Frequently Asked Questions

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What happens if I breakdown?

What happens if my vehicle breaks down at the roadside?

Will a Halfords truck be dispatched in the event of a breakdown?

What happens if I have purchased Roadside & Local cover but need a recovery more than 10 miles?

What happens if my vehicle breaks down at home?

How quickly will you come out to me?

Will you pay for labour or parts needed to repair the vehicle?

Will you pay for my hotel if I'm away from home?

Do I get a hire car? How are the costs covered?

Am I entitled to a second call out if you can't recover my vehicle to a garage?

Will you pay toll or ferry fees?

Is there a limit to the distance I can be recovered?

What happens when my vehicle has to go to a garage?

What happens if I cancel my call out?

What happens if my mobile phone is running out of charge and I need to let people know about my situation?

What am I covered for?

How many call outs are included?

Is recovery provided in the event of lost, stolen or broken keys?

What happens if I put the wrong fuel in my vehicle?

Am I covered if my vehicle runs out of fuel?

What happens if I am not covered for the fault on the vehicle?

Am I covered in any car?

What if my car is stolen or vandalised?

What if I have a problem with my caravan or trailer?

What if my trailer contains horses or other livestock?

What can't be covered under the policy?

Cycle Rescue

What happens if I breakdown while on my bicycle?

How does the recovery whilst out on my bicycle differ from the service I would receive if I was in my car?

Am I covered for Cycle Rescue in Europe?

European Cover

What European countries do you cover?

Do I need to take extra documents if I travel abroad?

Will you take me home if you can't repair the vehicle abroad?

General

What happens if I change my vehicle?

My vehicle has locking wheels and a space saver, what happens if I can't change my wheel?

What happens if I breakdown?

If your vehicle breaks down in the UK, simply:

  1. Call our 24-hour rescue line (0333 320 1395)
  2. Quote your registration, your location, and your mobile number.
  3. A Vehicle Recovery Operator will aim to be with you in less than 60 minutes.

We'll do our best to repair your vehicle within 60 minutes by the roadside. If this isn't possible, we'll arrange recovery to your nearest garage. Providing you have purchased the relevant level of cover we can also arrange alternative travel for, you and the passengers to your home address or original destination.

Please note: if you've chosen our Roadside & Local breakdown cover, we'll recover you to any chosen destination within a 10 mile radius from the scene of the breakdown.

No. We use a network of about 425 independent Vehicle Recovery Operators, all of which are able to deal with any type of vehicle or incident.

If you require a vehicle recovery further than your 10 mile entitlement, we'll gladly take you to your chosen destination, however you'll need to pay for the additional mileage. Payment must be made over the phone by credit/debit card at the time assistance is required.

We'll assist you within a one-mile radius of your home address, provided you've purchased the right level of cover If we're unable to repair your vehicle, we'll arrange vehicle recovery to your nearest garage.

We aim to have a Recovery Operator with you in less than 60 minutes; however, this may vary in mainland Europe, depending on your location.

No. Any work carried out, other than roadside assistance, will be a separate contract between you and the repairing garage.

Yes. We'll pay a maximum of £150.00 for a lone traveller or £75.00 per person towards the reasonable cost of overnight accommodation including breakfast for the passengers whilst the vehicle is being repaired. The maximum payment per incident is £500.00. Authorisation must be gained from our Rescue Coordinator.

If our Recovery Operator is unable to repair your vehicle within the same working day, we’ll pay up to £250.00 towards the cost of alternative travel or car hire up to 1600cc. We will also pay up to £150.00 towards the reasonable cost of alternative transport for one person to return and collect the repaired vehicle. This service can only be used if your vehicle is being repaired a minimum of 20 miles from your home address. Authorisation must be gained from our Rescue Coordinator.

Unfortunately not. We’ll only take you to your chosen destination under the initial call out. You’re entitled to one call out per fault and vehicle recovery to one destination. If you’re at home and garages are closed, provided you’ve purchased the right level of cover, we may advise you to call for assistance the following day. If we can't complete the repair, we’ll recover you to the nearest garage.

Yes, within the UK and Northern Ireland.

Provided you have purchased Nationwide cover, Home cover, European cover or Full cover, no. If your vehicle can’t be repaired at the roadside or a local garage within a reasonable amount of time, we will take the vehicle and the passengers home or to your chosen destination anywhere in the UK. If you have purchased our Roadside & Local breakdown cover, you are entitled to a recovery within 10 miles of the scene of your breakdown.

