In Ireland there are broadly two ways to deal with a breakdown. You can join a national breakdown service such as the AA, or get cover through a policy, and ring them when something goes wrong. Or you can skip the yearly fee and ring a local recovery company when you need one, paying for that job.
We are a local recovery company, so we will be upfront about that. But this is not a sales pitch. Both models work well for different people, and the right one depends on how you drive and what you need.
The short version
- Membership or cover is a payment in advance. You pay a yearly fee, then call when you need help, within the terms of your cover
- Local, pay-per-call-out means no yearly fee. You pay when you need a truck, for that job, at the price agreed on the call
What membership usually involves
A breakdown membership is a subscription. Different levels usually cover different things, and the details vary between providers and policies. The kinds of help you will typically see described are:
- Roadside help: someone comes out and tries to get the car going where it is
- Help at home: for when the car will not start on your own driveway. Not every level includes it
- Recovery: towing the car if it cannot be fixed at the roadside, often with a limit on how far
- Onward travel: help getting you to your destination, such as a hire car or accommodation, usually on the higher levels
Some motor insurance policies also include breakdown cover. Check your policy documents before buying anything extra, as you may already have some.
What local, pay-per-call-out recovery usually involves
A local recovery company comes out when you ring, and you pay for that job. There is nothing to renew and no level to choose. You say where the car is and where you want it taken, and the price is based on that.
With us, it works like this: a standard call-out starts from €150, plus €2 per km depending on the destination. You hear the figure on the call and the truck sets off only once you have agreed. You choose where the car goes: home, your garage, a dealer or another address.
Questions worth asking about any breakdown cover
If you have cover, or are thinking of buying it, these are the details to read:
- Does it include help at home, or only away from home?
- How far will they tow the car, and where to? Some cover only takes the car to the nearest garage, which may not be yours
- Is there a limit on the number of call-outs in a year?
- Is there a waiting period after you join before you can use it?
- Are there conditions on the vehicle, such as its age, condition, or whether it is a van?
- Does it cover the car or the driver? Some follow you in any car, some only cover one vehicle
- What is excluded? For example, problems that were already there, or call-outs for the same fault twice
None of this is meant to put you off. It is just the small print that matters on the day.
Questions worth asking a local recovery company
- Is that the full price, agreed now? You want a clear yes before the truck moves
- Can you take it where I want? Your garage, your home or a particular dealer
- Can you move this kind of vehicle? Mention a van, an electric car or a car that will not roll
- How do I pay? With us: card on the phone, a pay-by-card link by text, or cash
Some everyday examples
A commuter whose car will not start at home
If you have cover that includes help at home, ring them. If you do not, or the car turns out to need a garage, a local company can take it there.
A family car that breaks down far from home
This is where membership with recovery and onward travel can be useful, because it may help get you and the car home over a long distance. Paying per kilometre for a very long tow adds up.
A car that needs to go to your own mechanic
Some cover only takes the car to the nearest suitable garage. If you want it with the mechanic you trust, ask your provider whether that is included, or ring a local company and give them the garage’s Eircode.
A car that is unsafe after a minor bump
The car starts but you do not trust it. Check with your insurer whether they want the car taken to a particular repairer. Then ring whoever can take it there. See our accident recovery page.
On the motorway, either way
Whichever you use, motorway safety comes first. Get everyone behind the barrier, ring 112 if anyone is in danger, then ring for recovery. Our motorway breakdown guide and M50 step by step explain what to do.
Membership may suit you better if
- You drive long distances or travel around the country a lot
- You want help at home and on the road for a fixed yearly cost
- You want the option of onward travel if the car breaks down far away
- You would rather not think about the price on the day
Paying per call-out may suit you better if
- You mostly drive locally and rarely break down
- You want the car taken to your own garage
- You would rather not pay a fee every year for something you might not use
- Your cover does not include the vehicle or the situation you are in
A simple checklist
- Check whether your car insurance already includes breakdown cover
- If you have cover, save the number and know what level you have
- Save a local recovery number too, for jobs your cover does not include
- Know your garage’s Eircode
The best choice is the one that gets you and your car where you need to go, at a price you understand before anything moves. If you are in Dublin and need a truck, ring us on 087 116 1102. See prices and questions for more.