Compare Breakdown Cover: GEM Motoring Assist vs Other Providers
Comparing Breakdown Cover: What You Need to Know
When searching for the best breakdown cover, it's crucial to look beyond just the price. When you research breakdown cover price comparisons, it's a good idea to also research what each breakdown cover policy includes... and, especially with cheap breakdown cover, what it excludes.
Here's why comparing breakdown cover options is essential and what to consider:
Why Compare Breakdown Cover?
Policy inclusions vary - Different providers offer different levels of coverage. What's standard with one may be an add-on with another.
Price doesn't tell the whole story - The cheapest option isn't always the best value. Consider what's included in the policy.
Coverage limitations - Some providers have restrictions on callouts or charge extra for older vehicles.
Home start isn't always included - This valuable feature isn't standard with all providers. Check if it's included or an add-on.
Additional services - Consider extras like misfuelling cover, key replacement, or European coverage.
Key Factors to Compare
Types of assistance - Roadside, home start, national recovery, onward travel
Vehicle age limits - Some policies charge more for older vehicles - not at GEM!
Callout limits - How many times can you use the service per year?
Additional costs - Are there hidden fees or charges for specific services?
Coverage area - Do you need UK only cover, or need to include European travel?
Breakdown Cover - what you need to know
Some breakdown cover companies simply won’t come out if you run out of fuel, fill up with the wrong fuel, get a flat battery or lose your car keys (GEM Motoring Assist have limits for roadside assistance in these scenarios but, under our breakdown cover policy, we will help).
Breakdown cover providers may enforce limits on how many times a year you can call them out or charge more for older vehicles. When researching breakdown cover, compare the limitations applied to the different areas of cover.
When you compare breakdown cover quotes, it can be confusing when you have to add on extras to cheap roadside assistance cover to arrive at the level of cover you really need.
With GEM Motoring Assist, you don’t have to pick and choose. Our personal breakdown cover automatically includes home and roadside assistance, nationwide recovery and onward travel. No add-ons or catches… just all-inclusive breakdown cover. Read on for our personal breakdown cover comparison.
GEM Motoring Assist breakdown cover comparison
Here you can compare roadside assistance car recovery prices for personal breakdown cover policies that include roadside assistance, home assistance, nationwide recovery and onward travel options for a single person. See how the price for a breakdown policy from the RAC and the AA compares to GEM in our car breakdown cover comparison.
Prices correct as of 1st December 2024 for new personal cover customers joining directly via the AA/RAC/GEM websites and, where applicable, using postcode CO1 1UX and date of birth 29/12/1977. Whilst this price comparison demonstrated how an RAC and AA breakdown cover quote compares to GEM, please check each provider's Terms & Conditions for full details.
With GEM's Recovery EXTRA personal cover, we organise everything, including the callout, fees and labour charges.
You get the full service for one simple, up-front payment. Learn more about GEM's Recovery EXTRA breakdown policy.
Exclusive to GEM - our Recovery RECLAIM personal cover. You can request assistance from GEM, or you can pay the callout and labour charges yourself, and then reclaim the appropriate costs from us after the event. This is also a good option if you want to use your preferred garage or mechanic. Learn more about Recovery RECLAIM.
You may be surprised at how GEM Motoring Assist's personal breakdown cover compares to others when you compare prices.
Even more surprising is that GEM Motoring Assist breakdown cover not only provides value for money, our breakdown policies cover everything you'd expect from a top-price provider and more... it's important to compare policies too!
What's included in GEM Breakdown Cover?
We'll cover you at home
If you’re at home and your car won’t start (or grinds to a halt around the corner, within a quarter of a mile from your home) call us for home assistance. We’ll either fix it there or take it to a garage that can. Remember, cheap roadside cover does not always cover you if your car breaks down at home. Compare breakdown cover carefully to check if you need to add this on to your UK breakdown policy.
We'll cover you on the road
If you break down on your journey, we provide roadside assistance. With our roadside recovery, we can do most basic repairs right there. If you break down more than a quarter of a mile from home we will carry out emergency repairs to get you going, otherwise we will recover the vehicle to the nearest suitable or local garage which is able to undertake the repair the same working day. If neither are possible we will recover you to a UK destination of your choice.
We'll recover you where you need to go
If we can’t repair it at the roadside, we provide breakdown recovery. We’ll take you, your vehicle and the passengers to your destination... anywhere in the country.