If we are unable repair your vehicle at the roadside and your car needs to go to a garage , we will organise recovery for you. In most instances, we’ll recover you to a Halfords store or Autocentre, where further repairs can be carried out by a qualified technician. If you would rather your car be repaired at an alternative garage, just let us know and we’ll arrange this for you.

If you cancel a call out and the Recovery Operator has already been dispatched, you will lose a call out from your policy. We recommend that you to wait for assistance anyway, to ensure the vehicle is functioning correctly.

We will gladly pass on up to two messages to friends, relatives or colleagues to inform them of your situation.

What am I covered for?

Call outs are limited to 6 per annum per insured vehicle/pedal cycle / insured person.

Yes we are able to provide recovery to the recovery operator’s base or your home address if closer.

 We’ll get you to the nearest garage able to undertake the repair, or if this isn’t possible, we’ll recover you to your home or original destination. Alternatively, we can send out a member of our fuel drain network and they can drain and flush the vehicle at the roadside. This cost is not covered by your policy however and you will have to pay the technician before the work takes place.

Yes

We can assist on a pay on use basis by taking credit or debit card details.

Unless Personal Cover is purchased, Halfords Breakdown Cover only includes the vehicle registered on our database. The registered vehicle is covered for any driver.

Contact your insurance company immediately.

Your policy only covers the registered vehicle in the event of a breakdown. If your vehicle breaks down and your caravan or trailer is attached, providing it meets the policy requirements, we’ll recover it with the vehicle. If you have a problem with your caravan or trailer and not the vehicle, we’ll be able to help you, however, you’ll need to pay for the recovery service immediately.

This is not covered as part of the policy. If the trailer can’t be recovered we’ll contact a local company to transport the livestock separately and you will need to pay for this service immediately.

We’re unable to cover vehicles in excess of 3.5 tonnes. Nor can we cover minibuses, limousines, vehicles of a commercial nature over eight years old or vehicles used for hire and reward. Any request for service if the vehicle is being used for motor racing, rallies, public hire, private hire, courier services or any contest or speed trial or practice for any of these activities. Please refer to your policy wording for full terms and conditions.

Cycle Rescue

We’ll recover you to the nearest of a cycle repair shop, railway station, car rental agency, overnight accommodation or your home address if closer.

Simply put – there’s very little difference! The only exceptions are that you are not covered if at home (the breakdown must be at least one mile away from your home address) and there is no roadside repair – our priority is to get you to the nearest cycle repair shop, railway station, car rental agency, overnight accommodation or your home as soon as possible.

We are unable to cover your bicycle when in Europe, even if you have purchased European cover or Full cover.

Our policy does not cover your bicycle when in Europe, even if you have purchased European cover or Full cover

European Cover

The following countries are covered under the European extension: Andorra, Austria, Balearics, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Isles, Corsica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey (for non-residents), Hungary, Italy, Jersey (for non-residents), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, San Marino, Sardinia, Sicily, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Vatican City.

Yes. As a minimum, you’ll need your driving licence, your V5 vehicle registration document, International Driving Permit (if needed for the countries you’ll be driving in), proof of outbound and inbound travel dates and your insurance details. Last but not least, don't forget to take your Halford's Breakdown Cover policy with you!

We’ll do everything we can to repair your vehicle at the roadside. If this isn’t possible, we’ll get you to a local garage as quickly as possible to carry out the additional work. If the vehicle cannot be repaired within a reasonable amount of time, to be agreed between you and our Rescue Coordinator, we’ll recover the vehicle and passengers back to the UK.

General

Let us know right away – we’ll only assist vehicles registered on our database. We will let you know if there is a change in premium.

We’ll gladly assist you although you must have a legal and serviceable spare wheel which can be fitted. You’ll also need the keys for any locks with you and the correct wheel studs for the spare wheel if it is a different size to the standard wheels.

Why Choose Halfords
425+ Recovery operators in our network
No excesses or call out charges
Multi Car Cover for maximum discount
Cover for yourself or your vehicle
If you have bicycles we’ll cover them too
Set up & manage your cover online
82% of vehicles repaired at the roadside*
Complete Solution for Rescue, Repairs and Replacements
* Based on data for all recoveries made between October 2023 - September 2024.

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