Skip to content
Back to Insurance
Back to Holidays
Back to Saga Money
Back to Saga Magazine
Mature woman calls for help while a mature man checks out issues with a car engine on a rural road

BREAKDOWN COVER

Include breakdown cover with your Saga Car Insurance quote or add it to your existing policy in MySaga

Add breakdown cover to your Saga Car Insurance for the reassurance you need

If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that cars always seem to breakdown when you least expect it. That’s why it’s important you’ve got breakdown cover you can rely on.

Explore our different levels of breakdown insurance for drivers over 50 and discover what each one includes, so you can find a Saga Breakdown Assistance cover that’s right for you. With cover from as little as £29.99 a year, if the unexpected happens you can be back behind the wheel in no time at all.

What is breakdown cover?

Breakdown insurance can be added to your Saga car insurance to cover the cost of roadside assistance if your car breaks down when you’re out and about. If your car can’t be fixed on the spot, we can help you get it to the nearest garage.

If you already hold a Saga Car Insurance policy, you can add breakdown cover in MySaga at any time.

Why do I need breakdown cover?

No one wants to be stuck on the side of the road, so getting the right vehicle breakdown cover means that if your car breaks down, you’ll be able to get moving again, be taken to a garage within 10 miles, or get home as quickly and safely as possible, depending on what cover you have.

With all our cover levels:

  • You can get help 24 hours a day, every day of the year – so we’re there for you whenever your emergency happens
  • There’s no limit on how many call outs you make in the UK
  • If you get a puncture, a flat battery, or you run out of fuel or charge, we’ll get it sorted.

What levels of cover do we offer?

We have five types of breakdown cover levels for you to choose from:

  • Essential – if you’re more than ¼ mile from your home address or where you normally park your car, you’ll get roadside assistance or breakdown recovery to the nearest garage within 10 miles. Plus, we’ll reimburse you for a taxi to get you and your passengers where you need to go (within 20 miles)
  • Home Call – home breakdown cover includes repair or breakdown recovery to the nearest garage if your car won’t start at home or breaks down anywhere in the UK. You’ll also get reimbursement of taxi costs to take you and your passengers anywhere within 20 miles
  • National Recovery – if roadside assistance won't be able to repair your car by the end of the day, we’ll take you and your car home, to your original intended destination or to a suitable repairer anywhere in the UK*
  • Comprehensive – you get all the benefits of the other cover levels in the UK, plus if your car can’t be repaired by the end of the day or has been stolen and not recovered, you’ll be covered for a hire car, alternative transportation or overnight accommodation if necessary. We’ll also pay up to £150 of the travel costs for you to pick up your car when it’s repaired
  • Premier – you’ll get all of the above, plus European breakdown cover with roadside assistance and breakdown recovery in 55 countries and territories in Europe. Or if you’re about to go on holiday but you break down enroute and we’re unable to fix your car, we’ll give you transport to your UK departure point. And if your car breaks down within 24 hours of your planned departure date in the UK, we’ll arrange a hire car for up to 14 days so you can carry on with your trip.

*When breakdown occurs at least 1/4 mile from your home address or where the car is normally kept.

We also offer additional cover options , which include:

  • Additional vehicle cover – you can add cover for up to three extra vehicles for you or other drivers living at the same address
  • Personal cover – extend your cover to any car you and your spouse/partner (or nominated driver aged 50 or over living at the same address) drive or travel in, anywhere in the UK.

Compare our breakdown cover levels

Cover and benefits Essential Home call National Recovery Compre­hensive Premier
Roadside repair
If you are at least 1/4 mile from your home, you only pay the costs of any parts fitted.
Tick
Tick
Tick
Tick
Tick
Puncture repair
For your car, or your caravan/trailer when you are towing.
Tick
Tick
Tick
Tick
Tick
Recovery
Of your car to any destination of your choice within ten miles of the breakdown.
Tick
Tick
Tick
Tick
Tick
National Recovery
Similar to Recovery above but to anywhere in the UK.
Dash
Dash
Tick
Tick
Tick
Home Call
Assistance at your home, or within 1/4 mile of your home.
Dash
Tick
Dash
Tick
Tick
Driver Care
We'll give you a hire car, alternative transport or overnight accommodation if you cannot use your car, plus up to £150 for travel costs to collect your vehicle after repair if necessary.
Dash
Dash
Dash
Tick
Tick
European Cover
In 55 countries and territories across Europe.
Dash
Dash
Dash
Dash
Tick
Holiday Departure Cover
If your car breaks down within 24 hours of a planned departure date in the UK, we’ll arrange a hire car for up to 14 days to allow you to continue your trip.
Dash
Dash
Dash
Dash
Tick

What’s not covered by breakdown cover?