We'll cover your onward travel
What is onward travel breakdown cover? If you're far from home when you break down (more than 25 miles from home) and repairs can’t be carried out that day, we can assist with onward travel or overnight accommodation up to the value of £200.
We'll cover all your vehicles
When looking for car breakdown cover compare what other vehicles might be included. Many car UK breakdown cover policies don’t cover motorbikes, caravans and trailers. You might also been looking for cover for a classic car. GEM’s personal cover polices include these types of vehicle at no extra cost (limits apply*), you can therefore cover all your vehicles under one breakdown cover policy and that includes vehicles of any age too, such as classic cars.
We'll cover all your callouts
We cover vehicles of any age for the same price and there’s no limit to how many times you can call us out in a year. Not all UK breakdown cover policies include unlimited callouts, so compare breakdown cover carefully.
We even cover you as a passenger
With GEM's personal cover, you’re also covered as a passenger. If you’re driving a hired or borrowed vehicle, we can help too. We look after you as a GEM member, which means we also cover accidents and driver illness. And with our personal breakdown cover, you can call us for assistance as a driver or passenger in any eligible vehicle* you're travelling in. This is also a great option for multi-car breakdown cover, because you are covered as a driver in more than one vehicle.
Why join GEM Motoring Assist for your breakdown cover?
Award-winning - Which? Recommended Provider, Highly Commended in the Personal Finance Awards 2023, Defaqto 5 Star Rated
All-inclusive breakdown cover - 24/7 home and roadside breakdown assistance, nationwide recovery and onward travel
Cover as a driver or passenger – take your cover with you with our comprehensive personal breakdown cover
Unlimited callouts - plus we cover driver illness, punctures, flat batteries, misfuelling and running out of fuel or charge
We cover vehicles of any age – pay the same price for any age vehicle including classic cars and brand new cars
Easy assistance – request assistance quickly and easily through the GEM app or call our rescue helpline by phone
Value for money - we're cheaper than similar breakdown policies and you can cover up to four drivers in one policy
GEM member benefits - exclusive quarterly magazine, unlimited motoring advice, competitions and member offers
*Eligible vehicle: Private cars or motorcycles, Vans with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) up to 3500 kgs, Motorhomes/campervans with a GVW up to 3500 kgs which do not exceed 7 metres/23 feet in length or 2.3 metres/7 feet 7 inches in width (including any extra fitments). If in doubt, check the terms and conditions.
Breakdown Cover Jargon Buster
Understanding the terminology used in breakdown cover policies can help you make a more informed comparison. Here are some key terms explained:
Roadside Assistance - Help provided when your vehicle breaks down away from home
Home Start - Coverage for breakdowns at or near your home address
National Recovery - Transportation of your vehicle, passengers, and belongings to any single UK destination if a roadside repair isn't possible
Onward Travel - Alternative transport or accommodation if your vehicle can't be fixed quickly
European Cover - Breakdown assistance when driving in Europe
Pay and Claim - A system where you pay for assistance upfront and claim the cost back later
Vehicle Cover - Protection for a specific vehicle, regardless of who's driving
Personal Cover - Protection for an individual in any eligible vehicle they're travelling in
Please check the terms and conditions of a breakdown policy to find out exactly what is covered.
The True Cost of Breakdown Cover
When calculating the real value of a breakdown cover policy, consider these factors:
Annual Premium - The upfront cost of your policy
Excess Fees - Any additional charges for callouts
Coverage Limits - The number of callouts allowed and any mileage restrictions
Additional Services - Value of extras like home start or onward travel
Potential Savings - Cost of individual callouts without cover vs. annual premium
Peace of Mind - The intangible value of knowing you're protected
Time Savings - Quick assistance can save you time and stress
Flexibility - Value of being covered in multiple vehicles or as a passenger
At GEM, we believe in transparent pricing. Our all-inclusive policies mean you know exactly what you're getting without hidden costs. By offering unlimited callouts and coverage for vehicles of any age, we ensure that the true cost of your cover remains consistent and predictable, providing excellent value for money.
FAQs - find out more about GEM Motoring Assist breakdown cover
How long has GEM Motoring Assist been in existence?
Established in 1932, we’ve been looking after our members for over 90 years. Times have since changed, but our values remain untouched.
We have a long-standing heritage, and our founding road safety mission remains at the heart of everything we do and we still pride ourselves on going the extra mile to look after our members and keep them safe on the roads. Find out more about The GEM Story.
We introduced our own independent and comprehensive breakdown recovery service over 40 years ago. GEM has been named a Which? Recommended Provider for our breakdown cover in September 2024.
