How to Find the Best Breakdown Cover: A Complete Guide 

Choosing the best breakdown cover can feel overwhelming with so many options available, but understanding your needs and comparing the different providers will help you make an informed decision. Whether you’re looking for peace of mind during long road trips or simply need basic assistance for your daily commute, this guide will walk you through the best options, the average cost of breakdown cover, and how to save on your policy. 

What Is Breakdown Cover? 

Breakdown cover is a type of insurance that helps you when your car breaks down on the road. Depending on the policy you choose, it can include roadside assistance, vehicle recovery, and even cover for emergencies like flat tires or dead batteries. Understanding what services you need and how often you’re on the road will determine what kind of breakdown cover is best for you. 

Who Offers the Best Breakdown Cover? 

Several major companies provide breakdown cover in the UK, each with different levels of service. Here are some of the top contenders for the best breakdown cover in 2024: 

• AA: Often regarded as the best all-round provider, the AA offers 24/7 roadside assistance and a range of coverage options. They have an extensive network and quick response times, making them a reliable choice for motorists. 

• RAC: Another popular option, RAC offers comprehensive coverage with added benefits such as a fault report service to help diagnose the issue. They also cover cars, vans, and even motorbikes. 

• Green Flag: Known for their affordability, Green Flag is ideal for those looking for more budget-friendly breakdown cover without sacrificing service quality. Their recovery options are flexible, and they cover roadside assistance across the UK and Europe. 

• Admiral: Primarily an insurance provider, Admiral offers breakdown cover as an add-on to car insurance. They provide competitive rates, especially for bundled policies, which we’ll discuss later. 

• Start Rescue: A lesser-known option but gaining popularity for its low-cost cover and positive customer reviews. Start Rescue offers different levels of breakdown cover, including European cover. 

How Much Does Breakdown Cover Cost? 

The cost of breakdown cover can vary widely depending on the provider, level of coverage, and whether you’re looking for single or multi-vehicle protection. On average, the cost for basic breakdown cover starts around £30 to £50 per year, with more comprehensive policies costing £70 to £150 annually. 

Here’s a breakdown of the typical cover options: 

• Roadside Assistance: The most basic form of breakdown cover, where your car is fixed on the spot or towed to a nearby garage if necessary. 

• Vehicle Recovery: Offers to tow your vehicle (and you) to your home or destination. 

• Home Start: Includes assistance if your car won’t start at home. 

• Onward Travel: Provides accommodation or a hire car if your vehicle can’t be fixed right away. 

You can also purchase European breakdown cover, which tends to cost more but is essential for those who frequently drive abroad. 

Should You Get Bundled Cover or a Separate Policy? 

When finding the best breakdown cover, one of the key considerations is whether to bundle it with your car insurance or purchase a separate policy. 

Bundled Breakdown Cover: 

• Cost-Effective: Bundling breakdown cover with your car insurance or even your bank account services can be cheaper. Many providers, such as Admiral and Direct Line, offer discounts when you take out multiple types of insurance or services together. 

• Convenience: Having both your car insurance and breakdown cover with the same provider means dealing with fewer companies, which can simplify the claims process and save time. 

Separate Breakdown Cover: 

• Tailored Services: Buying breakdown cover separately allows you to tailor your policy specifically to your needs. It also enables you to compare the best breakdown cover providers to find the best deal. 

• Switch Flexibility: When your breakdown cover is separate, you can easily switch providers to get a better deal without affecting your car insurance. 

In many cases, bundling can save money, but it’s always worth comparing prices and services. Some bundled policies may not include all the features you need, so it’s essential to review the details carefully. 

How to Save on Breakdown Cover 

If you’re looking for the best breakdown cover at a reasonable price, there are several ways to save: 

• Compare Prices: Use price comparison websites to look at the rates and services of different breakdown cover providers. Sites like Compare the Market or MoneySuperMarket can offer deals exclusive to online shoppers. 

• Look for Discounts: Many providers offer discounts for new customers, online sign-ups, or for switching from another provider. Always check the provider’s website or ask if there are any promotional offers available. 

• Annual vs Monthly Payments: While it may be tempting to pay for breakdown cover monthly, it’s often cheaper to pay for the full year in advance. This can save you up to 10-15% depending on the provider. 

