Car Breakdown Cover

jockwav

Suspended / Banned
Messages
6,085
Name
James (Retired)
Edit My Images
No
Trying to decide which roadside breakdown to go with,looking at green flag,the AA,& the RAC,really any recommendations would be great.:):thumbs:
 
Have you considered one of the 'premium' packages from your bank. Our's provides breakdown cover, cover for two iPhones and lots more all inclusive. Or an extension to your car insurance policy. Many now include breakdown cover without additional cost.

I think I'm covered four ways for breakdown cover on two cars :thinking:. Toyota Club on one car, car insurance extension on two car policies and the bank's cover. Early last year I also had cover from the RAC which my wife bought :bang:

If all else fails and you have to buy your own, then I would suggest RAC.
 
Luckily I've not had to use it that much, but the RAC have always been
on the ball when I have called them :thumbs:
 
Only yesterday we joined the AA. Paid £69 which includes recovery
 
Thanks for your input guys,still looking at all the options just now as i have not had any cover for a few years now,i think it,s time.:)
 
Only yesterday we joined the AA. Paid £69 which includes recovery
Looked at that but it does not include home start which i think might be worthwhile.:)
 
Yep had a look at it & for almost the full package with home start it,s £99,i suppose it is not bad for the year.:)
 
Yep had a look at it & for almost the full package with home start it,s £99,i suppose it is not bad for the year.:)

Actually I think I pay the RAC a bit more than that for the "whole package"
 
Well for the £99 it seems you get roadside breakdown,recovery & home start which i think gives me everything i need,sounds good i think.:):thumbs:
 
im with the RAC, and have used them a number of times, most of the time they have been very good, but once or twice i got the gob***** from hell road side assistant who treated me and my car like **** (anyone who has had anything to do with minis knows you NEVER jack them up on the floor pan, he got arsey when i stopped him from doing this!) but in general i have had good service.

I never bother with homestart - i can fix most things if im at home!, but id always get recovery (the cost of recovery is massive compared to the cost of breakdown!).


there is one important thing to remember, and that is the breakdown company paradox..... when you break down on the motorway you will inevitible see very few of your companies breakdown vans, but many of every other companies as you sit and wait...!
 
Last edited:
Thanks for taking the time to reply whitewash,i remember my mini from years ago,loved them,but a floor like cardboard,but great little cars.:)
I suppose you will always get the 1% of idiots who might turn up & had a bad day & not interested in fixing cars.
I think there will be one of these guys in all of these companies that i am looking at.:shrug:

I used to do most of my own mechanics,but i have given that up now,when you get older you don,t want to do it anymore.:D
 
Last edited:
Also check the small print. Some have inconvenient exclusions which can you leave you having to choose between taking a broken car home or having it taken to a strange garage because it is close enough rather than having it taken to a garage of your choice. Or worse, there isn't the choice, so you get stuck with the car at a random garage.

Greenflag seem to be ok. The personal cover is limited though and doesn't cover you in older cars ( a recent exclusion which I found out to my cost, too late ).
 
Yep i agree Suz,it is a jungle these days,but i suppose you get what you pay for hopefully.:)
 
I've used autonational for years now, you get 2nd/3rd cars cheaper if added to the policy and no claims discount.
My kids have used the service often and they have always been brilliant
 
I do my breakdown cover through my Ins brokers , £58 includes everything except europe, Done with a company called MAPS. They use the RAC.
 
A lot to look through,cheers guys.:):thumbs:
 
Used the AA with works vehicles twice in the last 12 months - good service and friendly patrols.

Sold the van because of the above:lol:
 
What car is it and how old?

Quite a few manufactures are providing 12mths cover within the cost of a yearly service.

A ford value service is £99 inc VAT and it comes with 12mths AA cover, iirc VXLL are also offering a similar priced deal.
 
i guess good and bad with all.........

as per normal car insurance I switch around as the first year price was usually cheaper than renewal, however saying that been with the RAC now for about 5 yrs as they used to (don't know if they still do) give a discunt at renewal if you havent called them out.

Switched from the AA mainly due to their crap attitude.

But like all things, some people on here will have had excellent AA service and shoddy RAC.
 
I suppose in the end one is as good as another,i think i will talk to the AA in a few days time about it.:):thumbs:
 
Been with the AA for over 20 years, no problems. A recovery service is a must if you run Hillman Imps :naughty:, I've had a lot of trips home on a flatbed ;) Last one what when the insulation failed on an almost new rotor arm leaving me stranded on the M4. The patrolman admitted he hadn't seen points and condensor ignition on a car in years and I probably knew more about it than he did!
 
Look at breakdown cover also. Co-Op do a good priced deal (not sure who they use but its one of the major ones)

Also as mentioned Banks do usually offer it with some other bits and bobs for about £10 a month premium on your bank account
 
I've been with GEM over the past 5 years and they've always been very good. They don't have their own vans and roadside assistants, but typically put the call out to local recovery operators. Most times of the breakdowns I've had, couldn't be fixed at the roadside and I've been recovered home with no issues. The good thing is that it's pretty much unlimited and they've been known to cover all family members and any vehicle, as long as the account holder makes the call.

However, I think this year I'll be looking at RAC or AA, as I would want to the roadside assistant to try and fix the car as much as possible, so onward journey can be achieved. Especially when going out to shoot a wedding!
 
used to be with Green Flag but swapped to RAC when the OH added me to her cover. much much better service (as youd expect with dedicated patrols). they recovered my 406 from kent (north side of dartford) back to bournemouth a little while ago with no quibbles.
 
Thanks for all your replies guys,i just signed up with the AA through Quidco,recovery,home start,excellent.:):thumbs:
 
I'm sure I read about a deal where instead of paying an annual sub, you can pay on a "per incident" basis but with no fixed sub. That would kind of appeal to me as I've been paying about £32 per year for ages for RAC/AA (which ever does the best deal normally) but I don't ever recall having to call them out.
 
I'm sure I read about a deal where instead of paying an annual sub, you can pay on a "per incident" basis but with no fixed sub. That would kind of appeal to me as I've been paying about £32 per year for ages for RAC/AA (which ever does the best deal normally) but I don't ever recall having to call them out.

I think it's five years since I've had to call on the AA, which is why I rejoined (I like you I swap about) via Quidco, you get £19 cashback on the basic AA membership, making it £11 :D
 
Back
Top