Insurer offers 600,000 drivers free home breakdown cover

More than half a million motorists are to automatically receive free home breakdown cover and roadside assistance from their insurer. NFU Mutual is providing the free temporary RAC cover to all its existing car and small van customers - around 600,000 drivers - as well as extending the offer to any new customers who take out a policy before the end of August. The RAC has reported a 78 per cent increase in at-home callouts since the start of lockdown, as many cars have been left unused for weeks. Many callouts have been related to flat batteries and NFU Mutual predicts this is likely to get even worse as lockdown eases and more people return to using their car. From now until August 31, all NFU Mutual customers with car or light goods vehicle insurance will automatically be eligible for RAC home start cover over and above the existing roadside recovery offered with their car policy. The cover includes assistance for breakdowns that occur at or within quarter of a mile of their home, and national recovery of the vehicle, driver and passengers to any UK destination if the vehicle cannot be repaired at the roadside Drivers with a light goods vehicle policy are also being given three months of free roadside assistance, which is not usually part of their cover. This includes unlimited emergency roadside callouts, mis-fuelling cover and a hire car during longer repairs. Existing customers do not need to do anything to qualify for the cover and new customers will automatically be covered until August 31. If you are insured with NFU Mutual and need RAC assistance simply call 0800 282 652. The cover applies to cars, small vans and light commercial vehicles (under 3.5 tonnes and less then 5.5m long) but not larger goods vehicles, agricultural vehicles or motorbikes. Steve Tucker, car insurance specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “During these challenging times, many of our private car customers haven’t been using their vehicle as frequently and flat battery starts are expected to rise over the next few months. “We want to ensure our customers aren’t disadvantaged for acting responsibly by staying at home and driving less, which is why we are giving them home and national recovery cover at no extra cost in addition to the ‘Mutual Assist’ RAC cover they already receive as standard. For our customers who live in remote areas of the countryside without access to a nearby garage, this could be a lifeline. “To help to keep our key workers and vital services moving, and help businesses get back to normal when restrictions are lifted, customers with small vans are also being given complimentary national recovery and home start cover, even if the basic level is not already included in their policy.”

Insurer offers 600,000 drivers free home breakdown cover - here’s how to qualify