• Family and Multi-Car Discounts: If you have more than one car in your household, look for family or multi-car discounts. Many providers offer reduced rates if you need cover for more than one vehicle. 

• Evaluate Your Needs: Don’t pay for features you don’t need. If you only drive locally, for instance, you might not need a comprehensive policy with nationwide recovery. Similarly, if you rarely travel abroad, European cover might be an unnecessary expense. 

• Consider Cashback Offers: Some banks and credit card companies offer cashback or rewards when you purchase breakdown cover through their services. This can be a great way to save a little extra. 

• Automatic Renewals: Beware of automatic renewals, which often come at a higher price. Set a reminder to shop around for a better deal when your policy is up for renewal. 

The best Breakdown cover 2024

Finding the best breakdown cover doesn’t have to be difficult. Start by identifying your needs, comparing providers, and looking for discounts or bundled deals that can save you money. Whether you opt for a basic roadside assistance policy or a more comprehensive vehicle recovery and onward travel plan, there’s a wide range of breakdown cover options available to suit every budget and driving habit. 

Remember to regularly review your policy and ensure it offers the right level of protection for you. With the right breakdown cover in place, you can drive with the confidence that help is only a phone call away in the event of a roadside emergency. 

GRENADA is often overlooked as a holiday destination – despite direct UK flights and being one of the safest islands.

And the Caribbean destination is set to be big next year, according to experts.

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Around 180,000 tourists visited the island in 2023 – compared to 1.26million visiting Aruba.

According to Grenada Tourism, while more than half of tourists are America, UK tourists are higher in luxury resorts.

Grenada Tourism CEO Petra Roach said: “The British visitor will stay longer which means their contribution is quite strong.

“We really want to continue to focus on this and grow the market more.”

New resorts have opened in this year, including Six Senses La Sagesse in the south of the island, with 56 pool suites and 15 villas.

There was also Silversands Beach House, with 28 suites on top of a cliff, so expect amazing views.

Otherwise the already opened Silversands Grand Ans is home to the Caribbean‘s longest pool, with an 100 metre infinity pool.

And new in 2026 will be a third Silversands resort as well as an InterContinental hotel.

Luxury travel experts have also said Grenada is to be a big destination for 2025.

OvationNetwork travel advisor Sylvia Lebovitch told Forbes: “With the opening of the new Six Senses La Sagasse and the Silversands Beach House, Grenada is back on the map.”

Grenada is known for being a great place for chocolate lovers, with six cocoa plantations on the island.

Every May, there is even the annual Grenada Chocolate Festival with workshops and activities as well as free samples.

It doesn’t have to be a pricey holiday either, with this year’s Post Office report finding a bottle of beer will cost you just £1.50 on Grenada.

Don’t skip out on the rum either, the Grenada being home to the oldest rum distillery in the Caribbean.

Otherwise the island is also known for its beautiful waterfalls, one of the most famous being Annadelle Falls, as well as turtle watching and diving.

With 40 beaches to choose from, make sure to visit Grand Anse Beach, named one of the World’s 50 Beaches.

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You might even spot some celebs. Back in 2019, Robert Downey Jr was spotted on the island, with other famous faces including Morgan Freeman and Eric Clapton.

And Richard Branson also visited the island to celebrate the launch of Virgin flights to Grenada back in 2002.

Flights from the UK can be found from London Heathrow, taking around 11 hours.

Both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic offer the routes, with a short one-hour stop in Barbados although passengers remain on the plane.

They also both offer package holidays, along with TUI who have seven nights from £1,271pp.

Sun Travel goes to Grenada

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Hayley Coyle visited Grenada earlier this year.

“A ten-hour flight away from the UK, Grenada is touted by locals and returning holidaymakers as the “safest island in the West Indies”.

“It is arguably the friendliest, too, with everyone eager to wax lyrical about their homeland.

“I was spoilt by Grenada’s intensely rich, dark chocolate — for the Land of Spice, as it’s known, is also home to six trailblazing cocoa plantations.

“Cacao — the raw, unroasted version of cocoa — is grown within 20 degrees of the equator and this island’s warm weather, rainforests and mountains provide the ideal environment for it to thrive.

