you.

It is important that you contact the AA when you break down. If you contact a garage direct you will have to settle the bill and the AA will not be obliged to reimburse you.

For more information on the claims process, visit our claims page here.