Recovery service advice

[100SRV]

Hi,
I would be grateful for recommended recovery companies, biggest risk I have is breaking down on the motorway which is potentially dangerous as well as being expensive to be recovered from if not a member of a recovery company.

Any suggestions?

[shake n bake]

Surely if you're worried about breaking down 100 odd quid each year on aa recovery is a good idea?

[SEE YA]

shake n bake said:

Surely if you're worried about breaking down 100 odd quid each year on aa recovery is a good idea?

+1 try a new one each year?

[100SRV]

shake n bake said:

Surely if you're worried about breaking down 100 odd quid each year on aa recovery is a good idea?

Exactly which is why I've requested suggestions...

[Riley Blue]

AutoExpress did a review earlier this year which may help you decide:

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/driver-power...

BTW - I've been with Britannia Rescue for around 20 years, never had reason to change and with four cars up to 50+ years old I probably call them out on average three times a year.

Edited by Riley Blue on Sunday 4th December 18:11

[f1nn]

Unfortunately, I've had reason to use the AA four times times in the last three years, all for different vehicles.

1. Company 3 series st it's flywheel. I'd made it home but it was obviously fked. Called the AA, they agreed and recovered it to BMW, and gave me a lift to Enterprise to collect a complimentary hire car for three days, which was great.

2. Motorbike broke down on the first run of the year. Called the AA! They turned up quickly and recovered efficiently,.

3. 330D st it's EGR Cooler, AA chose to use a local subcontractor which got me recovered but it was amatuer hour.

4. Recently, my 335i st it's water pump. call into the AA, guy turned up quickly, diagnosed and recovered efficiently. Again, gave me a lift to Enterprise who had a complimentary hire car waiting for me, great service.

So all in all My experience of the AA hasn't been mostly positive and I would recommend them. I pay monthly, around £24 from memory and I'm sure people will tell you you can get cover cheaper and I'm sure you can, but when you are broke down at the side of a dark motorway somewhere, a couple of quid a month doesn't matter, trusting that there is someone on the way to get you home, very much does.

[100SRV]

Riley Blue said:

AutoExpress did a review earlier this year which may help you decide:

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/driver-power...

BTW - I've been with Britannia Rescue for around 20 years, never had reason to change and with four cars up to 50+ years old I probably call them out on average three times a year.

Edited by Riley Blue on Sunday 4th December 18:11

Thank you RileyBlue and F1NN - sensible answers rather than the immediate challenges which seem to be favoured PH responses.

I'll have a look at the review website - practical experience is another thing I'm after.

The primary reason for asking is because I feel I've been very lucky over the years and would rather be prepared than not. Recovery from motorway is my primary concern but getting the car to the destination or other safe place is also useful - I might not be able to repair it at the time.

[caelite]

I use StartRescue.co.uk Been with them for 3 years or so and they havn't upped there prices at all (they actually give you a discount when you renew). £35 a year for my 16 year old vehicle for UK wide recovery, excluding home start when is an extra £10 or so I think. Ive dealt with them 5 or 6 times for a tow and so far would say I have no complaints, 30-60minute response time on all but 1 occasion and a local garage comes and picks your car up.

[lbc]

I am with Autoaid. About £45/year.

https://www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk/

I used to be with Brittania Rescue but was not impressed with their service.

[rallycross]

I would recommend RAC but AA are also good.

I drive lots of different cars most of them are 10 yrs old plus.

The RAC have been amazing for me this year - having had a bad year for breakdowns I have been towed 3 times in the past 10 months, once including they even towed my trailer and racing car to the race circuit when the gearbox on my tow-car failed (they relayed my tow car back home on a truck whilst dropping me and the racing car to Castle Combe).

The 3 times I had to get towed they turned up within 20 minutes.

Amazingly when it came to renewing the policy after a quick call they agreed to renew at £50 again, good service indeed.

Evidence of good service

[TazLondon]

f1nn said:

Unfortunately, I've had reason to use the AA four times times in the last three years, all for different vehicles.

1. Company 3 series st it's flywheel. I'd made it home but it was obviously fked. Called the AA, they agreed and recovered it to BMW, and gave me a lift to Enterprise to collect a complimentary hire car for three days, which was great.

2. Motorbike broke down on the first run of the year. Called the AA! They turned up quickly and recovered efficiently,.

3. 330D st it's EGR Cooler, AA chose to use a local subcontractor which got me recovered but it was amatuer hour.

4. Recently, my 335i st it's water pump. call into the AA, guy turned up quickly, diagnosed and recovered efficiently. Again, gave me a lift to Enterprise who had a complimentary hire car waiting for me, great service.

So all in all My experience of the AA hasn't been mostly positive and I would recommend them. I pay monthly, around £24 from memory and I'm sure people will tell you you can get cover cheaper and I'm sure you can, but when you are broke down at the side of a dark motorway somewhere, a couple of quid a month doesn't matter, trusting that there is someone on the way to get you home, very much does.

BMW cars seem to feature quite heavily in your misfortunes! That's a lot of breakdowns in a short space of time.

[Gafferjim]

Having dealt with all the various recovery services prior to my retirement, Who rates as the best depends on which part of the country you live in and how busy the companies are.
Next you need to decide just what type of cover you want as the various companies differ in their approach to things.
Do you want just cover for yourself on the one car? - Just you in that car covered.
Do you want the car covering for any driver using it? - You or any other driver covered in that car. (Handy if other members of the family drive the car).
Do you want cover for yourself in any vehicle, as driver or as a passenger in any vehicle? - Personal cover (Handy if you have more than 1 vehicle).
How much cover do you want?............................
Basic breakdown - Minor roadside repairs, recovery up to 10 miles, over that you need to arrange onward recovery yourself.
Breakdown & UK recovery - As above, but recovery to either home, or one designated location.
Breakdown with full European recovery ( EU cover for usually 1 month / time)

Then the real spoiler............ACCIDENT RECOVERY.