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“May is the perfect time for a chocoholic to visit, when the annual Grenada Chocolate Festival is in full swing.

“So, if you are looking for a treat during Easter, why not ditch the eggs and splash out on a trip to this island?”

We’ve found the cheapest Caribbean island for all-inclusive holidays, which are as little as £774pp.

But if you don’t want to go that far, here is the holiday destination a few hours from the UK dubbed the “cheaper Caribbean”.

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The writer is author of ‘Homelands: a Personal History of Europe’

As president Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeks support for his “victory plan”, there’s a growing understanding in western capitals that our Ukraine policy needs to evolve. The crucial next move is for Washington to commit to Nato membership for Ukraine, with the alliance’s Article 5 mutual defence provisions covering those parts of the country that Kyiv controls. 

This is known in shorthand as the “West German” solution, so it’s worth spelling out similarities and differences with Germany’s position after 1945.

Germany was divided because Germany had started the war. Ukraine would be divided because Russia started the war. Germany’s top war criminals were put on trial in Nuremberg. Vladimir Putin and his henchmen are unlikely to stand trial any time soon. The historical starting point and moral balance sheet could not be more different.

Germany was divided along clear lines agreed by the victorious second world war allies. Anglo-American forces actually withdrew to those lines from territory they had initially occupied in 1945. There are no agreed lines in Ukraine. 

From the start, there were large numbers of western boots on the ground in West Germany. In Ukraine, there are currently no acknowledged western boots on the ground (although quite a few sneakers).

East Germany was heavily Sovietised but still a separate state. It remained, as I can testify from personal experience, very German. The Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, by contrast, are being brutally Russified. Putin claims them as new provinces of the Russian Federation. The probability of a future Russian leader returning these territories to Ukraine through a peaceful negotiation, as Mikhail Gorbachev did East Germany to the west, is not high. This is agonising for all Ukrainians, and horrendous for those still living in the occupied territories. Western policymakers would not talk so lightly about the need for “territorial compromise” were it a matter of ceding, say, Florida from the US, Baden-Württemberg from Germany, or Wales from Britain. 

West Germany joined Nato in 1955, just six years after the alliance was formed, and co-founded the European Economic Community in 1957. Ukraine is now a candidate for membership of the EU and accession talks are proceeding. But if the West German analogy is to be anything more than a fig leaf for western retreat, the EU needs to be complemented by Nato, the US-led security alliance. For security is the key. Without security, Ukrainians abroad will not return to rebuild their devastated country, investment will not flow to finance reconstruction, and there will be no stable government to make the reforms needed to enter the EU. 

Gut-wrenching though a de facto loss of territory would be, 47 per cent of Ukrainians told pollsters for the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology this May that, if it were counterbalanced by adequate funding for economic reconstruction and membership of both the EU and Nato, this could, albeit with difficulty, be accepted as a compromise to end the war.

Nothing will happen before the US presidential election on November 5. If the victor is Donald Trump, all bets are off. A transition from Joe Biden to Kamala Harris, however, would provide a golden opportunity to signal this shift.

Significantly increased military aid would be needed over the next year to stabilise the front line and put Russia militarily on the back foot. Putin will not stop if he thinks he’s still winning. Air defences for vital national infrastructure, including nuclear power stations, could be a concrete first step. It would be a long haul to get all 32 members of Nato to ratify this enlargement, so transitional military commitments from major European allies would be essential. France and Britain are already discussing this at the highest level, but pivotal is Germany, Europe’s central power. 

While back channels to your enemies are always useful, any serious formal negotiation with Russia probably comes later. It might even be years away. After all, the final peace negotiation for post-1945 Germany only happened in 1990. But as cold war history shows, de facto arrangements can end up lasting a long time and even be quite stable.

The obstacles down this path are formidable. But consider the alternative. A defeated, divided, demoralised, depopulated Ukraine, pulsating with anger against the west and — as Zelenskyy hinted last week — probably seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. Moscow triumphant. The rest of the world concluding that the west is a paper tiger. Xi Jinping encouraged to have a go at Taiwan. Biden and Harris going down in history as the leaders who “lost Ukraine”. There is a better way.