Like with any insurance policy, there are some situations that aren’t covered, including:

  • Any extra costs if your car can’t be repaired at the roadside and/or after it’s been taken to the location of your choice
  • Any extra costs where the transportation of your car is over ten miles (unless you have National Recovery cover or above)
  • The cost of fuel and or/spare parts
  • If your car breaks down because of towing or carrying more weight or people than it’s designed for
  • Cars involved in motor racing, off-road use, rallies, or speed or duration tests.

Policy Books

The Policy Book provides you with all the information you need when taking out Saga Breakdown Assistance and includes our additional cover options and all necessary terms and conditions.

Saga Breakdown Assistance

Saga Breakdown Assistance Policy Book (PDF, 401KB)

For policies taken out on or after 26/07/2023
View Download

Saga Breakdown Assistance Policy Book (PDF, 433KB)

For policies taken out on or after 28/11/2022
View Download

Saga Breakdown Assistance Policy Book (PDF, 393KB)

For policies taken out on or after 01/11/2021
View Download

What to do if you break down

The safety of you, your passengers and other road users is the most important thing. If your car breaks down, here are some things you can do:

  • Try to park your car in a safe place, if possible.
  • Switch on your hazard lights to let other road users know you’ve broken down
  • Place your warning triangle 45 metres behind your broken-down vehicle
  • If it’s dark, or there’s poor visibility, keep your sidelights on.

And if you break down on the motorway:

  • Pull into the hard shoulder as far to the left as possible
  • Switch on your hazard lights and leave sidelights on if visibility is low
  • Don’t display your warning triangle as this is a hazard to other road users
  • If you can, make sure you and your passengers are out of the vehicle and wait behind the crash barrier away from traffic.

If you are a Saga Breakdown Assistance customer, in the event of a breakdown please call our 24-hour claims line on 0800 068 1966.

Alternatively, you can report your breakdown online.

We aim to ensure that every claim is dealt with quickly and with minimum fuss.

Claims reimbursement form

If you are a Saga Breakdown Assistance customer and have any unpaid costs from a claim that are covered under your policy please see the form below for further details:

Claim reimbursement form

Claims reimbursement form (PDF, 433KB)

Full details of where to send this to are included on the form.
Download

Who provides Saga's breakdown assistance policies?

Saga's range of insurance products is designed specifically for our customers and is unique to us.

Saga Essential, Home Call and National Recovery Breakdown Assistance is provided by RAC Motoring Services. Saga Comprehensive, Premier, Motorhome Assistance and Motorhome Assistance Plus Breakdown Assistance is provided by RAC Motoring Services and RAC Insurance Limited.

Add breakdown cover today

Add Saga Breakdown Assistance as you get a quote for Saga Car Insurance or add it to an existing Saga Car Insurance policy via MySaga.

Breakdown FAQs

A list of all the questions that we are asked most often.
Does breakdown cover include punctures?

Tyre changes due to punctures are included in every level of cover if the puncture happens while you’re on the road. With Home Call, Comprehensive and Premier you’re also covered for punctures at your home address.

Does breakdown cover include parts?

No. We will transport your car to a suitable repairer, but we can’t cover the costs of any parts or materials.

Does breakdown cover include wrong fuel?

While we will arrange for your car to be taken to a local repairer, we can’t cover the cost of draining or removing the fuel. This is sometimes covered by car insurance policies, so it may be worth checking with your current provider.

Do I have breakdown cover if someone else drives my car?
With all our cover levels your car is covered for any driver providing they have a full UK or EU driving licence, that they have their own insurance, and they’re driving it with your permission.
Will I be covered if I’m towing a caravan or trailer?
Your caravan or trailer will be recovered to the same destination as your car, according to the level of cover you have chosen. If you have Premier cover and you’re driving within the EU, we will recover your car and caravan/trailer back to the UK.
Am I covered if I'm a passenger in someone else's car?
If you take personal breakdown cover you are covered for a breakdown in any car that you are driving or travelling in, anywhere in the UK.
Can I cover another vehicle on my policy?
If you take additional vehicle breakdown cover, you can add up to three more cars to your policy, provided they are kept at the same address as yours.