What is breakdown cover?
Breakdown cover is a type of insurance which provides assistance if your vehicle breaks down. It can help you get moving again for a number of vehicle problems like clutch issues, a flat battery or other engine problems. We offer a range of Aviva Signature breakdown cover options – from roadside repairs to home starts.
Being stranded by the side of a motorway or a country road is nobody’s idea of a good time. It’s reassuring to know that if something happens to your vehicle, you can have someone come to the rescue with just a phone call. We've teamed up with the RAC to provide Aviva Signature breakdown cover.
Benefits of breakdown cover
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Roadside assistance
We’ll do everything we can to repair your vehicle at the roadside. If not, we'll get you, your passengers and your vehicle to any one destination within 10 miles
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Flexible cover
Buy breakdown cover separately or get it as an add-on to your Aviva Signature car insurance
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Keep your options open
Different levels of cover to suit your needs
How does our breakdown cover work?
Just like the exact configuration of the driver’s seat in your car, your cover should fit you perfectly. That’s why we offer four different options, ranging from cover that brings you roadside assistance and a tow to the nearest garage, to cover that organises a replacement car, or even into a taxi, train, or plane, if needs be. You can even get covered abroad. You choose how, when, and where you want us to have your back and we’ll do the rest.
Cover for you and your vehicle
You can choose between vehicle cover and personal cover and which is the best option depends entirely on you.
Vehicle cover
Means that we can help if that particular vehicle breaks down. This suits people who only drive one vehicle or share the use of one vehicle with someone else. You can add this to your car insurance or buy on its own.
Personal cover
We can help you if you breakdown as a driver or passenger in your vehicle or another vehicle. Exclusions apply. See the policy booklet for full policy wording. Only available via our Standalone Breakdown policy.
What’s covered by Aviva Signature breakdown cover?
That depends on what kind of cover you choose. There are four levels to pick from:
| Rescue | Rescue & Recovery | Rescue, Recovery & At Home | Rescue, Recovery, At Home & Onward Travel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roadside assistance | ||||
| Tow to a nearby garage for you, your vehicle and your passengers | ||||
| Recovery to any destination for you, your vehicle and your passengers | ||||
| Assistance at or within a quarter mile of your home address | ||||
| A replacement car – whilst yours is being repaired, or overnight accommodation or onwards travel by taxi, train or plane |
What's not covered?
Unfortunately, we can’t cover everything. Make sure you’re comfortable with what’s not covered. For example:
We can’t cover:
Explore exactly what is and isn’t covered by reading our full policy wording.
Additional European breakdown cover
Driving in another country can be stressful at the best of times, for that bit of extra protection, you can add European cover (at an extra cost) to any of our four Aviva Signature standalone breakdown cover options. Or add this cover to your car policy if you take out Foreign Use at the same time.
What's covered
Explore what is and isn’t covered under European Breakdown cover by reading our full policy wordings.
What to do if you break down
Can’t get the car started? Call us straightaway to get help from our experts.
Let us know
If you need help quickly, give us a call Footnote [1].
UK 0800 0155 755
Republic of Ireland 1800 535 005
France & Monaco 0800 290 112
Belarus or Russia 810 33 472 43 52 55
Another European country 00 33 472 43 52 55
Broken down on the motorway? Use the roadside emergency phone if you can (mandatory in France).
What we'll ask
Once you're safely off the road, we'll need to know exactly where you are and the nature of the fault or breakdown.
You'll also need your policy number and the registration, make and model of your vehicle.
We'll get to you quickly
Depending on your level of cover, we'll get out to help you as quickly as possible.
Remember, only accept assistance from the RAC patrol or contractor that's come out to you and let us know as soon as you can if you manage to get the vehicle running.
Breakdown cover FAQs
What's included if I select Rescue & Recovery?
Rescue cover means that if your vehicle breaks down more than a quarter of a mile from your home address we will send a patrol out to repair it at the roadside. If it cannot be repaired within a reasonable time, or the patrol service person feels the repair is unwise we will transport your vehicle to a destination of your choice within 10 miles or to a nearby garage.
Transport for you and your passengers to that chosen destination will also be provided.
Rescue & Recovery is the same as Rescue but if your vehicle cannot be repaired we will transport your vehicle, you and your passengers to your home address or any single address in the UK.
How do I contact Aviva Signature breakdown service?
If you need help at the roadside please contact us to request a call out.
Can I get instant cover with Aviva Signature breakdown cover?
As long as you haven’t broken down already, if you choose to begin cover immediately, your breakdown cover will start as soon as your payment has been accepted. You’ll be covered for ‘Rescue’ for help at the roadside and a 10-mile tow during the first 24 hours. After 24 hours, your full cover will start.
Do you offer European breakdown cover?
You can add European breakdown cover to any of the standalone Aviva Signature breakdown cover options. This cover includes:
- Spare parts to be dispatched if they are required for repairs whilst your car's abroad
- Extra accommodation expenses if you are stranded following a breakdown
- Journey continuation or return home: car hire for up to 14 consecutive days, or until your vehicle has been fixed (if sooner)
- The European cover provides for a replacement driver if the main driver is too unwell to continue driving (as certified by a doctor) and there is no other driver in the vehicle who could take over
- Vehicle break in - the RAC will pay for repairs to make your car secure again following a break-in or an attempted break-in whilst abroad
- Returning your car to the UK if it cannot be repaired
- Travel expenses to collect your vehicle that has been left abroad for repair
What payment methods are available?
You can pay for all policies in one lump sum by credit card or Debit Debit. Some policies offer Direct Debit payments. Paying monthly is more expensive.
Your payment options will be made clear when you complete your quote.
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