Your Vehicle Eligibility Checklist: What Vehicles Are Covered by Breakdown Cover?

Emergency Assist car breakdown cover works for private cars, vans, and motorbikes. We also offer specialist cover for campervans, taxis, and courier vehicles. Check if your vehicle fits our size limits before you buy breakdown service.

Which Vehicles Can Get Breakdown Assistance?

You need to know if your vehicle qualifies before you sign up. Not every vehicle fits every membership. The good news? Our breakdown service has options for most drivers.

This guide shows you exactly what we cover and when you can call for roadside assistance. We'll explain our size limits in plain English. We'll also tell you about our specialist covers if your vehicle doesn't fit our standard cover.

[CLAIMS DATA: Insert % of members driving standard cars]

Table of Contents

1. Vehicles Covered by Standard Breakdown Cover
2. Size and Weight Limits
3. What About Tyres and Batteries?
4. Vehicles That Need Specialist Cover
5. Level of Cover Options
6. Personal Cover vs Vehicle Cover
7. What About European Breakdown Cover?
8. Quick Eligibility Checklist
9. Practical Takeaways
10. Frequently Asked Questions
11. Check Your Cover

 

Vehicles Covered by Standard Breakdown Cover

Our standard breakdown cover covers the following eligible vehicle types:

Cars

Most private cars qualify for car breakdown cover. This membership includes small cars, family cars, SUVs, and 4x4s. A person or a company must own your vehicle.

Vans

Light vans used for personal trips are covered. Many members use vans for hobbies or have large families. If you use your van for courier work, you're also covered and might benefit from our tailored specialist courier breakdown cover option designed specifically for commercial van operators.

Motorbikes

Motorbike breakdown cover covers any type of motorcycle, scooter or moped over 49cc. Flat tyres, flat batteries, and engine trouble are all included.

Caravans and trailers

When you're towing a caravan or trailer with a covered vehicle, it counts too. There are separate size limits for these.

Size and Weight Limits

To qualify for standard cover, your vehicle must fit these limits:

Maximum Size: Weight 3.5 tonnes, Length 6.0 metres, Width 2.3 metres

Why do these limits exist? Recovery trucks can only carry so much weight. The tow gear only works with specific sizes and weights. If your vehicle is larger, we need to be aware of this, so we bring along our specialised recovery equipment for such cases.

How to check your vehicle:

Your V5C log book shows your vehicle's weight. For length and width, check the maker's website. You can also measure it yourself. Remember to include any tow bar in the length.

Caravan and trailer limits are a bit different:

Maximum Size: Weight 3.5 tonnes, Length 7.0 metres (not counting the tow bar), Width 2.44 metres

What About Tyres and Batteries?

Our breakdown cover includes help with common problems like flat tyres and dead batteries. In the event of a breakdown due to a tyre or battery failure, we'll send breakdown assistance, and if needed, roadside recovery to the nearest garage.

The definition of a breakdown in our membership includes "the failure of the Vehicle's battery and/or tyres." So yes, these are covered.

Vehicles That Need Specialist Cover

Some vehicles don't fit our standard cover. But that doesn't mean we can't help. Emergency Assist offers specialist memberships for:

Campervans and Motorhomes

Our standard cover excludes campervans. But we have a separate campervan membership with bigger limits:

Campervan Max Limits: Weight 5.5 tonnes, Length 8.0 metres, Width 2.3 metres

What counts as a campervan? Any vehicle made or changed to have sleeping, cooking, or washing areas. It doesn't matter what the DVLA calls it. If it has living space, it's a campervan to us.

Taxis and Private Hire

Taxi drivers need our specialist taxi breakdown cover membership. This membership type covers vehicles with 7 seats or fewer used for private or public hire. The same vehicle size limits as standard cover apply.

Courier and Delivery Vehicles

Do you drive for Amazon Flex, Deliveroo, or another delivery service? Our courier membership covers you if your vehicle breaks down. It works for the same vehicle sizes as standard cover.

