Fleet Breakdown Cover

If you run a business, you'll know that keeping costs down is essential. In the past you may have considered fleet breakdown cover for your business cars, but then dismissed it as too expensive or unnecessary. As many breakdown providers now offer fleet breakdown cover at discounted prices, it's becoming more affordable to ensure your cars against high breakdown costs.

When considering purchasing fleet breakdown cover you need to make sure you weigh up the pros and cons of all the different breakdown cover policies available.

To help you on the way we have put together some comprehensive information on which key things to look for in a good fleet breakdown cover policy.

• Are the vehicles covered rather than the driver? - If you have company vehicles then you want to make sure that no matter who is driving the car, they will be able to receive breakdown services if the worst happens.


• Will you get recovered to your destination? - If your on the way to a crucial meeting, and your vehicle decides to breakdown, then you want to make sure you can still make it to the meeting on time. Make sure the recovery services will take you to where you need to go, rather than just the nearest garage.


• Time is money - Although breaking down is bound to happen from time to time, you want to make sure that you don't lose precious work time when it does. Most providers will on average reach the vehicle in under 40 minutes, but some will reach you in as little as 30 minutes, so it's worth shopping around for a quick fix.


• Will you be paying for a service you don't use? - No one can guarantee that you will use the breakdown policy, however, you can ease the cost and still get great peace of mind. Some providers will give you the option to 'pay on use'. This means you pay a small subscription fee, and then a further costs when and if any of your vehicles breakdown.

Fleet Breakdown Cover Providers

Insurance Choice Breakdown's best bits:
Mix 'n' match cover to suit,
Fleet discount,
No age limit on vehicles,
Cover for cars, vans, motorbikes, taxi and minibus.
Insurance Choice Breakdown's website

Insurance Choice Breakdown let you choose from 3 levels of cover, Bronze, Silver and Gold. You can mix and match your policies to suit the needs of your business. For example you can cover 3 cars with Gold, 2 vans with Silver and one motorbike with Bronze cover.

As well as breakdown cover for cars, they offer fleet breakdown cover for vans, up to 3.5 tonnes, motorbikes, taxis and minibuses, with no age limit for vehicles. The first vehicle is charged at a standard rate (prices depend on the level of cover), and then additional vehicles are charged at a reduced cost.

The AA's best bits:
5 levels of cover,
Pay for Use option,
More discount for more vehicles.
The AA's website

The AA offer 5 different levels of business cover, from roadside assistance and homecall, to relay plus and accident management. You will receive greater discounts the more vehicles you include on the policy.

With The AA business cover you can choose which level of cover you would like for your different vehicles allowing you to choose a flexible plan which is right for your company. They also offer 'Pay for Use' options which allows you to pay a nominal annual admin fee, and then if you use the breakdown service they will send you an invoice.

Autonational's best bits:
Total Superservice Cover,
As low as £50 per vehicle,
More discount for more vehicles.
Autonational's website

Autonational offer their highest level of breakdown cover, Total SuperService for business vehicles at a discounted rate. This cover includes roadside assistance, recovery to any UK destination, tow to the nearest garage, assistance if you breakdown at home and onward travel costs. If you have between 3 and 9 vehicles then you can get this service for £55 per vehicle, however, if you have 10 or more vehicles then this prices is lowered to £50 per vehicle. Van restrictions do apply, and the minimum cost is £75 per vehicle. They do not offer this cover for LCV and taxi's.

Breakdown Direct's best bits:
Cover for the vehicle,
Cover for small vans up to 3500kg
For larger vehicles get 'pay on use' cover .
Breakdown Direct's website

BreakdownDirect.co.uk offer four different levels of breakdown cover for fleet vehicles, ranging from roadside rescue to European recovery. They cover the vehicle rather than the person so that any employee that is authorised to drive the car will be covered in the event of a breakdown.

Vehicles that are eligible are company owned cars, and small vans up to 3500kg in weight, and 5.1m in length. They many be able to offer breakdown cover for larger vehicles on a pay on use basis.

ETA's best bits:
Mix and Match your cover,
Personal account manager,
Larger discounts for larger fleets
ETA's website

ETA allow you to mix and match your policy so that you can choose different levels of cover for each of your vehicles in your fleet. They larger the fleet, the larger the discount. ETA offer roadside assistance, recovery, home service and European cover, so all you need to do is choose which level of corporate rescue is most appropriate for each vehicle. You will also receive a personal account manager with a direct contact number.

GreenFlag's best bits:
'Insured' or 'Pay on Use' cover,
For fleet cars, and light vans,
GreenFlag's website

GreenFlag offer two different types of fleet assist policies. The first is 'Insured' and the second is 'Pay on Use'. If you choose the Insured option, then you will pay an annual premium, and will then have nothing more to pay if a breakdown occurs. If you have a large fleet of cars, then it might be worth considering Pay on Use, which involves paying a small subscription fee, and then further pre-arranged costs for the services you need. You don't have to pay this on the spot, they can send you an invoice which needs to be paid within 30 days.