What is Onward Travel Breakdown Cover?

If you break down when driving, it can be a real pain. Fortunately, with breakdown cover, you’re covered if your car needs to be fixed at the side of the road or taken to a garage to be repaired.

Onward travel breakdown cover comes into play if the repairs are complicated, time-consuming, and can’t be completed on the same day. With this type of cover, you can continue your journey while it’s being fixed.

It usually covers the cost of a hire car, replacement travel, or overnight accommodation.

How does Onward Travel work?

If you have onward travel cover and your car can’t be fixed either at the side of the road or on the same day, you can use this cover to help you get to where you need to be. You’ll be able to choose between using a hire car or alternative transport. Or you can stay in overnight accommodation while you wait for your car to be fixed.

Some providers limit how many onward travel claims you can make though, so be sure to check your policy for all the details.

What is included in Onward Travel Cover?

Onward travel cover typically includes reimbursement for:

A hire car

A hire car will ensure limited disruption to your trip. With most onward travel breakdown cover, you’ll be covered for up to 48 hours of car hire. Check your policy wording to see if you’re also covered for the cost of returning to collect your car once it’s been repaired.

Alternative transport

You can choose to continue your journey on public transport or via taxi. Most policies will reimburse you for a standard ticket up to a set value per person / per group.

Accommodation

You can choose to wait for your car to be fixed, and you’ll most often be covered for one night’s accommodation while you wait. It will also be up to a set value that will be detailed in your policy documents.

Medical assistance

You may be covered if you fall ill or get injured during the journey, aren’t able to carry on and no one is qualified to drive the vehicle on your behalf.

Check the details of your policy document to see if this is covered. If it is, the insurance will pay for a driver to complete the journey or return the vehicle and any passengers to the where you began your trip. A doctor’s certificate will be required for this.

Is Onward Travel worth it?

Onward travel breakdown cover can be particularly useful if you regularly travel around the country and would be stuck if you broke down and your car was out of action for a few days.

With this type of breakdown cover, you’re safe in the knowledge that you can get to your destination in the event of a breakdown. This could be if you break down late at night and your car can’t be fixed until the next day or if the repairs are complicated and will take several days.

When you’re thinking about including this option in your breakdown cover, consider how many miles you drive annually and how reliable your car is to help inform your decision.