AA, RAC or Green Flag??
Discussion
Need to renew my breakdown cover. It was included in insurance package last year and didn't need to use it, but for this year need to buy it separately.
What I basically need to know is whether anyone has any advice regarding who is the best (especially as our TVR's are a little more specialised than your average Ford)? They are all simlarly priced and offer similar packages, and I am more interested in picking the best breakdown service rather saving a tenner. Will also need to cover 5 days european cover for Le Mans.
I have done a quick search through the historic threads but didn't manage to come up with much.
Any guidance, past experience wouldbe appreciated.
What I basically need to know is whether anyone has any advice regarding who is the best (especially as our TVR's are a little more specialised than your average Ford)? They are all simlarly priced and offer similar packages, and I am more interested in picking the best breakdown service rather saving a tenner. Will also need to cover 5 days european cover for Le Mans.
I have done a quick search through the historic threads but didn't manage to come up with much.
Any guidance, past experience wouldbe appreciated.
I'm currently with the RAC, only because they were markedly cheaper than the AA when renewal time was due. Also, believe it or not they offer a no call out discount - maybe unlikely with a Tiv, but I've only called the AA once when a main fuse blew.
The AA will cover you FOC for upto 5 days Europe travel I think, so you pays your money and takes your choice.
The AA will cover you FOC for upto 5 days Europe travel I think, so you pays your money and takes your choice.
I was with the AA and the first year was quite good value for money, but the renewal came in and was a big jump in premium (even though i had never had to use them).
I got the RAC to quote me and found them very competitive espcially when adding European breakdown/recovery so they got my business...but then i think some of these businesses give you a keen 'introductory' price to get you on-board, then up the premiums the next time.....guess i'll be trying Green Flag next
I got the RAC to quote me and found them very competitive espcially when adding European breakdown/recovery so they got my business...but then i think some of these businesses give you a keen 'introductory' price to get you on-board, then up the premiums the next time.....guess i'll be trying Green Flag next
...//P//Just to throw in a curved ball, I've got my TVR and my wife's Rover covered with Autonational.
Their top package is £57 (or £76 if you tell them you've made a call out in the last year) and you also get 15 months for the price of twelve.
I've called them out twice for the Tiv; once when it wouldn't start (they spent quite a lot of time diagnosing the problem and traced it to the immobiliser) and once after I'd had my accident.
Good service both time, but I guess you might want a more 'known' name.
Their top package is £57 (or £76 if you tell them you've made a call out in the last year) and you also get 15 months for the price of twelve.
I've called them out twice for the Tiv; once when it wouldn't start (they spent quite a lot of time diagnosing the problem and traced it to the immobiliser) and once after I'd had my accident.
Good service both time, but I guess you might want a more 'known' name.
I have been with the AA for about 10 years, my wife and I are covered for the full Monty , relay homestart etc , probably had about 2 calls in all that time , this year we have called them 3 times ( between us ) and I got a snotty letter saying that although we had not reached or maximum call outs ( 5 evidently) I should get My vehicles serviced and that all future call outs ( over 5) would be charged at £90. I know a lot of people do take the P**S over call outs but I just object to the random computer generated letter from yet another faceless organisation, I am going to give the RAC a try.
I'm with both! 
My car came with a year AA membership, so when the headgasket went a month ago, they took my car and I back home on the back of a low lowder. They did take a bit of time to get to me, but it was Mother's day and they were very busy, but they did send a low-loader straight out rather than a patrol van followed by a low loader.
The guy knew what he was doing, and the car got on and off the loader without any problems. They then picked up the car 2 days later to drop it off at the dealer - they arrived exacrtly when they said they would, and loaded it on with no fuss.
They also came out to my girlfriend's S3 when that suffered a non-charging alternator just after she collected the car after buying it, and they arrived within about 20-30 minutes, and got the car running very quickly.
I can't say how the RAC have been, as I've not had to use them, however I can't imagine they'll be much better than the AA based on my experiences, and when my membership comes up for renewal, I will probably switch over to the AA.
My car came with a year AA membership, so when the headgasket went a month ago, they took my car and I back home on the back of a low lowder. They did take a bit of time to get to me, but it was Mother's day and they were very busy, but they did send a low-loader straight out rather than a patrol van followed by a low loader.
The guy knew what he was doing, and the car got on and off the loader without any problems. They then picked up the car 2 days later to drop it off at the dealer - they arrived exacrtly when they said they would, and loaded it on with no fuss.
They also came out to my girlfriend's S3 when that suffered a non-charging alternator just after she collected the car after buying it, and they arrived within about 20-30 minutes, and got the car running very quickly.
I can't say how the RAC have been, as I've not had to use them, however I can't imagine they'll be much better than the AA based on my experiences, and when my membership comes up for renewal, I will probably switch over to the AA.
