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Motor Breakdown Things Still Do Go Wrong In spite of all the modern technology in cars today, they all go wrong sometime. Each year thousands of motorists get stuck or break down on the road away from home, particularly during the winter months and if you own a car that is more than three years old then it has more than a 10% chance of breaking down each year. Many of the most common faults can easily be avoided by spending 30 minutes every month checking over your car. A relatively small amount of time and effort put in to carry out the straightforward checks outlined on our car maintenance page and getting your car regularly serviced will pay dividends in helping to keep you from an inconvenient and sometimes costly breakdown. But even the best maintained car will suffer from faults that cannot be foreseen and for that reason buying a road rescue package is a wise precaution as you never know when you might need it. If you travel abroad and take your car, having breakdown cover becomes even more important. But which type of policy should you opt for from all the different options available? Roadside Rescue If you breakdown, this type of policy will quickly get you moving again or towed to the nearest garage within a specified radius. If the car can be fixed at the roadside you should receive a pre-determined allowance of a certain number of minutes of inclusive labour to repair minor mechanical or electrical faults. All you are likely to pay for are any parts that may be required. Note: Incidents at your home or within a specified radius of your home are not covered and only the specified car in the policy would be covered. Roadside Rescue and Home Rescue Should provide the same level of cover as roadside rescue but will also extend the cover to your home address, so it’s very useful if your car won’t start in the morning. Roadside Rescue and Recovery Plus This policy should provide all the benefits of Roadside Rescue and Home Rescue to cover your car at your home address, plus a choice of either: •       A hire car to either return home or continue your journey. •       The cost of alternative transport to enable your journey or return home to be completed. •       Accommodation in a local hotel while awaiting completion of repairs providing the incident occurs more than a set number of miles away from your home.   European Rescue If you drive on the continent it is worth considering a European breakdown policy. Some insurers provide this free of charge with their car insurance policy, so check the small print. Some of the benefits of cover include: •       Roadside breakdown •       The cost of travelling home if your car is stolen •       The return of your vehicle if it cannot be driven. •       Legal cover •       Payment for the delivery of replacement parts if they're not available locally Other inclusions/exclusions to look for Depending on the insurer or the car insurance policy you have, you may well receive extra benefits included with the policy. For example some insurers offer: •       Cover for caravans or trailers but ensure you check the policy details before you sign up. •       Breakdown cover as part of the car insurance policy, which means minimal additional work for you. •       Discounts on the policy for 2nd and 3rd cars kept at the same address. •       It is also essential that you use a well known company. After all, the larger the company providing cover the larger their recovery operator network is likely to be. Most large insurers have a network of operators with at least 2,000 members. What to do if you break down If you are unlucky enough to breakdown whilst on a journey it is important not to endanger yourself or other road users. Following these simple rules will ensure that everyone stays safe; Breakdowns on normal roads •       Pull off the road and park in a safe place. •       Put on the hazard warning lights if your vehicle is causing an obstruction and decide on your course of action before calling for help. •       Put a warning triangle on the road at least 45 metres (147 feet) behind your broken down vehicle on the same side of the road. •       Always take care when putting a warning triangle behind your vehicle. Never use a warning triangle on a motorway. •       Keep your sidelights on if it is dark or visibility is poor. •       Do not stand (or let anybody else stand) between your vehicle or oncoming traffic and do not stand where you will prevent other road users from seeing the lights of your vehicle. •       Lock the doors and call for help from your mobile phone or from a payphone. Remember, if you do not have a mobile phone always keep some loose change in your car to call from a payphone. Motorway Breakdowns In addition to the rules above, you should take extra care if you break down on a motorway; •       If you break down on a motorway, leave at the next exit or pull into a service area. If that is not possible pull on to the hard shoulder and stop as far to the left as possible. •       Get out of your vehicle by a left hand door and make sure your passengers do the same. Stay well away from the carriageway. Unless it is an emergency, leave any animals in your vehicle. •       Do not attempt even simple repairs to your vehicle. •       Walk to an emergency telephone on your side of the carriageway following the arrows on the marker posts. Calls are free and are connected straight to the police. Use an emergency telephone in preference to a mobile phone as it allows easier identification of your exact location. •       Inform the police if you are a vulnerable motorist e.g. a woman travelling alone. •       Return to your vehicle and wait for help keeping well away from the carriageway and hard shoulder •       If you feel at risk return to your vehicle by a left hand door and lock all doors. Leave your vehicle again when you feel that the danger has passed.

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