The Importance of Breakdown Cover Abroad
The road trip is becoming an increasingly popular holiday choice for an increasing number of people thanks to television programmes such as Top Gear and Ewan McGregor’s ‘Long Way Round’ which have romanticised the concept of taking to the open road in a vehicle.
While this type of holiday does allow you to explore regions and get to know cultures better than other types of holiday could ever get close to, people often forget the strain that this places on their vehicles which makes breakdowns an ever present threat.
People do not realise the impact that breakdowns can have on holidays; not only meaning that holiday makers are inconvenienced but also potentially handing them a huge unexpected financial burden which could cut short their vacation.
Breakdown cover policies
A basic Breakdown cover policy is designed to offer policy holders protection within the bounds of their own nation. Providing cover in foreign countries is not automatically offered as the provider may not have a presence in that country themselves and will likely have to enlist the services of a partner to offer a similar level of service which is not financially sustainable.
However, the majority of breakdown cover providers will offer a limited number of days cover in foreign countries as standard. The word majority must be emphasised, because this will not be the case with all providers, and it is therefore recommended that you check your policy details before deciding whether or not additional cover is needed for when you enter another country. Even if this is on offer, there is still a good chance that the number of days cover provided will not be enough to protect you throughout the duration of your vacation.
Why is European breakdown cover important?
Breaking down abroad has the potential to completely ruin your holiday. Not only do you have to locate a garage in a foreign land, but you may also have to converse in a language in which you will not be fluent. Added to this the question marks over the service that will be provided, the expense involved in arranging for a tow to the garage not to mention the cost of actually fixing the fault and the money that you set aside for your vacation may quickly begin to run out.
When you consider that you can get protection from as little as £4.99 for comprehensive cover when driving in France; running the risk of ruining your holiday with a potentially costly breakdown simply doesn’t make sense. European breakdown cover will guarantee that your car gets repaired at the side of the road, a nearby garage or even brought back to the UK if the repair work required is too substantial.
Not only does this have the potential to save you bucket full of cash, but it also provides you with peace of mind as you know that help is just a phone call away.
Get the right deal for you
Although European breakdown cover policies will ordinarily cost more than conventional UK-based cover, there is certainly a case for suggesting that it is worth paying a little but more in order to make sure that you are getting the right level of cover to meet your requirements.
The key thing to remember is that the cheapest deal is not always the best value for money. This is even true when comparing different European breakdown cover packages; with some providers placing different caps on the amount that they are willing to contribute towards the costs of any repairs. It is therefore recommended that you compare deals with multiple providers in order to make sure that you are getting the best deal for your specific needs.
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