The Risks Of Buying The Cheapest Roadside Assistance Policy

Last checked 31 August 2026

When we buy most things we see the true value of the product or service straight away. With roadside assistance you are unlikely to know the value of the investment until a breakdown happens and you make the call. Only then do you find out whether the cheapest option was the right option.

If no research is done and the policy is not matched to your needs, there is a real risk that a cheap roadside assistance policy ends up being worthless to you. Some examples.

Risk 1 — The Long-Distance Driver

I travel long distances from home, and I would rather do my own mechanics if something goes wrong with my car.

Every roadside assistance policy will aim to tow or transport your vehicle to a nearby garage, where you may then be subject to repair costs. In this case the extra cost of a recovery policy, which will transport your vehicle back home, may well be worth paying.

Risk 2 — The Repeat Fault

My car battery keeps going flat, so I have bought a roadside assistance policy to come out and get me running again.

Battery failure is the single most common reason for a callout, all year round. The larger companies, the AA and the RAC among them, carry new batteries and will offer you one at full retail price to guarantee the trip home. Providers also cap how many callouts you get on the cheaper tiers, and may decline repeat visits for the same unfixed fault. Replacing a battery you already know is failing, at a price you chose, is almost always cheaper.

The same logic applies to an electric car, incidentally — the 12V battery that runs the lights and computers is the most common EV callout too, not the main traction pack.

Risk 3 — The Single Key

We only have one car key, so we bought the cheapest roadside assistance policy just in case we lose it.

None of the basic services deal with a lost key. It either requires an upgrade to the policy or a separate service altogether. Some will attempt to get into your vehicle if the keys have been locked inside.

Risk 4 — The Car That Is Too Old For The Policy

I found a much cheaper quote, so I took it.

Some providers apply a vehicle age limit — Green Flag’s personal cover is stated as being for vehicles under 16 years old. With the average UK car now approaching ten years old and more than 40% of them past a decade, this rules out more vehicles than it used to. It is also precisely the older car that most needs the cover. Check the age limit before the price.

Make Sure The Cover Matches The Risk

There is a message in all of this: understand what you are buying cover for, and in what circumstances. Do the research and decide honestly whether the cheapest option will cover you and your car for the things most likely to happen to them.

Not having sufficient cover at the time of a breakdown can cost far more than a better policy would have, or than sorting the underlying issue out beforehand. Transporting a vehicle home can be expensive, and not being able to choose the garage can spoil more than just the day.