Perfect for Le Mans
Try this:
www.rac.co.uk/breakdowncover/european/get_quote?drc=BORO
5% Discount for booking online & very good service!
We took the annual policy as we go abroad so much!
Try this:
www.rac.co.uk/breakdowncover/european/get_quote?drc=BORO
5% Discount for booking online & very good service!
We took the annual policy as we go abroad so much!
The AA did offer 72 hour European cover for free. I have just had my renewal and due to "not many people using the European cover they have discontinued it so as to make the cost of cover cheaper for all members". My premium has gone up £5!!
I have cancelled and will be looking for cover indepentdently or through insurance. I had European cover Royal & Sun Alliance through Sunninghills but they don't offer this if the car is more than 10 years old. Anybody know of any good insurers who offer European cover included.
I have cancelled and will be looking for cover indepentdently or through insurance. I had European cover Royal & Sun Alliance through Sunninghills but they don't offer this if the car is more than 10 years old. Anybody know of any good insurers who offer European cover included.
With the AA and I got that snotty letter too. I have called them 3 though (twice for the TVR).
Fisrt time they were great. Car wouldn't start due some electrical problem, but they managed to bypass the dodgy areas of the loom (despite having the all black loom) and get it up an running.
Second time my accelerator pedal snapped (too much right foot). Rang up and told them that it had snapped and unless they had a replacement pedal or somemeans of welding it that a roadside repair wouldn't be possible. An hour later a guy in a transit turns up and seems annoyed that he'd been sent out when there was nothing he could do to fix the car. Checks his computer and it tells him that the car can't be towed - lowloader only (Apparently something the person I spoke to on the phone should have checked). Then have to wait another hour for the lowloader to arrive.
Generally happy though, and I wouldn't dare to be without them. The peace of mind is worth any amount of snotty letters and occasional bit of dodgy service.
Fisrt time they were great. Car wouldn't start due some electrical problem, but they managed to bypass the dodgy areas of the loom (despite having the all black loom) and get it up an running.
Second time my accelerator pedal snapped (too much right foot
). Rang up and told them that it had snapped and unless they had a replacement pedal or somemeans of welding it that a roadside repair wouldn't be possible. An hour later a guy in a transit turns up and seems annoyed that he'd been sent out when there was nothing he could do to fix the car. Checks his computer and it tells him that the car can't be towed - lowloader only (Apparently something the person I spoke to on the phone should have checked). Then have to wait another hour for the lowloader to arrive. Generally happy though, and I wouldn't dare to be without them. The peace of mind is worth any amount of snotty letters and occasional bit of dodgy service.
With the AA.
Only used them once, bit sneaky.
Bought the car, it died, called & joined and then called next day!
"oh dear" I said "I didn't expect to have to call so soon..."
No problems other than they did the usual, sent someone to fix it after being told,
"You won't be able to fix this, low loader needed" and then the lowloader took
ages to arrive.
Just called about a week's add on for Le Mans £38.50
Happy with that I guess.
Used the RAC calculator mentioned above and that was £45.60 (no doubt
cheaper if you are a member)
Only used them once, bit sneaky.
Bought the car, it died, called & joined and then called next day!
"oh dear" I said "I didn't expect to have to call so soon..."
No problems other than they did the usual, sent someone to fix it after being told,
"You won't be able to fix this, low loader needed" and then the lowloader took
ages to arrive.
Just called about a week's add on for Le Mans £38.50
Happy with that I guess.
Used the RAC calculator mentioned above and that was £45.60 (no doubt
cheaper if you are a member)
yellow peril said:
..
.....R.A.C......
Guess I won't be renewing my RAC cover then!!!!!!
.......A.A...... ........A.A....... Guess I won't be renewing my AA cover then!!!!!!
Been with RAC since, called out once to fix snapped ignition switch in Griff (crappy vauxhall parts!). Bloke was great, 3am and still managed to be polite and rig up a makeshift switch so I could get home under my own steam. You'll get mixed reports about RAC and AA although funnily enough, I've never heard a bad word said about Green Flag....
DustyC said:
Britannia Rescue.
Check the website for more details
I'm also with Britannia - I've only used them once for the Chim but found them very good. I told them it was going to need recovering (rather than repair) and they came straight out with a truck. The guy was even prepared for a car with low ground clearance - extra straps, blocks of wood, etc. meant he got it up on the back of the truck without any worries or scrapping of exhausts (I can't even get out of my garage without doing that!)
Also, if you, or anyone you're related to, works for the civil service, you can get further discounts off Britannia membership through the CSMA... bargain.
dewi said:
Britannia Rescue.
Check the website for more details
Also, if you, or anyone you're related to, works for the civil service, you can get further discounts off Britannia membership through the CSMA... bargain.
I know! Fantastic!
When I called they asked how I heard about them so I said through my mum.
They looked up her details, found out she was a civil servant and so knocked 20% off the price for me and sent her a £5 voucher!
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