What Breakdown Cover Provides
Breakdown cover helps when a vehicle becomes unusable due to mechanical failure, flat batteries, tyre problems or other faults preventing normal driving. Assistance normally includes roadside help, recovery to a garage or transport to a destination if repairs cannot be completed immediately.
Breakdown Cover and Car Insurance
Breakdown assistance is separate from standard motor insurance in Britain. Some temporary car insurance policies available to visitors include breakdown cover automatically, while others offer it as an optional extra. Drivers borrowing a vehicle should not assume assistance is included and normally check policy details before travel.
Why Visitors May Consider It
Australian visitors often drive unfamiliar vehicles on roads they do not know, sometimes travelling long distances between cities or rural areas. If a vehicle stops working, arranging recovery without cover can be costly and may involve long waits, particularly outside towns or during busy travel periods.
Borrowed and Rental Vehicles
Rental cars commonly include roadside assistance organised by the rental company, although service limits may still apply. Borrowed cars depend on existing arrangements made by the owner, and temporary insurance policies arranged for visiting drivers may or may not include breakdown services.
What Assistance Normally Covers
Services usually include roadside repair attempts, towing to nearby repair centres and, in some cases, onward travel or overnight accommodation support. Limits differ between providers, and assistance may not apply if breakdowns result from neglect or lack of vehicle maintenance.
Checking Cover Before Driving
Visitors normally review whether breakdown cover is included with insurance or needs adding separately before driving in Britain. Confirming assistance arrangements before starting longer journeys helps avoid unexpected recovery costs or delays if vehicle problems occur.