ASSUMING THE RECOVERY POSITION

Is it worth taking out breakdown cover, and which are the best providers? Here’s our guide to the teams that’ll keep you rolling.

- CLAIRE EVANS

MODERN CARS SUFFER far fewer breakdowns than those of a generation ago. However, they’re certainly not infallible, so it’s best to know who to turn to if you do find yourself with a misbehaving vehicle.

If you have breakdown cover, a patrol should arrive swiftly after a quick phone call and either fix the problem by the roadside or enable you to carry on with your travel plans some other way. But is that always the case? And, if you choose to forego cover and find yourself having to arrange help on the hoof from an independent recovery provider, what sort of service are you likely to receive?

Choosing breakdown cover is further complicated because not all policies provide the same level of protection. Some are of use only if your car breaks down just a short distance from your registered address, while others will come to your aid if you're farther from home.

Prices for breakdown cover can vary widely, too. Our research shows that you can pay between £22 and £169 for policies that promise apparently similar levels of cover. Also, some providers charge an extra fee if a breakdown is due to lost or broken car keys or filling with the wrong fuel by mistake. It's therefore important to consider all the options and shop around for the best deals before you sign up for cover.

To help you choose, we asked 29,967 car owners about their breakdown experiences as part of the most recent What Car?

Reliability Survey - conducted in association with MotorEasy. Just under 11% of survey participants told us their car had broken down within the past two years.