A standard breakdown policy written for petrol cars may leave you without adequate cover the moment your EV stops working. Here is exactly what to check before you buy the car, not after.
Why standard policies are not always adequate
Most breakdown policies were designed around petrol vehicles. They cover roadside assistance, towing, and onward travel.
What they often do not address is that EV recovery cannot use towing it requires a flatbed truck and that EV diagnosis requires technicians with specific high-voltage training.
A policy that does not address these points is not adequate for an EV owner, regardless of how comprehensive it appears.
What to check - point by point
Flatbed recovery confirmed for EVs.
The policy must confirm flatbed or equivalent recovery for electric vehicles. If the wording says "towing" without qualification, call and ask specifically whether this includes flatbed for EVs. Get the answer in writing or via online chat.
EV-trained technicians.
Confirm that technicians dispatched to EV callouts have EV-specific training. Not all providers can guarantee this, particularly in rural areas or where third-party contractors are used.
Home start included.
A 12V battery failure the most common EV breakdown frequently occurs before the car has moved.
Some policies exclude breakdowns at the registered address without a specific home start add-on. Check this explicitly.
Recovery to an EV-accredited garage.
A standard policy may recover your car to the nearest garage. The nearest garage may have no EV capability. Confirm whether your policy covers recovery to an EV-qualified garage even if that means travelling further.
Onward travel provision.
If your car needs to remain at a garage overnight or longer increasingly likely given that fewer than a quarter of UK garages are currently EV-accredited does your policy cover a hire car or accommodation? Check the limits.
Before you buy the car
The time to check your breakdown policy is before you take ownership not when you are standing at the roadside.
If your current policy does not cover EV recovery adequately, upgrading it is a predictable, budgetable cost. Build it into your total ownership calculation alongside insurance, charging, and servicing.
For a regularly updated guide to which UK providers offer confirmed EV flatbed recovery and home start.
