If you had ever wondered what your breakdown recovery deal was worth to the major companies operating in this market, then collectively, you are looking at a cool billion, judging by the sale price of the RAC, which has been purchased by Private Equity firm Carlyle, from the large insurance company Aviva.

A century on from their first roadside act of kindness, the RAC is has incredibly had several interested parties at this sort of figure, showing just how valuable this market is. Carlyle beat off interest from two other private equity firms to seal the deal, which shows just how profitable people believe the company, and therefore the industry to be. Despite the remarkable sale price, it is important to remember that back in 2005, Aviva actually paid a whopping £1.1 billion to own the business, so on face value, 0.1 of a billion has been lost, but Aviva would claim that the British School of Motoring, which was sold off from the company for £500,000, would indicate good business on their behalf.

This obviously highlights how important many people feel breakdown cover is, and if you are reading this thinking that you don’t have any cover yourself, then maybe it is time to start looking! You need to compare breakdown cover to be sure that you get the best deal, and there are many sites online which will help you to do this.

Whether or not the RAC provide the best breakdown cover is not for us to say, but given the healthy price tag and frenzied negotiations which have taken place to make RAC a Carlyle company, it would appear that the new parent company believes this to be the case.

New proposals put forward by the new government could see breakdown cover become a legal necessity when it comes to motoring insurance. As we stand, car insurance is a legal pre requisite when it comes to getting a car on the road, but having a decent breakdown policy is purely optional. The Coalition government would like to make a change to this, and it would appear that the British Insurance Brokers Association is keen to back the government in their plans. This legislation is not due to go through anytime soon, but it is food for thought to all of those without breakdown cover. With colder winters every year and ever older cars, a decent breakdown policy could be worth its weight in gold at the moment.

Bearing in mind that the government are likely to bring in this new policy in the not too distant future, it might be a good time for anyone who doesn’t currently have a breakdown policy to start to think about getting one. It is always important to find the best breakdown cover you can, and if you get in the habit of finding decent breakdown cover now, it will hit a little less hard when the new rules come in to play.

Obviously whether you drive a car or a motorcycle, you really should investigate the possibility of getting breakdown cover. In recent times there have been more breakdowns than ever before. The winter time is always a busy time for the breakdown companies, but at this time of year it is particularly common for them to be called out to problems with motorcycles and the last thing you want at this time of year is to be stranded at the side of the road in freezing conditions. This is why you have to consider finding motorcycle breakdown cover, particularly for this time of the year. You may not use it during the summer months, but when it is winter time you will be grateful!

Of course, when it comes to searching out the right cover, you have to be careful to find the right company. You should always make sure that you compare breakdown cover by using one of the price comparison sites so that you know that you have found the most appropriate and affordable deals for your circumstances. Whether you are hoping to find something to cover you for your bike or your car, be sure to find the best deal online.

• Colder winters and more treacherous road conditions make breakdown cover even more crucial in 2011
• Breakdown cover could become part of law in the future

For many motorists, finding the best breakdown cover is a crucial part of owning a car, but in 2011 the need to find good breakdown cover on top of car insurance might get a lot more important. Under proposed new changes to legislation surrounding motoring and car insurance, and could become illegal in the future not to get breakdown insurance. Right now car insurance is a required part of driving, but breakdown cover, which can also be very important especially if you have an older car, is not covered by the same rules and is totally optional.

The new proposals have been put forward by the coalition government and the news has been well received by the British Insurance Brokers Association who has welcomed the plans as they believe changes will promote a fairer system for honest and safe drivers and breed a responsibility culture amongst drivers in the UK. Currently there are no details for the kind of penalties that could be associated with driving a vehicle without full breakdown cover.

While these changes aren’t likely to be put into action for a long time, colder winters and more extreme weather makes getting breakdown cover a great choice regardless. If you have a vehicle more than a few years old there’s a very good chance you’ll save money by getting a good breakdown cover deal.

You can pick up breakdown cover through a variety of different sources such as a premium bank account or through your existing car insurance company, but before taking out a contract through these methods it’s worth your time to compare breakdown cover online. Some breakdown providers offer more services than others at the basic level, while others offer alternative ways to set up and pay for breakdown cover that might make more sense for your particular situation, so it’s always worth checking what’s out there before you make a decision.

About BreakdownChoices.co.uk:

Launched in 2005 the BreakdownChoices.co.uk website has provided a wide range of features for people who wish to either find new providers or to switch from their existing provider, including motorcycle breakdown cover.

While the main function of the site is to compare breakdown cover providers, the features of the site extend well beyond that, giving deal hunters unparalleled access to community features, guides and FAQs, as well as providing regular new updates about the industry and one time deals.

• Don’t get left on the hard shoulder if your car breaks down in the snow
• Save yourself long term costs by investing in breakdown cover before a problem occurs

This winter has been one of the coldest for nearly 20 years, and the amount snowfall has even broken records in some areas. While all the snow might make things look very seasonal and provide some fun for the kids, it makes getting around much more difficult. Crucially, it doubles the amount of accidents and problems on the roads, and those without decent breakdown cover are the ones mostly likely to be stuck waiting on the longest amount of time for roadside assistance and, of course, paying the most money for the privilege.

