24/7 Breakdown Assistance for Car Insurance
Help When You Breakdown
Get QuoteWhat is Breakdown Assistance?
Breakdown Assistance is a roadside assistance service that provides emergency help if your car breaks down, whether you are at home, at work, or on the road. With An Post Insurance, Breakdown Assistance is included as standard on most Car Insurance policies.1 It covers mechanical breakdowns, punctures, lost or stolen keys, towing to the nearest repairer, and getting you and your passengers home safely. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across Ireland and the UK. Please note that some services, such as onward transport and overnight accommodation, are available within the 32 counties of Ireland only.
1) Breakdown Assistance is covered as standard for all policies underwritten by Aviva, AIG and FBD. For policies underwritten by Allianz, Breakdown Assistance is only included on Comprehensive cover. Refer to your Policy Booklet for applicable terms and conditions relating to Breakdown Assistance Cover. Not available on BoxClever Telematics Policies.
BoxClever Car Insurance features and benefits differ from standard car insurance. Visit our BoxClever Telematic Car Insurance page for details.
Who do I call if I break down?
Check your policy documents for the Breakdown Assistance number for your insurer. Your policy number can be found on your insurance disc.
| Aviva | AIG | FBD | Allianz |
| Within Ireland: 1800 34 34 35 | Within Ireland: 01 804 4328 | Within Ireland: 091 560 610 | Within Ireland: 01 613 3990 |
| In the UK: +44 161 210 2113 | In the UK: 0845 603 7991 | In the UK: +353 91 560 610 | In the UK: +353 1 613 3990 |
What does Breakdown Assistance cover?
If your car breaks down at home, at work, or at the side of the road, our roadside assistance service will send a competent repairer to help you. Up to one hour of roadside assistance is provided and you must stay with the car while the work is carried out. Your Breakdown Assistance cover includes:
- Mechanical breakdown: If your engine, gearbox, or another mechanical component fails, a repairer will attend the scene and attempt to fix the problem on the spot.
- Punctures: If you get a flat tyre and cannot change it yourself, breakdown assistance will send someone to help fix or replace the wheel.
- Lost, stolen, or broken keys: If your keys are lost, stolen, broken, or locked inside the car, help will be sent to get you back on the road.
- Fire, theft, or attempted theft: If your car is damaged by fire, stolen, or someone has attempted to steal it, assistance will be provided. Please note: incidents involving attempted theft may be treated as a potential claim under your car insurance policy rather than a breakdown assistance call-out. Contact your insurer for guidance.
- Towing: If your car cannot be repaired at the scene, it will be towed to the nearest garage or your own garage, whichever is closest.
- Getting you home: If you break down more than 30km from home within the 32 counties of Ireland and repairs cannot be carried out, you may be offered transport to your destination, a replacement car for up to 48 hours, or overnight Bed & Breakfast accommodation for the driver and passengers while you wait for repairs.2 These services are not available outside the 32 counties.
- Emergency replacement car: if your car is stolen, a replacement car may be provided for up to 5 days or up to 14 days, depending on your policy underwriter, or until your car has been recovered, whichever is sooner
2) Overnight accommodation limits vary by insurer. Aviva and AIG cover up to €35 per person and €150 in total. FBD covers one night only, up to €35 per person and €175 in total. Allianz covers up to €35/£25 per person and €150/£100 in total.
Exact cover limits vary by insurer. The details that apply to you will be set out in your policy booklet.
BoxClever Car Insurance features and benefits differ from standard car insurance. Visit our BoxClever Telematic Car Insurance page for details.
How does Breakdown Assistance work?
An Post Insurance’s roadside assistance covers you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If your car breaks down, here is what to do:
| Step | What to do |
| 1. Get safe | Move to the hard shoulder or a safe area away from traffic. Turn on your hazard lights. Make sure all passengers are safe. |
| 2. Find your breakdown number | Your insurer’s breakdown assistance number will be in your policy documents. Each An Post Insurance underwriter has a dedicated breakdown line. The numbers are listed in section 6 above. |
| 3. Call and provide your details | Give the operator your policy number (this can be found on your insurance disc) and your car registration. They will confirm your cover and arrange for a repairer to be sent to your location. |
| 4. Wait with your car | You must remain with your car while the repairer carries out the work. Up to one hour of roadside repair is provided. |
| 5. If it can’t be fixed | If your car cannot be repaired at the scene, it will be towed to a repairer or your own garage. Towing limits vary by insurer. |
| 6. If you’re far from home | If you break down more than 30km from home within the 32 counties of Ireland and repairs cannot be carried out, ask the operator about onward travel options including transport home, a replacement car, or overnight accommodation.2 These services are not available outside the 32 counties. |
Is Breakdown Assistance included in my Car Insurance policy?
