Enthusiasts must check the small print of their breakdown cover as the summer classic car driving season gets into full swing, says Britain’s leading vehicle breakdown recovery provider Start Rescue.
According to DVLA statistics, there are currently 935,100 classic cars, 252,734 LGVs and 661,775 classic bikes on the road in the UK and owners could be wasting money on breakdown cover that isn’t fit for purpose.
The typical classic car covers 1,200 miles a year in the UK but most of those miles are done during the summer when owners spruce their cars up and head for the open road.
Unfortunately, they may find that in the event of a towing distance restriction in the terms and conditions, they may only have the option of being towed to a local garage near the breakdown scene that may not have specialist knowledge of classic cars. They may end up footing the bill for another tow to their home or a preferred supplier.
Check the breakdown cover you are purchasing for limitations, which could be expensive if you are travelling a long way from home, especially in Europe. It’s always best to have peace of mind knowing that whatever happens, you can be recovered home or to a preferred repairer if the vehicle can’t be fixed roadside or locally to the breakdown scene.
Classic vehicle owners do have specific needs so it’s worth checking the following if you are planning a long-distance summer trip.
- Check for limitations such as only offering a tow within 10 miles of the breakdown scene. Spending a little more to upgrade to Nationwide recovery and Home Assistance means you can get your car towed to a garage further afield. With local tow cover only, you will need to pay for any additional mileage above the limit stated
- If you are planning to visit to a number of countries in Europe, check which countries are included in your cover
- Check the number of call-outs you can claim for during your policy, as some low-cost policies only provide for just one call-out
- Check claim cost limits as some policies only offer assistance up to a certain amount, which could prove to be costly if you breakdown in France, need repatriation to the UK and only have a £1,000 claim limit for breakdowns in Europe