If you’re an IPSE member and you arrange vehicle breakdown cover, you may not realise that your membership could drastically cut your cover costs.
Having been self-employed in the past, I always assumed that Business Breakdown cover probably wasn’t suitable for me.
It’s only recently that I discovered that this insurance gem not only covers business journeys, but also those domestic trips we tend to squeeze in around work, and even trips away – and as an IPSE member, you can save 67% on the cost of a policy with The AA.
One of IPSE’s missions is to offer members the tools and services they need to make being in business easier, healthier and more rewarding. That means we want to make sure our members get as much from their membership as they can.
That’s why I spoke with our partners at The AA and posed the questions some of our members have asked about our business breakdown offer. Here’s what I found out:
Whilst it doesn’t cover commuting to and from a place of work only, you are covered for business travel such as going to meetings, events and site visits. And there is no specific criteria for how much business use your vehicle must have.
So what if you breakdown whilst dropping your child at school or nursery before you head out? Or you run into car trouble whilst popping to the shops on your way home?
In fact, these journeys are covered by The AA’s business breakdown cover. So, IPSE members won’t need separate, non-discounted breakdown cover for them.
It also applies if you breakdown whilst on a weekend break away. And, by adding ‘Fleet Europe’ to your policy, you can extend coverage for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes GVW (gross vehicle weight) to over 40 European countries.
If you’re self-employed, you probably don’t think of your vehicle as your ‘fleet’. Because of this, you might have overlooked the benefits of ‘Fleet breakdown cover’, thinking that its only for bigger businesses with proper fleets.
In fact, you can be eligible for cover with a fleet of just one vehicle – up to a maximum of 700 vehicles.
Remember, it’s not you that’s covered – it’s your vehicle. Provided it has been registered with The AA for 24 hours before a request is lodged, breakdown assistance will be available.
Assistance is available for most cars, vans, minibuses and motorcycles, and even caravans and trailers on tow at the time of the breakdown. But there are some weight and size restrictions to be aware of:
Unsure about your vehicle’s weight? According to Gov.uk, the Gross vehicle weight or Maximum authorised mass (MAM) is the weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load that can be carried safely when it’s being used on the road.
You can find these measurements in your vehicle owner’s manual – so you can cancel that order for the giant kitchen scales.
More information about vehicle weights is available on Gov.uk.
Any IPSE member can benefit from the huge 67% saving we’ve secured on The AA’s Fleet Breakdown cover, even if you join just a few minutes before arranging it.
To get your saving, log in to the IPSE website and visit our AA partner page. Then, click ‘Get your quote’ – you’ll be taken to The AA’s website using our unique link which will automatically apply your 67% discount.
You can arrange cover from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and your vehicle will be covered 24 hours after joining.
Need more help? Self-employment often means having to navigate lots of different websites with no clear source of truth. As the only not-for profit focused on self-employment, IPSE provides impartial and relevant advice on the topics that matter to you.
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