Level of Cover Options

Once you know your vehicle qualifies, you can pick your level of cover. Each level adds more benefits:

Roadside: When your car breaks down, we come to you and try to fix it where it is.

Homestart: Same as roadside, but also covers breakdowns at or near your home.

National Recovery: If we can't fix your car, we'll take it to a nearby garage. We can also arrange onward travel or alternative transport to get you home.

Onward Travel: Gives you peace of mind by offering options like hire cars, overnight accommodation, or rail tickets if your vehicle needs to stay in a local garage. Overnight accommodation is capped at £50 per person.

Your level of cover affects what help you get. Check your membership details to see what's included.

Personal Cover vs Vehicle Cover

We offer two types of membership:

Vehicle cover

Protects the cars you list on your membership. Any family member or authorised person driving those cars gets help. There is no age limit on the vehicles.

Personal cover

Protects you as a driver. Any car under 16 years old is covered. This type of cover is good if you often drive different vehicles.

Both types follow the same size and weight limits.

What About European Breakdown Cover?

Our standard vehicle breakdown covers the UK only, including England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man.

If you need European breakdown cover for trips abroad, you'll need to upgrade your membership to the complete breakdown cover level.

Quick Eligibility Checklist

Before you buy, check these five things:

1. Is your vehicle under 3.5 tonnes, 6 metres long, and 2.3 metres wide?

2. Is it a car, van, or motorbike (not a campervan)?

3. Is it UK-registered?

If you said yes to all , our standard cover should work for you. If your car won't start or is undrivable, you're guaranteed roadside assistance.

If your vehicle is a campervan, taxi, or courier vehicle, ask about our specialist memberships instead.

Practical Takeaways

1. Most private cars qualify for standard car breakdown cover without any problems.

2. Check your V5C for weight. Measure length and width if you're not sure.

3. Campervans need our specialist campervan membership, not standard cover.

4. Taxi and courier drivers have their own EA memberships too.

5. Pick the right level of cover for your needs. Higher levels include more benefits, like alternative transport and overseas travel.

6. Call us before you buy if you're not sure. Our breakdown service team would rather help you choose the right membership now than reject your claim later.

 

Considering Getting Breakdown Cover?

Roadside

Essential UK roadside assistance at the scene.

£33/yr

Select Cover

 

Roadside + Recovery

Includes recovery to a local garage of your choice.

£46/yr

Select Cover

Most Popular

National Recovery

Recovery to any single UK destination of your choice.

£59/yr

Select Cover

 

UK & European

Full breakdown cover for the UK and Continental Europe.

£84/yr

Select Cover

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Does breakdown cover cover any car?

Most private cars are covered if they meet our size limits and are used for personal trips. Company cars, taxis, and delivery vehicles need specialist cover instead.

Are motorcycles included in breakdown cover?

Yes. We cover motorbikes, scooters and mopeds over 49cc. You get the same roadside assistance and breakdown assistance as car drivers.

How many callouts can I make?

All members can make unlimited callouts per year. Check your membership details for specific exclusions.

What if my car has to stay at a garage overnight?

If you have Onward Travel cover, we can help with overnight accommodation, a hire car, or alternative transport to get you home. Limits apply; double-check your membership details.

What if I have a campervan?

Standard cover excludes campervans. But we offer a specialist campervan breakdown membership with higher size limits. Ask us about it, or have a look at Campervan Membership Wording.

Can I add European breakdown cover?

Our standard cover is UK only. For trips to Europe, you'll need to consider our European breakdown cover level, designed specifically to cater to overseas travellers.

Which vehicles are covered by breakdown cover memberships?

Private cars, vans, and motorbikes that fit our size limits. Caravans count when towed by a covered vehicle. Campervans, taxis, and couriers need our specialist cover.

Check Your Cover

Your level of cover decides what help you get. Check your membership details to see what's included. Make sure your vehicle fits our limits before you need us.

This article uses Emergency Assist membership wording v9.01 (October 2024). We also offer specialist memberships for campervans, taxis, and courier vehicles with different terms.