How to… save money on breakdown cover

No-one wants to be left stranded at the side of the road. Check out these tips to see if you can cut the cost of cover

1 Find deals

‘Never let your breakdown cover auto-renew, always shop around,’ says Moneysupermarket’s Dave Merrick. ‘Also, having multiple vehicles on your policy is likely to increase the price, but it may be cheaper than taking out separate policies for each car, so always check. Ensure you don’t already have the cover you need via your car insurance or packaged bank account, if you have one,’ he adds.

2 Don’t overpay

‘Think carefully about the type and level of breakdown cover you might require. Local cover is often the cheapest and most basic level available and will almost certainly cost less than a policy that includes onward

travel or at-home cover, so consider what you need,’ Dave adds. ‘And remember, adding extras like key replacement may increase the price of your cover, so only add the extras that you think are necessary.’

3 Try haggling

And once you’ve found the best quote for your needs, it’s worth going back to your current provider to see if they will match or even beat the cheapest price you’ve found. While you’re haggling, remember to mention any problems you’ve had with the provider in the past and always be polite – charm can get you a long way when it comes to getting a discount! You may find that a short phone call saves you some cash.