Breakdown cover is one of those things you hope you never need. Until you do.

A flat battery. A puncture. The wrong fuel. A car that simply refuses to start.

Suddenly, knowing someone is there to help can make all the difference. But before you choose your breakdown cover, there is one important question to answer:

Do you want to cover your vehicle, or cover yourself?

That’s the main difference between Vehicle Breakdown Cover and Personal Breakdown Cover. Let’s break it down.

What is a Vehicle Breakdown Cover?

Vehicle Breakdown Cover is linked to the vehicle.

That means if the insured vehicle breaks down, CoverMy can come to the rescue regardless of who is driving it, subject to the policy terms and conditions.

So, imagine you have one family car, you drive it to work, your partner uses it at the weekend, your teenager borrows it to visit friends. If the car breaks down while any of them are driving, the vehicle is covered.

You can also register up to four vehicles on CoverMy Vehicle Breakdown Cover, provided they meet the policy requirements and are used for private use.

Vehicle Cover could suit you if:

• You mainly drive one car or a small number of vehicles.
• Other members of your household also drive your car.
• You want the vehicle covered whoever is behind the wheel.
• You don’t regularly drive other people’s cars.
• You want a straightforward option for your vehicle.

What is a Personal Breakdown Cover?

Personal Breakdown Cover works differently. Instead of following the car, the cover follows you.

So whether you’re driving your own car, borrowing a friend’s, or travelling as a passenger in another vehicle, you’re covered if something goes wrong, subject to the policy terms and conditions.

CoverMy Personal Breakdown Cover can protect up to four people in any vehicle. That can be particularly useful if your lifestyle involves different cars. For example, perhaps you:

• Drive your own car during the week.
• Borrow your partner’s car at weekends.
• Occasionally drive a family member’s car.
• Regularly travel as a passenger.
• Use different vehicles throughout the year.

With Personal Cover, you don’t have to worry as much about whether the particular vehicle you’re travelling in has its own breakdown cover, subject to the policy terms.

The key question is simple: Would you rather your breakdown cover follow your car or follow you?

What happens if I break down?

Whichever type of cover you choose, the aim is the same: Get you moving again.

CoverMy offers different levels of breakdown cover depending on how far you travel and the type of protection you need.

Local Breakdown Cover

Ideal if you tend to stick to shorter journeys.

If you break down more than a mile from home, you’ll be recovered to a nearby garage or destination within the applicable distance limit. CoverMy Local Cover currently starts from £13.87 a year.

National Breakdown Cover

If you regularly travel further afield, National Cover gives you more flexibility.

If your vehicle can’t be fixed at the roadside, you, your passengers and your vehicle can be recovered to a destination of your choice in the UK, subject to the policy terms. Current CoverMy pricing starts from £15.83 a year.

European Breakdown Cover

Taking the car abroad?

CoverMy European Breakdown Cover provides roadside assistance and recovery across the UK and 31 European countries, with options including onward travel and emergency overnight accommodation. Single-trip cover currently starts from £18.86.

Vehicle or Personal: Which one should you choose?

There isn’t a universal answer. It comes down to your driving habits.

Vehicle Cover could be right for you if:

• You mainly drive one car: You want the vehicle covered whoever is driving it.

• You share a car: Several people can drive the same insured vehicle.

• You have a few household vehicles: CoverMy allows up to four eligible vehicles to be registered on Vehicle Cover.

Personal Cover could be right for you if:

• You drive different cars: Your cover follows you rather than one vehicle.

• You regularly borrow cars: You can have protection when driving another vehicle, subject to the policy terms.

• You travel as a passenger: Personal Cover can protect you when you’re a passenger too.

• You want flexibility: You don’t have to think about whether the particular vehicle you’re in has its own breakdown cover.

Don’t wait until you’re stuck on the roadside

Nobody plans to break down. That’s the problem.

You can’t choose when your battery will go flat, when your engine will stop cooperating or when you accidentally put the wrong fuel in.

But you can choose how prepared you are.

Whether you need cover for your vehicle or yourself, CoverMy has breakdown options to help you get the support you need when something goes wrong.