Which? finds only 10 of 76 car insurance policies include breakdown cover as standard

Which? published research on 30 January 2025 finding that only 10 of the 76 car insurance policies it analysed this year include breakdown cover as standard¹. Of those 10, only NFU Mutual and M&S's Premier policy offer what Which? describes as a complete comprehensive package, including cover for driving into Europe¹.

The consumer body's survey also found that 8% of drivers bought breakdown cover as an extra feature with their car insurance policy¹. Which? reports that buying both products together can prevent paying twice for admin fees, but that buying cover as an add-on does not always mean an equally comprehensive policy compared with one bought directly¹.

Cover levels differ between insurers and standalone providers. Some providers, such as the AA, offer only one callout per policy term if breakdown cover is included as an add-on to car insurance, according to Which?¹. All third-party providers it reviewed, except Aviva, offer an unlimited number of callouts per year¹. Basic roadside assistance offered by some car insurance only covers breakdowns more than a quarter of a mile from home¹. Which? says one of its Recommended Providers for breakdown cover offers nationwide and home recovery for less than £40¹.

On the type of cover, Which? reports that when breakdown cover is added as an extra feature, most car insurers only offer Vehicle cover, meaning only the insured vehicle is covered¹. Such policies can cover up to five named drivers¹. Personal cover, by contrast, covers the policyholder rather than a specific vehicle¹. Which? also notes that not all car insurers run their own breakdown service, citing Aviva, which is serviced by the RAC with its own bespoke policies¹. It rated 15 third-party breakdown providers based on the experiences of more than 9,000 people who requested a callout in the past 12 months¹.

Which? distinguishes breakdown cover from car insurance, noting that while comprehensive car insurance should pay for repairs following an accident, it will not help with or pay for repairs due to wear and tear¹. It also points out that several packaged bank accounts include breakdown cover, and that the annual cost of such accounts is likely to exceed the cost of breakdown cover alone¹.

Why it matters for households

The finding means most drivers holding a standard car insurance policy do not have breakdown cover through that policy and would need to arrange it separately, either as an add-on or from a third-party provider¹. For those who do add it to car insurance, the practical terms vary: the number of callouts per year can be limited to one with some providers, and basic roadside assistance may not cover a breakdown at home, defined in the research as within a quarter of a mile¹. Cover type also matters for households with more than one car or more than one driver, since most add-on cover is vehicle-specific rather than personal¹. Households that already hold a packaged bank account may find breakdown cover is included, though Which? notes the annual account cost is likely to exceed the cost of breakdown cover on its own¹.

What happens next

No further steps or dates have been reported. Which? says it has rated 15 third-party breakdown providers and named its Recommended Providers, with the full ratings published separately¹.