Finding the best breakdown cover can be a crucial part of driving a car normally, but in the winter it’s even more vital to make sure you don’t get stuck. There’s nothing worse than missing a family get together simply because you’ve broken down on the way and have no way to continue your travel.
Even the basic packages of most breakdown insurance providers will cover onward travel, so you’re guaranteed to get to your destination and not miss out on anything. They will also try to fix your vehicle at the roadside if it’s at all possible, even in the snow! If not though, you can get your car or motorbike taken to the nearest garage.

There are different levels of cover available for different people. The basic cover should provide enough for most drivers, but if you drive for work all the time or you drive across Europe on a regular basis, looking at more luxury packages is a good idea.

As with any insurance it’s all about weighing up what you want to get covered and the chances you’ll use what you pay for enough to make it all worth the cost. Other facts to consider include how often you drive overall, your level of technical ability when it comes to basic car maintenance and, of course, how old and unreliable your current vehicle happens to be.

If you’re looking for a festive way to help out a friend with a particularly unreliable vehicle, some companies are offering ‘gift cards’ for the Christmas season which are redeemable for one free roadside recovery – a pretty unique gift! If you’re looking for yourself, make sure you check out the deals you can find when you compare breakdown cover to ensure you are paying a fair price.

About BreakdownChoices.co.uk:

Launched in 2005 the BreakdownChoices.co.uk website has provided a wide range of features for people who wish to either find new providers or to switch from their existing provider, including motorcycle cover and European breakdown cover comparison.
While the main function of the site is to compare different breakdown providers the features of the site extend well beyond that, giving deal hunters unparalleled access to community features, guides and FAQs, as well as providing regular new updates about the industry and one time deals.

• Motorcycle owners are less likely to have breakdown cover than car owners
• Comparing and choosing cover is just as important for bike owners, especially if you’re travelling in Europe.

Despite studies suggesting that many bike owners either have no motorcycle breakdown cover at all or only the most basic cover for their vehicles – even though cover for bikes is just as important as getting cover for a car. In fact, as winter draws in and weather conditions worsen, knowing you have good cover if you get stuck in the rain and the snow can be a really reassuring thing. It’s even more vital for bike owners than it is for car owners who at least have the protection of their vehicle to shelter them from the elements!

Most companies that can provide car insurance can also give consumers some level of bike insurance as well, although it worth looking around to do breakdown cover comparison and make sure you find that something that’s suited to you rather than trying to get a one-size-fits-all package. Not properly researching breakdown cover could mean paying for more than that you require or, worse, not getting the amount of cover you think you may need.

There’s a few different things you might also want to look out for if you use your bike a lot – firstly, insuring yourself rather than your vehicle can work out cheaper and normally makes more sense for motorcycle owners who are less likely to be sharing a vehicle. Secondly, people who travel often can save a large amount of by doing a European breakdown cover comparison here in the UK rather than purchasing it on a per-trip basis, although the saving on these deals is only really valid for people who are likely to be driving through EU countries on a regular basis.

When browsing for breakdown cover, both bike and car owners should be aware exactly what their level of service will provide and – even more importantly – what it does not. It’s also wise to check out companies for extras such as no call-out discounts, especially if you have a newer vehicle, and to see how long their average callout time is so you know just how long you’ll be sitting out in the rain for if the worst does happen!

About BreakdownChoices.co.uk:

Launched in 2005 the BreakdownChoices.co.uk website has provided a wide range of features for people who wish to either find new providers or to switch from their existing provider, including motorcycle breakdown and breakdown cover comparison.

While the main function of the site is t compare different breakdown providers the features of the site extend well beyond that, giving deal hunters unparalleled access to community features, guides and FAQs, as well as providing regular new updates about the industry and one time deals.
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Many new car companies are starting to offer breakdown cover as part of their warranty package. Hyundai has just announced a cooperative effort with RAC on several new models that will give buyers a transferable 5 year prepaid cover package. Mitsubishi already has a three year package offered with its new vehicle sales. Even though we are speaking in terms of brand new cars, a few points should be considered as part of a breakdown cover comparison.
First, when we compare breakdown cover including these free packages, we must remember that many cover policies do not provide for important needed services such as home start or tow home. Make sure that the “free” package has a bit more value than its name would imply. Another thought to take note of is that we are dealing with a new vehicle and the chances of problems are very small. Still there are road hazards to consider and even a new car can run out of petrol. Remember that if free RAC is included in your purchase it should not really be considered a discount or incentive to purchase.
Second, if your current cover from a company such as Green Flag Breakdown or Gem Motoring Assist is based upon you as driver of any vehicle, you will want to keep that cover active regardless of the free cover that came with your new car. Make sure that the free roadside assistance protection that comes with your new car is equal in features to those of your current plan.