Mutual boost for lockdown drivers

Car and light goods vehicle customers insured through a major rural insurer are to get RAC national recovery and home breakdown cover free until 31st August.

Announcing the move – which starts today – NFU Mutual said that the upgrade to breakdown cover at home was being given to help reduce feelings of isolation and protect remote farmers and families – many of whom relied on their vehicles as a lifeline - during lockdown.

With a 78 per cent surge in at-home call-outs reported due to vehicles often lying idle due to lockdown, a further increase is expected as the nation makes a staged return to more normal working practices

The cover is being automatically extended to more than 600,000 eligible customers for three months until 31st August – and will also apply to new customers.

Vehicles which have not been included in the offer are working agricultural vehicles and kit such as tractors and quad bikes, large fleets and heavy goods vehicles, large goods vehicles over 3.5t in weight and 5.5m long, motorcycles and horsebox trailers as the insurer said they required a specialist type of cover.

“During these challenging times, many rural families will have left their domestic cars on the drive throughout lockdown,” said Charlie Yorke, a farming specialist with the Mutual.

He said that issues such as flat batteries were a particular worry for car customers living in isolated, remote areas without access to a garage and whose personal vehicles were often a lifeline for both themselves and relatives needing essential food and medical supplies.