In Australia, the terms roadside assistance and breakdown cover are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference in what they imply and what they cover. Roadside assistance generally refers to the basic service provided by motoring clubs like NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAA, RAC WA, and also by car insurers and car manufacturers, where if your car breaks down at the roadside, a patrol van comes to help you with a flat battery, flat tyre, lockout, running out of fuel, or minor mechanical issue. It is focused on getting you going again at the roadside or towing you a short distance to a workshop. Breakdown cover is a broader term that often includes roadside assistance plus additional benefits for when your car breaks down away from home. Comprehensive breakdown cover can include longer distance towing, for example 50km to 100km or unlimited towing, hire car or taxi after breakdown, accommodation costs if you break down far from home, caravan and trailer towing, and cover for the driver regardless of which car they are in, known as personal cover, versus cover for a specific vehicle. In the UK, breakdown cover often includes home start and national recovery, while in Australia roadside assistance packages are tiered from basic roadside, which is cheap and covers 10km towing, to premium or ultimate cover which is more like full breakdown cover with 100km towing, accommodation and personal cover. So roadside assistance is the act of helping you at the roadside, breakdown cover is the insurance-style product that includes it.
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