This is a bit like pot-luck! some companies will recover you after an RTC (Especially if you bought your cover through your insurance) but most of the larger ones will either refuse to recover you as it's NOT a breakdown, but an RTC. or they will recover you but then bill you for the recovery (which you then pass on with the insurance claim)

Recovery after an RTC, you SHOULD call you insurance claim line who will arrange the recovery for you.

...............................................................................................................................

On a personal note. I was with the RAC for 27 years, only used them twice, both times excellent service although annual fees were getting expensive. I Also had a Landrover 90 that we used for greenlaning, I wanted to take it to France for a week, the RAC wanted £79 extra for the 7 days (this was 6 years ago!) other companies wouldn't cover it because it was over 15 yrs old, I contacted the insurance for the Landy, and got full personal cover with EU cover for 12 months for the total sum of £49 with Britannia, - No contest!
I've been with Britannia for 6 years now, used them twice (didn't need them in France) again excellent service.

My son has breakdown cover with "Rescue my car" with full UK recovery, but with a £40 excess / breakdown.(Without the £40 excess, annual fee is £54.
The age of vehicle can alter prices (Similar to Greenflag)
So I suggest that you check with your insurance provider for a price before going independently.

Things that recovery companies MIGHT charge you extra for;................

Punctures if you don't have a good, legal spare wheel, IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO HAVE ONE, AND CAME OUT OF THE FACTORY WITH ONE in other words, if you've had gas fitted and no longer have a spare, or your spare is already punctured or illegal, then you probably will be changed extra, but, if your car was only manufactured with aerosol cans to deal with puncture, then they won't charge you.

Running out of fuel. The breakdown companies are seriously now considering extra charges (on top of the cost of fuel) for this, as it's self-inflicted and not a genuine breakdown.

Edited by Gafferjim on Monday 5th December 17:12

Edited by Gafferjim on Monday 5th December 17:20

[Dodsy]

If you shop at Tesco use your clubcard points for free RAC cover, I have the full monty cover every year for the whole family using my points so costs nothing,

I've used the RAC 3 times, each time they came within a reasonable time and sorted things quickly including one extended recovery to a garage then taking me back home after dropping the car off.

I had AA cover years ago and you couldnt pay me to use them ever again.

[Krikkit]

f1nn said:

Unfortunately, I've had reason to use the AA four times times in the last three years, all for different vehicles.

1. Company 3 series st it's flywheel. I'd made it home but it was obviously fked. Called the AA, they agreed and recovered it to BMW, and gave me a lift to Enterprise to collect a complimentary hire car for three days, which was great.

2. Motorbike broke down on the first run of the year. Called the AA! They turned up quickly and recovered efficiently,.

3. 330D st it's EGR Cooler, AA chose to use a local subcontractor which got me recovered but it was amatuer hour.

4. Recently, my 335i st it's water pump. call into the AA, guy turned up quickly, diagnosed and recovered efficiently. Again, gave me a lift to Enterprise who had a complimentary hire car waiting for me, great service.

So all in all My experience of the AA hasn't been mostly positive and I would recommend them. I pay monthly, around £24 from memory and I'm sure people will tell you you can get cover cheaper and I'm sure you can, but when you are broke down at the side of a dark motorway somewhere, a couple of quid a month doesn't matter, trusting that there is someone on the way to get you home, very much does.

Save yourself even more money, stop buying 3-series!

Joking apart I quite like the AA (once you get the right cover levels), and their app is excellent. No more trying to describe to a phone jockey where you are if you're in the back of beyond without nav.

[f1nn]

TazLondon said:

BMW cars seem to feature quite heavily in your misfortunes! That's a lot of breakdowns in a short space of time.

Yeah, perhaps.

The flywheel incident was on a car which was still in warranty, to be fair I could have drove that to the dealers. The second was a very slight leak and the car could have drove but I didn't know that at the time. The water pump on my current car was probably the only one which needed recovery in reality.

[rovermorris999]

Another vote for AutoAid. Why pay more?

[f1nn]

Krikkit said:

Save yourself even more money, stop buying 3-series!

Joking apart I quite like the AA (once you get the right cover levels), and their app is excellent. No more trying to describe to a phone jockey where you are if you're in the back of beyond without nav.

Hahaha, I feel like I should defend my cars honour here, but you're probably right!

[paintman]

If you tow don't bother with the RAC. They will recover a trailer if the towing vehicle is the problem but if it's the trailer the most they'll do is ring a breakdown garage for you. As a friend of mine found out earlier this year.

[Riley Blue]

rovermorris999 said:

Another vote for AutoAid. Why pay more?

Having had a glance at what they offer, I'd need to pay twice to have the service Britannia Rescue is currently giving me for £125 p.a. i.e. a separate policy for my O/H so that's £85.08 rather than £42.54, plus another £103.77 more for EuroRescue Plus cover with a different company 'cos AutoAid cover doesn't extend to Europe - oh no, EuroRescue Plus doesn't cover cars more than 10 years old so I'm stuffed...

[tr7v8]

Since our fleet is 2010, 2000 & 1989 that limits the choices. Been with the AA since 1987 get complimentary keep driving & have Breakdown Repair Cover on all 3 which pays 5 x £500 max with a £35 excess per annum if I breakdown & get recovered by the AA. This is pretty much why I stay year after year.
I also get significant discounts at places like Moto motorway services which helps.