Read more about our car breakdown cover and The GEM Story.
Do you cover the member or the vehicle?
Our cover is personal, which means we cover you as a driver or passenger in any eligible vehicle you're travelling in.
Handy if you're looking for the best car breakdown cover that also includes more than one vehicle, whether that’s a car or small van, or perhaps something you enjoy less often like a motorbike, motorhome, towed caravan or trailer or an old classic.
So if you're researching the best breakdown cover UK wide, for multiple vehicles, GEM's personal breakdown cover is a great option for you and your recovery assistance needs.
At GEM we offer vehicle recovery as part of our personal breakdown cover, not vehicle breakdown cover.
Am I covered as a passenger?
Yes! If you need vehicle recovery we will assist you as a driver or passenger in any eligible vehicle* you are travelling in that is covered under our terms and conditions. This includes hire cars. Please also see eligible vehicle information below.
Can I add other people to my policy?
You can add up to four drivers from the same household to your policy, so if you're looking for family breakdown cover, it can work out significantly cheaper to add each family member to one policy, rather than four separate vehicle cover policies.
What are eligible vehicles?
Eligible vehicles include private cars or motorcycles. Van breakdown cover applies to vans with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) up to 3500kgs. We cover motorhomes/campervans with a GVW up to 3500 kgs that do not exceed 7 metres/23 feet in length or 2.3 metres/7 feet 7 inches in width (including any extra fitments). All other vehicles are not covered.
If in doubt, check the terms and conditions. You can call us to double check if special vehicles are covered. If you're looking for van breakdown cover, please note we DO NOT cover vans with a GVW over 3500kgs.
What type of breakdown cover should I consider for more than one car?
If you want to cover more than one car or vehicle, you could find personal breakdown cover much more cost effective than vehicle cover for each vehicle. At GEM, our cover is personal, which means we cover you as a driver or passenger in any eligible vehicle you're travelling in.
Personal breakdown cover is handy if you're looking for breakdown cover that also includes more than one vehicle, whether that’s a car or small van, or perhaps something you enjoy less often like a motorbike, motorhome, towed caravan or trailer or an old classic.
What is the difference between Recovery EXTRA and Recovery RECLAIM?
Getting the best breakdown cover is easy with GEM. Simply choose from two options for your breakdown service…
Recovery EXTRA – unlimited callouts included in your car breakdown cover. Just call our recovery control centre and we take care of everything for you.
Recovery RECLAIM - comprehensive cover at the lowest possible cost, with our pay-and-reclaim option you can contact us or make your own arrangements for assistance and claim the appropriate costs from GEM.
A great option if you prefer to go to a specialist garage, you'd like your vehicle to be seen by a favourite mechanic who knows the service history, or if you want to pay less up-front for your cover.
Both Recovery EXTRA and Recovery RECLAIM are available for one, two, three or four drivers in the same household. So both will suit you if you're looking for personal breakdown cover your yourself or family breakdown cover for the whole family.
When is the earliest I can be covered?
The earliest we can cover you from is 24 hours after purchase, we do not provide instant cover.
You can buy your breakdown cover up to three months in advance. So, if you're not going to be driving for a while, or you’re getting organised for an upcoming adventure, you can pay now and rest assured that your cover will start when you need it.
How quickly will I get assistance?
We pride ourselves on providing a speedy and efficient service throughout the whole of the UK. Response times can vary depending on the time of the incident, the day, the time of year and of course the weather.
We use a nationwide network of approved local independent recovery operators, with a range of recovery vehicles, which means wherever you break down, help is not far away.
Can I get breakdown cover in Europe?
Yes, you can buy European breakdown cover to cover any breakdowns in Europe.
GEM provides a specialist UK breakdown service and, whilst we don't offer our own European Breakdown Cover, if you're looking for breakdown cover including European travel, we can still help.
Especially for GEM members, we’ve teamed up with Travel Insurance Specialists P J Hayman to bring you Euro Plus: a discounted European Breakdown Cover. So if you need breakdown cover for UK and European adventures, you can get both through your GEM membership.
Does GEM have any testimonials or awards?
GEM breakdown cover is award-winning and highly recommended by the experts…
Which? Recommended Provider for Breakdown Services 2024
Highly Commended in the Personal Finance Awards 2023
Defaqto 5 Star Rating, one of the most comprehensive policies in the market
And most importantly, by our members… we have an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars for our online reviews on Trust Pilot, Reviews.io, Review Centre and Google.
