Breakdown cover for coaches has seen unprecedented growth in recent years, as the UK’s coach tourism industry is now estimated to be worth £2.35 billion.

Tour operators booking coach tours for UK and Europe are making sure that the coach operators have breakdown cover for the vehicles to ensure seamless travel for the customers.

Breakdown cover for coaches and buses is a different ball game than standard breakdown cover. Unlike cars, recovery for these is handled differently. This is, primarily, because of the bigger size of the vehicles and the greater number of people it carries.

These large vehicles carry between 40 and 60 passengers that are usually tourist groups. Most travel between countries or inter-city. Some serve intra-city too. Whatever their route, there is always a possibility of a breakdown and breakdown insurance is highly recommended.

Most companies that provide breakdown insurance to coaches and buses will limit it to a maximum value depending on the market value of the vehicle. This is based on the age, condition of the vehicle and the seating capacity. The value of the cover will also depend on what type of service is required like roadside recovery, towing to base, emergency repairs, driver, and or spare parts replacement, passenger assistance and providing a replacement vehicle.

Unlike for cars, the recovery vehicles used by the service provider for towing the vehicles are much larger. The response also has to be quicker because there are far more people to be provided alternate means of transport. The breakdown cover charges are consequently much higher.