If you drive then it is really important that you sign up with a good breakdown service. This will make sure you and your vehicle are covered if you run into difficulties while you're out on the road. But how do you know which breakdown service to choose? This guide looks at deciding which breakdown service to sign up with. One thing to consider is geography: you need to go with a service that actually covers the area you'll primarily be driving in.

Another really important aspect of deciding which breakdown service to sign up with is determining what is offered in the basic recovery package. At the very least, you should make sure the service you go with offers roadside assistance to try and fix your car at the side of the road. They should also offer a garage tow service, so your car can be taken away to a garage to be fixed if it isn't possible to fix it straight away at the side of the road.

You could also look at the extras that are offered by the breakdown service you are thinking of using. For example, some services will give you home cover in case your car won't start outside your house. Others offer holiday cover, which is useful if you are taking your car abroad and it breaks down while you're there. Others will also give you travel vouchers so you can use public transport to get home if your car is taken to the garage. The extras can help to set services apart.

Another very important thing to think about when choosing a breakdown service is the cost. The value for money aspect is just as important as the actual price in this: you might find that one service costs more than the rest but the service that you get is much better - the cheapest option isn't necessarily the one you should go with. However, if you have a choice of two similar services and one is much cheaper, then you should probably go for the cheaper one.

Finally, whether or not the service you are thinking of choosing comes recommended is something else that can help you decide when you are making your final selection. For example, you could ask your friends and family which services they use and see whether they would recommend them to you. Online reviews are another good source of recommendations: see what people are saying about your chosen service and whether you think it would be right for you and what you are looking for.