Has breakdown cover cost increased?

[Funk]

Saleen836 said:

boyse7en said:

Saleen836 said:

Do you not have RAC cover via your bank account?

No

Do you not have a free bank account?

No, but with what i get included in my monthly fee works out cheaper than paying for everything seperate.

I made the same decision. £10/mo for my Nationwide account gives me:

UK & European breakdown and recovery with no excess, home start, roadside and onward travel included, 48 hour hire car, unlimited callouts.
Worldwide mobile phone insurance (loss, theft, damage or faulty, unauthorised network charges up to £2k)
Worldwide travel insurance including winter sports
Extended 12-month warranty on appliances after the mfr's warranty expires (including devices purchased before activating the account)

Seemed a no-brainer for £120 a year - although I've not had cause to put any of it to the test yet.

[talksthetorque]

Crossflow Kid said:

talksthetorque said:

Just signed up the OH for RAC roadside.
£27.99 for one car cover minus £12.62 at topcashback.
£15.37 for a year's breakdown cover is an absolute no brainer!

Depends what you drive and where you drive it.
A couple of Euro trips a year and an all-in package will start to look more appealing.

If you pay more, the cashback goes up too.

[anonymous-user]

talksthetorque said:

Crossflow Kid said:

talksthetorque said:

Just signed up the OH for RAC roadside.
£27.99 for one car cover minus £12.62 at topcashback.
£15.37 for a year's breakdown cover is an absolute no brainer!

Depends what you drive and where you drive it.
A couple of Euro trips a year and an all-in package will start to look more appealing.

If you pay more, the cashback goes up too.

It may well do, but that doesn't mean it's still cheaper.
The RAC want over £200 to cover my Defender for a Euro trip which even with cash back just doesn't come close to ADAC.
The appeal for me with Ze Germans is that no matter what I or Mrs CK are driving (out of our four vehicles).....we're covered, plus any hired or borrowed cars.

[3ananaPie]

My first year with AA was around £75 incl. home start and all that. The following year at renewal they quoted me over £200. When asked why, it was because I had used their service 'too many times' (twice). I explained that I could easily leave and rejoin as a 'new' customer for a lot less, and he offered to cut it down by £60. That is just insulting. Their service is rubbish anyway, both times they have taken almost 2 hours.

[madmover]

3ananaPie said:

My first year with AA was around £75 incl. home start and all that. The following year at renewal they quoted me over £200. When asked why, it was because I had used their service 'too many times' (twice). I explained that I could easily leave and rejoin as a 'new' customer for a lot less, and he offered to cut it down by £60. That is just insulting. Their service is rubbish anyway, both times they have taken almost 2 hours.

I've had similar to this. I used it once for a car I used to own. It worked out at £66 when I originally bought. After complaining about it taking 3 hours to attend only to get a bike accompanied with a plank who didn't know anything (after I had specifically said that the sump had been cracked and there was no oil in the engine) they extended it by 6 months for free. I totally forgot about this, received a letter yesterday (dated mid last month) saying it was £194 for my renewal. After checking my bank it seems it's been done automatically - I'll be having words tomorrow when the office is open as there's no way i'm being charged that.

£66 is fine, maybe £80-£100 because i used what i'm insuring myself against effectively but a 293% increase is taking the pee. They make Wonga look like good lenders.

[gnc]

been with rac or aa for 40 odd years, good service when we needed it, but after getting the renewal knocked down with rac 18 months ago, i suddenly find out ( when i need it )that trailers werent covered. so you get a cheaper quote but they slice bits off. ( like insurance comapnies ) now with auto aid.

[delta0]

All done through my bank now. £10 a month for AA cover (roadside, home and any vehicle), annual travel insurance for 2 and phone insurance.

[Ste1987]

I downgraded my bank account after realising I was not longer getting any benefit from the extras. When I bought my Celica, the dealer offered free AA roadside and recovery, which I needed to ring up to activate. When I rung up, they told me I already had cover with my bank. When I told them I was no longer paying for it, they went away to check, and confirmed it was still active and suggested I didn't need the other cover. Fair enough, though I'm a bit weary about relying on that. Might upgrade again, as it seems to be cheaper than going direct, plus getting all the other benefits...

[MajorMantra]

Funk said:

I made the same decision. £10/mo for my Nationwide account gives me:

UK & European breakdown and recovery with no excess, home start, roadside and onward travel included, 48 hour hire car, unlimited callouts.
Worldwide mobile phone insurance (loss, theft, damage or faulty, unauthorised network charges up to £2k)
Worldwide travel insurance including winter sports
Extended 12-month warranty on appliances after the mfr's warranty expires (including devices purchased before activating the account)

Seemed a no-brainer for £120 a year - although I've not had cause to put any of it to the test yet.

