If you can fix a bicycle, you can repair your car…

According to the Royal Navy’s current recruitment drive: If you can fix a bicycle, you can repair a car. And if you can repair a car you can learn to maintain a helicopter. The trouble is that so few of us now repair our own bicycles, let alone cars, that the idea of dismantling and then rebuilding an aircraft engine seems impossible to all but a few.

Colin Furze is a part-time inventor who proves how much is possible with enthusiasm and a few basic tools. His projects include a DIY gas turbine engine made from a loo roll holder. “Amazing to think that something made from bad materials in such a crude manner with little attention paid to the specialized maths required to make these engines work, actually works. Some may argue its not going to produce much thrust, but the point was could it run at all and it ticked that box totally” explains Colin.

Repair your car

Cars today are more complex than ever, but some of the causes of breakdown are possible to tackle at the roadside with only basic skills. Analysis of data from more one million breakdown cover policies by the ETA reveals the most common reasons for having to make a claim on your breakdown cover.

How to avoid breakdowns

Vehicle breakdowns can occur for a wide number of reasons and can be expected at any point during the natural lifetime of a vehicle. The best way to avoid them is through regular maintenance and servicing.

Even the most well-maintained car, van or motorcycle can break down and that’s where good breakdown cover is essential. ETA Breakdown Cover gives you the assurance of friendly and efficient help – within 40 minutes – if you are unfortunate enough to suffer vehicle breakdown.

In many cases, the problem can be solved by having a skilled mechanic on hand. ETA Breakdown Cover guarantees you up to an hour of free roadside assistance to try and get you moving again. If the problem is more serious, we guarantee to transport your vehicle to a suitable garage, even if this means taking you home first and then arranging a next-day recovery free of charge – unlike many of our competitors.

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Why choose us?

Established over 24 years ago, and with over 5,000 recovery trucks on call 24/7, we have a proven track record of providing efficient, reliable breakdown cover.

We handpick only the best local mechanics and garages around Britain to send out if you break down. We believe this way of working is efficient, environmentally friendly and helps supports local communities and economies, too.

On top of this, we offset the carbon emissions of the recovery trucks that go out to assist you, reducing the impact your breakdown has on our environment. Every breakdown policy you buy helps fund the work of our charity, the ETA Trust, which we set up in 1994 to campaign for a safer, cleaner transport future.