For most An Post Insurance Car Insurance policies, Breakdown Assistance is included as standard at no extra cost. Specifically:
- Aviva policies: included as standard on all policy types.
- AIG policies: included as standard on all policy types except BoxClever3
- FBD policies: included as standard on all policy types.
- Allianz policies: included on Comprehensive cover only. If you have a Third Party, Fire and Theft policy with Allianz, Breakdown Assistance is not available.
3) BoxClever Car Insurance features and benefits differ from standard car insurance. Visit our BoxClever Telematic Car Insurance page for details.
Does Breakdown Assistance cover putting the wrong fuel in my car?
Putting petrol into a diesel car, or diesel into a petrol car, is more common than you might think, and it can cause serious damage if the engine is started. If this happens to you, do not start the engine. Call the breakdown assistance number for your insurer, and a repairer will be sent to help. The car will typically need to be towed to a garage to have the fuel tank drained and flushed before it is safe to drive again. Please note that not all underwriters include wrong fuel cover under breakdown assistance. Check your policy booklet for the specific terms that apply.
An Post Insurance has a dedicated guide on what to do if you put the wrong fuel in your car. Read it here.
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Breakdown Assistance FAQs
To access Breakdown Assistance, you will need to check your policy documents or insurance disc for the underwriter relevant to you and call the corresponding number below:
Aviva
- Within Ireland: 1800 34 34 35
- In the UK: +44 161 210 2113
AIG
- Within Ireland: 01 804 4328
- In the UK: +353 1 804 4328
FBD
- Within Ireland: 0818 11 22 31
- In the UK: +353 91 560 610
Allianz
- Within Ireland: 01 613 3990
- In the UK: + 353 1 613 3990
If your car is damaged in an accident you should check your insurance disc to see who is the underwriter of your policy. Call their number, provided below, as soon as possible after the accident occurs, with your insurance policy number and car registration. Our underwriters will help you register the claim and provide you with advice you can trust and care you can rely on.
Aviva
- Within Ireland: 1800 14 71 47
- From abroad: +353 91 52 5311
AIG
- Within Ireland: 01 859 9700
- From abroad: +353 1 859 9700
FBD
- Within Ireland: 0818 82 52 50
- From abroad: +353 1 761 7658
Allianz
- Within Ireland: 01 613 3990
- From abroad: + 353 1 613 3990
The number of call-outs available to you may vary depending on your insurer. Each call-out is covered as long as the issue falls within the terms of your Breakdown Assistance Cover. Refer to your policy booklet for the specific limits and terms that apply.
Yes, Breakdown Assistance with An Post Insurance is available across Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales including roadside repair, towing, and finishing the journey.
However, some services are limited to the 32 counties of Ireland only: onward transport, overnight Bed & Breakfast accommodation, and replacement car are not available in England, Scotland, or Wales.
For theft of your vehicle: Aviva, AIG, and FBD cover theft within the 32 counties of Ireland only. Allianz theft cover extends to England, Scotland, and Wales.
Check your policy booklet for the full details.
Breakdown Assistance covers you at home and on your driveway, not just as roadside assistance on public roads. If your car will not start or has a mechanical fault at home, call the breakdown number for your insurer and a repairer will be sent to assist. Up to one hour of assistance is provided.
Yes, you must remain with your car while the repairer carries out the work. This is a condition of the Breakdown Assistance service across all An Post Insurance underwriters.
No, Breakdown Assistance covers mechanical and electrical issues such as engine failure, flat tyres, and lost keys, and calling for help with these does not count as a claim on your Car Insurance Policy, so it will not affect your No Claims Bonus.
However, if your car has been damaged by attempted theft or malicious damage, this would typically be treated as a potential claim under your policy rather than a Breakdown Assistance call-out. Whether this affects your No Claims Bonus depends on whether a claim is made and settled, and whether you have No Claims Discount Protection in place.
If your car cannot be fixed at the scene, it will be towed to the nearest repairer or your own garage, whichever is closest. Towing limits and conditions vary by insurer. Refer to your policy booklet for the specific terms that apply.
If you break down more than 30km from home within the 32 counties of Ireland and repairs cannot be carried out, you may also be offered:
Transport to your destination: Available within the 32 counties of Ireland only.
A replacement car: For up to 48 hours, or up to 5 or 14 days if your car is stolen (depending on your insurer).
Overnight Bed & Breakfast accommodation: For the driver and passengers*.
These services are not available outside the 32 counties.
*Accommodation limits vary by insurer. Aviva and AIG: up to €35 per person, €150 total. FBD: one night only, up to €35 per person, €175 total. Allianz: up to €35/£25 per person, €150/£100 total.
Yes. If your car is stolen, a replacement car may be provided for up to 5 or 14 days, depending on your insurer, or until your car is recovered, whichever comes first.
