As the Bank Holiday weekend approaches, it’s crucial for drivers to ensure their breakdown cover is not only active but also provides the right level of protection. According to Start Rescue, a leading breakdown service provider, nearly half of the incidents where they couldn’t provide assistance in June 2024 were due to customers not having valid breakdown cover.
The Risks of Invalid or Insufficient Cover
One of the most common mistakes drivers make is assuming they can take out cover after a breakdown has occurred. However, this is not only impractical but also considered fraudulent. Start Rescue highlights that in June 2024, 45% of cases where assistance was not provided were due to customers not having any breakdown policy in place.
Another 15% of incidents were the result of drivers not purchasing the correct level of cover, such as failing to include Home Assist. This means they were left stranded if their vehicle broke down at home. Additionally, 11.5% of customers faced difficulties because their policies only covered a 10-mile local tow, leaving them vulnerable to hefty charges if they broke down far from home.
The Importance of Policy Details
Lee Puffett, Managing Director of Start Rescue, stresses the importance of understanding the details of your breakdown policy, particularly when traveling long distances during holiday periods. “Customers often buy a 10-mile local tow recovery policy because they don’t normally venture very far,” says Puffett. “But they will receive a huge shock if they travel a longer distance this Bank Holiday and can’t get the vehicle repaired locally.”
Exceeding the mileage limit on a local tow policy can result in unexpected costs, with customers potentially facing extra charges for additional miles and multiple call-outs. Start Rescue aims to offer the most cost-effective solutions when a policy falls short, but options can become limited and expensive, especially later in the day.
Prepare Ahead to Avoid Problems
To avoid being caught out, it’s essential to verify that your breakdown cover is valid and sufficient before setting out. Upgrading your cover might be necessary, and it’s important to note that it can take between 24 to 72 hours for new policies or mid-term upgrades to become active with some providers. This delay could leave drivers with significant expenses in the event of a breakdown.
Start Rescue, however, offers a relatively quick activation period, with just a 24-hour wait for a new policy or any mid-term adjustments to take effect. Ensuring your cover is in place when you need it is key to avoiding unforeseen costs and stress during your journey.
Why Start Rescue Stands Out
Start Rescue has established itself as a trusted provider, earning a 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot, a five-star Defaqto* rating, and has been recognized as a Which? Recommended Provider for five consecutive years. In 2024, Start Rescue was awarded best Breakdown Cover provider in the Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards, with an impressive 4.9 out of 5 satisfaction score and a 94% recommendation rate.
The service also performed exceptionally well in the What Car? Survey of Best Breakdown Cover, ranking first for response time and for carrying out temporary repairs that allowed customers to continue their journeys.
Launched in 2009, Start Rescue is part of Call Assist, the nation’s fourth-largest breakdown and recovery service, which now serves over two million customers across the UK. As you prepare for your Bank Holiday travels, make sure you are covered by a provider that will be there when you need them most.
