RAC Breakdown Cover

Breaking down is frustrating at any time, but if you’re borrowing a car from a friend or taking a new car home, the last thing you want is to be stuck on the side of the road without help.

Thankfully, when you choose temporary insurance from Tempcover, you can add breakdown cover to your policy for complete peace of mind on the road.

Breakdown cover is provided by the RAC and is available for temporary car and van policies from Tempcover.

Whether you’re off on a road trip, or just want reassurance when using a different car, adding breakdown cover to your temporary policy is simple.

What’s included with RAC breakdown cover?

RAC breakdown cover gives you peace of mind that you’ll be able to get help if you breakdown.

Assistance at the roadside:

• Recovery of you, your vehicle and passengers to any UK destination if the vehicle can’t be fixed.
• Assistance at home.
• No call out charge.
• Unlimited labour time if the vehicle can be fixed.
• Unlimited call outs.

At home:

Help to repair the vehicle at, or within, a quarter of a mile of your home.

Recovery:

Help to transport the vehicle, you, your passengers to a destination of your choice, within the UK, if RAC cannot repair the vehicle.

Do I need breakdown cover?

Breakdown cover is not a legal requirement when driving in the UK, and you don’t need it to buy a temporary insurance policy.

As with any purchase, you should consider your circumstances before choosing whether or not to add breakdown cover to your policy. Very few of us know when our vehicles are going to breakdown, so breakdown cover provides a bit of peace of mind should something happen.

What’s covered by RAC breakdown cover?

What is covered by RAC breakdown cover?

• Unlimited callouts.
• Finding/diagnosing the fault with your vehicle.
• Attempted repair of the fault.
• Recovery to any single UK destination of your choice.

What isn’t covered by RAC breakdown cover?

• Any breakdown which has occurred prior to purchase.
• Anything which is not a breakdown e.g. a road traffic collision.
• The cost of any parts.
• Cover in European countries.
• Cost of hire car, alternative transport and accommodation.
• Any breakdown resulting from a fault that has previously been attended and has not been properly repaired or the advice after a temporary repair has not been followed.

What vehicles are covered under breakdown cover?

You can purchase breakdown cover for private cars and light commercial vehicles only.

Please note the car or light commercial vehicle must be less than:

• 3.5 tonnes.
• 2.55 metres wide.

If the vehicle breaks down while towing a caravan or trailer and the RAC provides recovery, the caravan or trailer will be recovered with the vehicle (provided it falls within the above limits)

Where am I covered for breakdown cover in the UK?

“UK” means England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and for the purpose of this RAC Breakdown Cover includes the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man;

Am I eligible for breakdown cover?

If you meet our eligibility criteria for temporary insurance, you can add breakdown cover to our standard car, van, and motorbike policies from 1 hour to 28 days in duration.

When getting a temporary insurance quote as normal, you’ll be presented with the option to add breakdown cover.

You’ll see how much the policy costs and in one tap or click, you can add it to your policy. Once you’ve purchased your temporary insurance policy, you’ll receive all the relevant information about your breakdown cover via email along with your policy documents.

How much does temporary car insurance breakdown cover cost?

The cost of breakdown cover depends on the duration of the temporary insurance policy you buy. When getting a temporary policy, you’ll be presented with a clear price to add breakdown cover.

What do I do if I break down?

If you’re on the motorway:

• Pull over to the hard shoulder if you can.
• Turn on your hazards and your sidelights, too, if it’s dark.
• Wear hi-vis jackets if you can.
• Leave your car through the left-hand door if it is safe and you are able to do so.
• Where possible, and it is safe for you to do so, stand behind any safety barriers to the rear of your vehicle.

If you’re somewhere else:

• Pull over out of traffic, if you can.
• Turn on your hazards and your sidelights, too, if it’s dark.
• Wear hi-vis jackets if you can.
• Leave your car through the left-hand door if it is safe and you are able to do so.
• Get off the road if you can. If not, it’s normally safest to stand to the rear of your car away from passing traffic.
• If you feel vulnerable or threatened waiting outside of your car, wait in the front passenger seat with the doors locked and your seatbelt on.
• If you feel in danger, call 999.

For more information on the claims process, visit our claims page here.