{"id":575967,"date":"2026-04-29T13:10:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T12:10:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/?p=575967"},"modified":"2026-04-29T16:09:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T15:09:28","slug":"electric-vehicle-breakdown-cover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/breakdown-cover\/electric-vehicle-breakdown-cover","title":{"rendered":"Electric vehicle breakdown cover"},"content":{"rendered":"

Breakdown cover<\/a> is a type of insurance for when your car breaks down. In some cases, it might be included as part of your car insurance or provided by the dealership when you first buy a car or available through a packaged bank account<\/a>. It\u2019s designed to give you peace of mind if you\u2019re having trouble on the side of the road and get you out of trouble.<\/p>

Typically, breakdown cover provides roadside assistance, repairs or towing if your vehicle breaks down due to a mechanical failure, electrical issue, flat tyres or a flat battery, among other things. You\u2019re also able to customise your policy if you\u2019re at home and your car doesn\u2019t start, or you want to continue your journey despite breaking down.<\/p>

Electric vehicles (EVs) are also liable to break down, and as electric vehicle adoption grows across the UK, breakdown support has evolved to meet these needs. Providers such as The AA have trained patrols available to support electric and hybrid drivers.<\/p>

Why an electric vehicle might break down<\/h3>

EVs can break down for many of the same reasons as a petrol car. In fact, because there are significantly fewer moving parts, there are fewer things that can go wrong with an EV. But that doesn\u2019t mean it won\u2019t happen, and EVs have different failure points compared to petrol or diesel cars.<\/p>

The most common issues for EV cars include battery depletion or charging failure, software or system errors, electrical faults preventing the vehicle from operating and standard mechanical issues such as tyres or brakes. <\/p>

While there is a common misconception that people might get stranded on the side of the road because their car has run out of battery, it actually only accounts for a small percentage of EV breakdowns. <\/p>

Below is a table with some common problems that all cars might face.<\/p>

Cause of breakdown<\/th>EV risk level<\/th>ICE risk level<\/th>Reality in 2026<\/th>How breakdown providers can help<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
12V auxiliary battery<\/th>High<\/td>Moderate<\/td>Batteries can get drained in all cars. When it happens in an EV, the main battery can\u2019t engage. In a petrol car, it\u2019s possible to jump-start this, but with an EV you need to charge the battery first before being able to turn the car back on.<\/td>Providers like RAC and The AA offer emergency roadside charging to give your electric vehicle enough charge to get to a nearby charger.<\/td><\/tr>
Software\/firmware bugs<\/th>High<\/td>Low<\/td>EVs rely on software to run. If there\u2019s a problem or bug, it can cause issues that might require a software update to resolve.<\/td>If this happens, call a provider like the AA with a patrol force trained to diagnose EV system issues.<\/td><\/tr>
Tyre and suspension wear<\/th>Moderate<\/td>Low<\/td>EVs are generally heavier because of the battery packs, which can cause the tyres to wear out up to 20% faster. This extra weight can also have the same impact on suspension.<\/td>The AA offers 24\/7 roadside assistance for tyre issues, so contact them to immediately get the help you need.<\/td><\/tr>
Drivetrain\/motor failure<\/th>Low<\/td>High<\/td>With significantly fewer moving parts in the motor, mechanical drivetrain failure is extremely rare in EVs compared to other cars.<\/td>If this does happen, and it cannot be fixed at the roadside, a provider such as The AA will tow you to the nearest garage.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>

What does electric vehicle breakdown cover include?<\/h3>

EV breakdown cover includes many of the same things as standard breakdown cover. As the table above shows, all cars experience similar problems. However, specialist EV roadside assistance is important, so look for a provider that will give you what you need, otherwise you could be waiting longer than necessary to get back on the road.<\/p>

You should look for a provider that offers:<\/p>

  • EV-trained patrols equipped to safely assess and repair electric vehicles at the roadside.<\/strong> The AA boasts a dedicated electric vehicle breakdown cover patrol force with 99% of their patrol force trained to IMI Level 2.<\/li>
  • A roadside-repair-first approach.<\/strong> As an example, The AA fixes around 80% of vehicles at the roadside.<\/li>
  • Patrols should include portable chargers.<\/strong> RAC’s patrol vans have built-in emergency mobile charging systems (EV Boost technology) which can provide up to 10 miles of charge.<\/li>
  • If a repair is not possible, your vehicle will be recovered to a charging point, garage or destination depending on the level of cover.<\/strong> Providers like Green Flag and The AA ensure nationwide recovery to charging points.<\/li>
  • 24\/7 nationwide support.<\/strong><\/li>
  • Round-the-clock EV breakdown cover across the UK.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>

    What happens during an electric vehicle breakdown?<\/h3>