Hmmm, interesting. Do you know if they cover older vehicles? Just had a quick scan of the T&Cs and I don't see a mention of an exclusion.

[Funk]

MajorMantra said:

Funk said:

I made the same decision. £10/mo for my Nationwide account gives me:

UK & European breakdown and recovery with no excess, home start, roadside and onward travel included, 48 hour hire car, unlimited callouts.
Worldwide mobile phone insurance (loss, theft, damage or faulty, unauthorised network charges up to £2k)
Worldwide travel insurance including winter sports
Extended 12-month warranty on appliances after the mfr's warranty expires (including devices purchased before activating the account)

Seemed a no-brainer for £120 a year - although I've not had cause to put any of it to the test yet.

Hmmm, interesting. Do you know if they cover older vehicles? Just had a quick scan of the T&Cs and I don't see a mention of an exclusion.

Mine's 17 years old.

I also scanned the T's and C's carefully and the only stipulation was that the car must be serviced in line with the manufacturer's recommendations. Although I've done the last few years' servicing myself, I can show it's been done as required...

[Hughesie]

Mines free through Classicline Insurance - You can buy it through Equity Red Star for around £70 though.

Pan europe, at home, needed it already this year and its saved me a hire car for the day of over £100 whilst the Audi needed some work in France.

Had it for a few years, either free or paid for and its always been exceptional when i've needed it.

[MajorMantra]

Funk said:

Mine's 17 years old.

I also scanned the T's and C's carefully and the only stipulation was that the car must be serviced in line with the manufacturer's recommendations. Although I've done the last few years' servicing myself, I can show it's been done as required...

Good to know.

[matjk]

Always find breakdown cover odd, Its basically insurance, but insurance for something that seldom happens and when it does, doesn't cost that much. Managed without for 23 years, so saved a small fortune, if i break down i will just call a local garage or join the AA/RAC there and then and pay the premium.
Its kind of like buying a TV guarantee for £100 on a £250 tv, odds are it wont break down, if it does it goes in the bin and i buy a new one. Is there anyone in the UK that is actually quids in by having breakdown cover over a long period of time. I think they prey on the 'peace of mind' aspect and suck people in, also as soon as youve had it for a bit you dare not ever cancel as that temps fate you will need it, all IMHO

[Funk]

MajorMantra said:

Funk said:

Mine's 17 years old.

I also scanned the T's and C's carefully and the only stipulation was that the car must be serviced in line with the manufacturer's recommendations. Although I've done the last few years' servicing myself, I can show it's been done as required...

Good to know.

I'll let you know if I ever need to call on it and they stiff me!

[delta0]

Funk said:

I'll let you know if I ever need to call on it and they stiff me!

My last car had to be towed after spark plug snapped during a self service. He did have a good go at getting it out before too.

[Paul O]

matjk said:

Always find breakdown cover odd, Its basically insurance, but insurance for something that seldom happens and when it does, doesn't cost that much. Managed without for 23 years, so saved a small fortune, if i break down i will just call a local garage or join the AA/RAC there and then and pay the premium.
Its kind of like buying a TV guarantee for £100 on a £250 tv, odds are it wont break down, if it does it goes in the bin and i buy a new one. Is there anyone in the UK that is actually quids in by having breakdown cover over a long period of time. I think they prey on the 'peace of mind' aspect and suck people in, also as soon as youve had it for a bit you dare not ever cancel as that temps fate you will need it, all IMHO

Agree with this, when I look at how much I spent on AA over the years, the maths don't add up in my favour at all. I do like that peace if mind though, and AutoAid gives that.

At £41 per year for roadside/relay for all our cars and me and the mrs, I don't understand why anyone would want to pay more for AA, RAC etc. AutoAid don't load the renewal every year, the price for a new customer is the price for every customer. I don't feel like I'm being ripped off, and don't have to haggle for a better deal. It's just cheap anyway. Used them twice in a year, no issues either time. I'd highly recommend them.

Edited by Paul O on Tuesday 7th July 07:12

[anonymous-user]

Thing is, it depends on the circumstances of the breakdown and those of the driver. A long range recovery can easily cost upwards of £500 without any breakdown cover, which can be more difficult for some to lay their hands on than an annually budgeted £85.
If you only do short trips, and know a local garage where you can leave the car if and when it does go pop, then granted it's a different story.