One in five drivers don’t have breakdown cover leaving millions at risk of unexpected costs, new research reveals
● Young drivers are the least likely to have breakdown cover - 36% don’t have the cover
● Greater London has the highest proportion of drivers without breakdown cover (26%)
New research reveals that 20% of UK drivers* are taking to the roads without breakdown cover, leaving them at risk of unexpected costs.
The findings from Go.Compare Car insurance show that younger generations (aged 17-24) are least likely to have breakdown cover, with 36% saying they don’t have breakdown cover, and 5% aren’t sure if they do. However, those aged 55+ who currently drive are more prepared for any last minute issues, with just 13% choosing to have no breakdown cover.
| Age of driver | % who don’t have breakdown cover* |
| 17 to 24 | 36% |
| 25 to 34 | 23% |
| 35 to 44 | 22% |
| 45 to 54 | 23% |
| 55+ | 13% |
The findings show that Londoners are the biggest risk takers when it comes to going without breakdown cover, with 26% of drivers surveyed not having it. Those living in Scotland are also exposed to unexpected costs if there’s a last-minute problem with their vehicle, with 23% of drivers saying they are uninsured against breakdown.
Commenting on the findings, Tom Banks, spokesperson for Go.Compare Car Insurance said: “Your car breaking down can be a stressful experience, especially if you don’t have breakdown cover, and depending on the problem it could be expensive, too. Unfortunately, many drivers don’t realise they aren’t covered until it’s too late.
“There are two main types of breakdown cover: personal and vehicle. Personal breakdown cover means that you are covered no matter what car you’re driving or if you are a passenger, and can include more than one person from your household, but it does tend to be more expensive. Vehicle breakdown cover covers a specific vehicle, no matter who is driving, given that they are insured of course.”
Tom added: “There are plenty of ways to make sure you are covered in the event of a breakdown - of those who have a breakdown cover policy, 38% said they purchased this separately, 24% have it included in their standard car insurance, 17% paid extra as an add-on to their car insurance, while 12% have it bundled into their bank account. If you’re not sure whether your policy includes breakdown cover, it’s a good idea to take a look at the details of your policy and take action if you discover you aren’t covered.
“Whether you are looking to purchase a separate breakdown insurance policy, or a car insurance policy with breakdown cover included, a price comparison website is a great way to get a policy with the cover you need at a price that is right for you. And remember to always keep the number of your breakdown provider on hand, just in case the worst does happen.”
To find out more about breakdown cover, visit here: https://www.gocompare.com/breakdown-cover/
Contact Information
Rubie Barker
Notes to editors
-ENDS-
*The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2004 UK Nationally Representative Consumers. The stats throughout the release refer to the UK Consumers aged 17+ who currently drive. The data was collected between 24.01.2025 - 27.01.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.
For further information please contact:
Lynsey Walden or Rubie Barker at Go.Compare on lynsey.walden@gocompare.com or Rubie@fdcomms.co.uk
Keep up-to-date with GoCompare on X (Twitter); @GoCompare
About Go.Compare
Go.Compare is a comparison website that enables people to compare the costs and features of a wide variety of insurance policies, financial products and energy tariffs.
It does not charge people to use its services and does not accept advertising or sponsored listings, so all product comparisons are unbiased. Go.Compare makes its money through fees paid by the providers of products that appear on its various comparison services when a customer buys through the site.
When it launched in 2006, it was the first comparison site to focus on displaying policy details rather than just listing prices, with the aim of helping people to make better-informed decisions when buying their insurance. It is this approach to comparing products that secured the company an invitation to join the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) in 2008, and it is still the only comparison site to be a member of this organisation.
Go.Compare has remained dedicated to helping people choose the most appropriate products rather than just the cheapest and works with Defaqto, the independent financial researcher, to integrate additional policy information into a number of its insurance comparison services. This allows people to compare up to an extra 30 features of cover.
Go.Compare is part of Future Plc and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
More information can be found here www.gocompare.com or here https://www.futureplc.com/brands/