With so many carmakers offering generous warranties – especially those with cars that are eligible for the UK government’s plug-in car grant, which demands an eight-year battery warranty for a car to be eligible – and other deals on cars it can come down to the smallest detail. Like does the manufacturer offer you roadside assistance? 

Mercedes-Benz has just announced that it has re-inked its deal with the RAC to offer 24/7 UK and Europe roadside assistance to drivers of its cars. It’s for three years in the first instance, but can extend up to 30 years if you get the car serviced at a Mercedes authorised repairer. The mechanic even turns up in a Mercedes-branded van. 

But that got us thinking – what do other carmakers offer? We’ve put together an extensive, but not exhaustive, list of what roadside assistance you can get for free if you buy a car in the UK. On the off chance that any of these extremely reliable new cars should break down, of course. 

Every carmaker will give you a phone number you can call in the event of an incident – they’ll all cover different things, so it’s worth familiarising yourself with some of the details when you first get the car so you’re not left upset if something actually does happen. Like will they cover the car if you've run out of electricity...?

Alfa Romeo – you get three years of UK and Europe coverage, which can be extended by 12 months if you get your car serviced at an Alfa dealership

Alpine – three years of UK and Europe coverage (as long as your car is in warranty)

Audi – you get three years of free UK and Europe roadside cover from the AA, but with Volkswagen Group-trained technicians. Buy a used Audi from its dealer network and you get one year free. Does not include the recovery of horses or livestock

BMW – gives you 36 months of free coverage in the UK and Europe as long as your car is still in warranty

BYD – four years of UK and Europe roadside assistance 

Citroen – just 12 months of UK assistance here. But just think how much you saved not going for a Rolls-Royce

Cupra – buy a new Cupra and they’ll throw in two years of UK and Europe roadside AA assistance

Dacia – you get three years/60,000 miles (which is a long way in a Spring) of UK coverage

DS – three years/100,000 miles of UK and Europe assistance

Fiat – you get three years of UK and Europe assistance for free, then you can extend it every 12 months with an official service

Ford – one year free roadside assistance in the UK and Europe. It’s extendable by another 12 or 24 months if you get your car serviced at a Ford garage, depending on what your service intervals are. There’s even a ‘load continuation service’ that will deliver your perishable goods to a single destination. That’s probably meant for commercial vehicles, but do you think it covers the cheese you bought on holiday in France? 

Geely – 12 months of roadside assistance as standard, up to four years for the EX5​

Hyundai – you get 12 months of UK assistance for most models, but 12 months for the Ioniq 5 and 6, Kona Electric and Inster models. You can renew it by getting your car serviced at an authorised Hyundai dealer. It doesn’t count if the problem is caused by you – like locking your keys in the car. Oops

Jaecoo – 12 months of UK coverage via the RAC

Jeep – you get three years of UK and Europe assistance for free, then you can extend it every 12 months with an official service

Kia – covers you for 12 months in the UK and Europe. This coverage comes from the RAC, and you can pay to extend it in following years. It may or may not be cheaper than going directly through the RAC, but it’s really hard to find any actual prices on the breakdown company’s website

Lexus – three years of UK and Europe coverage. Covers a courtesy car for a period if your car is stolen

Mazda – three years of ‘comprehensive’ UK and Europe coverage – does include flat tyres and lost keys

Mercedes-Benz – this is to test whether you were reading the intro up top. Of course you'll already have seen that Merc offers three years of UK and Europe assistance and then up to 30 more years of coverage if you get the car serviced at official garages

MG – 12 months of free UK coverage from the AA, extends by 12 months if you get your car serviced at an authorised garage

Mini – three years of free UK and Europe coverage, 12 months if you buy an approved used Mini

Nissan – offers you three years of UK and Europe coverage, which can be extended by 12 months if you get your car serviced, etc, etc. Does include running out of battery in an EV, which is useful

Omoda – 12 months of UK coverage via the RAC

Peugeot – three years/100,000 miles of UK and Europe coverage

Polestar – three years of UK and Europe coverage. You don’t even need to call, you can press a button inside the car if you break down. Cover does include Ukraine

Porsche – three years of UK and Europe coverage

Renault – you get three years/100,000 miles of UK and Europe coverage

Skoda – 12 months of free UK and Europe roadside assistance for PHEVs and EVs. If you break down at home you’ll have to try and push the car more than a quarter mile away from your house 

Smart – three years of UK and Europe cover. Also includes help if your car is stolen

Suzuki – 12 months of UK and Europe cover via the AA. Does include home breakdowns

Tesla – UK and Europe assistance covered for duration of warranty (four years/50,000 miles)

Vauxhall – three years/100,000 miles of UK and Europe cover. At the time of writing, Vauxhall also has the ‘Electric all in’ offer that gives you eight years of mobile charging and roadside assistance coverage to match the battery warranty

Volkswagen – for most models you get 12 months of free UK and Europe cover from Volkswagen’s branded AA coverage. If you’re in one of VW’s ID-branded electric cars you get three years. Doesn’t include hitchhikers, does cover you in the Vatican

Volvo – three years of UK and Europe cover. Does include caravans and punctures