One of the most common questions among drivers is whether they should invest in personal or vehicle breakdown cover. Some sort of roadside recovery cover policy is always wise to keep as a driver; however, the personal and vehicle-focused sides are distinct and require consideration before being chosen.
This article will offer insights into whether you should make your breakdown cover vehicle or personal-focused, touching on the benefits of each angle for certain lifestyles.
What is the difference between personal and vehicle breakdown cover?
The primary difference between personal and vehicle breakdown cover is that the former is attached directly to one person – the individual with their name on the policy – and the latter is attached to a specific vehicle. These different angles have benefits and drawbacks that will impact various drivers in distinct ways.
In terms of the services offered by personal or vehicle breakdown cover, drivers can expected to be supported by services such as:
- Roadside assistance
- Local/National recovery
- Home-starts
- Onward travel
The standard of service should be consistent (at least within providers), it’s just the way the cover is partitioned out that differs.
Is personal or vehicle breakdown cover cheaper?
In general, even the best vehicle breakdown cover policy will cost less than the average personal cover policy. This doesn’t necessarily mean every vehicle policy is a “better choice” than the personal alternative; it’s just that it will generally cost less.
Why choose vehicle breakdown cover?
Most breakdown cover policies come in the form of vehicle cover. They work by attaching the policy to a specific vehicle’s registration number, rather than to the owner or driver of the car. This means whoever is driving can receive effective coverage.
The benefits of vehicle breakdown cover include:
- Convenience for shared car families. 45% of family households have just one car between them, so getting just one policy means any driver is easily covered.
- Cost-effective. Beyond generally being cheaper than personal cover, having one policy per car also contributes to cost-effectiveness.
- Simplicity. There’s not much to understand – one policy to protect one car.
The cons of vehicle cover can be:
- Little flexibility. These policies generally don’t suit those who have to drive multiple cars, such as work vans or rental cars, regularly.
- One policy per car. Having multiple cars means separate or multi-car policies, which might be more expensive than personal policies in some cases.
Why choose personal breakdown cover?
These policies work by focusing on the individual, offering them assistance services in any car they’re inside at the time of a breakdown – even if they’re a passenger. As long as you’re there for the breakdown, the policy is valid.
Benefits of personal cover include:
- Unbeatable flexibility between multiple cars. For smaller households with more cars, the flexibility can actually be a cost-effective benefit. It’s also a useful policy direction for people who regularly move between hire cars, rentals, personal vehicles, company cars and more.
- Passenger cover. Passenger cover means you can help out friends or family when in their car, such as during breakdowns on the way to holidays, even if they aren’t covered.
The cons of personal cover might be:
- Higher cost. The flexibility and higher risk for providers make personal breakdown cover policies quite expensive.
- Driver presence. The personal nature of the cover doesn’t benefit anyone else driving your car if you’re not in it at the time, meaning multiple policies might be necessary.
Should I choose personal or vehicle breakdown cover?
In general, we’d argue that vehicle breakdown cover works more effectively for the average family or household, while personal cover can be highly useful for those who spend a lot of time in different vehicles. For more insights about which policy to choose, make sure to convene with the providers you consider – their insight should be able to guide you.