Breakdown Cover Recommendations
Discussion
Auto Aid is often recommended. I've been with them a couple of years, but haven't needed it yet...
https://www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk/
https://www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk/
I have RAC cover through my bank. Both times I've needed to use them in the last five years, they couldn't get to me in less that 8 hours. The last time, I had a weak battery issue and ended up calling an Uber to get me home to get some tools and a jump pack, and then the Uber back to my car, and then I got myself restarted and fixed it myself. They still had the cheek to text me asking "How did we do?"
So I wouldn't recommend the RAC. I used to have AA cover and that was no better. I was thinking of trying Green Flag, as I have a long road trip abroad coming up in July!
So I wouldn't recommend the RAC. I used to have AA cover and that was no better. I was thinking of trying Green Flag, as I have a long road trip abroad coming up in July!
Been with the AA for probably a decade -couple of call outs ( puncture on a snowing December evening ( Defender ) so I wasn't doing that myself ) plus a non starting car ( Defender - pattern emerges ) - both arrived and sorted within an hour.
Just renewed cover today funnily enough - £ 213.73 for the both of us driving /passenger any car for Roadside /Home-start /Relay.
Expensive -probably but for so called peace of mind probably worth it -especially if you have a Defender.
Just renewed cover today funnily enough - £ 213.73 for the both of us driving /passenger any car for Roadside /Home-start /Relay.
Expensive -probably but for so called peace of mind probably worth it -especially if you have a Defender.
jimbobs said:
I won’t bore you with the tedious details but, from personal experience, I would strongly recommend avoiding the RAC like the plague!
Definitely.Just sacked RAC off after 20 years…
Left my wife for hours in the middle of the night…..
Went with AA as seemed as good as any other.
Lester H said:
Self and extended family went for Green Flag when AA just seemed to get dearer every year despite no claim. Daughter has used them 2 or 3 times in a couple of years as she is away from home and the ‘ car care of Dad’. They have been good.
Same here, got fed up with the exorbitant renewal rates and then the bartering over the phone.Just went with Green Flag for around £50 for the same cover.
I use Start Rescue for my old Landie as no one else would cover it due to the age. They are very cheap, so when it broke down on the recent Bank Holiday Friday morning, I wasn't really expecting much. But after putting my details in the app, I had a message to say a mechanic was on his way and, sure enough, he arrived within 45 minutes.
The AA are just stupidly expensive, with no discount for long term members. They have left me stranded a few times too. Green Flag are good, and reasonably priced too.
The AA are just stupidly expensive, with no discount for long term members. They have left me stranded a few times too. Green Flag are good, and reasonably priced too.
Red9zero said:
I use Start Rescue for my old Landie as no one else would cover it due to the age. They are very cheap, so when it broke down on the recent Bank Holiday Friday morning, I wasn't really expecting much. But after putting my details in the app, I had a message to say a mechanic was on his way and, sure enough, he arrived within 45 minutes.
The AA are just stupidly expensive, with no discount for long term members. They have left me stranded a few times too. Green Flag are good, and reasonably priced too.
As I said above probably expensive but I think I've got money off every year -what does annoy me though is the way in which they jack the renewal price up first and then when you complain they then reduce it.The AA are just stupidly expensive, with no discount for long term members. They have left me stranded a few times too. Green Flag are good, and reasonably priced too.
Today's renewal price was £ 240 before I complained and the reduced figure then given.
I bought Autoaid for my parents - personal cover for my Dadand free spouse cover, so that covers my Mum too.
Uses the same contractors the big 3 use, and only around £10 more if you need to cover a vehicle over 15 years old.
If you must have the big 3 cover, then buy via Quidco/TopCashback to roughly halve the price and NEVER RENEW, always cancel and buy from the others.
Uses the same contractors the big 3 use, and only around £10 more if you need to cover a vehicle over 15 years old.
If you must have the big 3 cover, then buy via Quidco/TopCashback to roughly halve the price and NEVER RENEW, always cancel and buy from the others.
alscar said:
Red9zero said:
I use Start Rescue for my old Landie as no one else would cover it due to the age. They are very cheap, so when it broke down on the recent Bank Holiday Friday morning, I wasn't really expecting much. But after putting my details in the app, I had a message to say a mechanic was on his way and, sure enough, he arrived within 45 minutes.
The AA are just stupidly expensive, with no discount for long term members. They have left me stranded a few times too. Green Flag are good, and reasonably priced too.
As I said above probably expensive but I think I've got money off every year -what does annoy me though is the way in which they jack the renewal price up first and then when you complain they then reduce it.The AA are just stupidly expensive, with no discount for long term members. They have left me stranded a few times too. Green Flag are good, and reasonably priced too.
Today's renewal price was £ 240 before I complained and the reduced figure then given.
I'm with the AA (full whack package, basically take your car wherever you want wherever you break down even from home whatever it's called), which as others have said is annoyingly expensive with no discount for long membership/no call-outs etc....
Having said that, the one time I needed them they were excellent. Car was parked at home in a very tight garage. Crankshaft fly wheel about to let go so didn't want to start or drive it, I arranged recovery to my preferred garage. Told them where it was what car it was etc. Guy on the phone was a bit of a knob (told him it was the harmonic balancer and he told me "You mean the crankshaft flywheel we ain't in America") but the guy who came to collect it was awesome.
He turned up on a huge low loader thing and was telling me he exclusively collects super/sports cars that are too low/big to fit on other stuff they have so we had a good chat about what he'd transported recently (with pics!). The car has no tow hook and has to come out and immediately be turned 45 degrees to clear the garage and space in front which he couldn't do but had a colleague on stand buy who turned up in a van to tow it out having hooked it up nicely. Then onto his truck and off to the garage. All on time and without incident.
My Mum was also with the AA for years, again every recovery driver who turned up was great, friendly and polite and never trying to flog anything extra. As she had us with her they did turn up pretty sharpish as a woman with children gets priority for recovery. Can't remember ever waiting that long.
Having said that, the one time I needed them they were excellent. Car was parked at home in a very tight garage. Crankshaft fly wheel about to let go so didn't want to start or drive it, I arranged recovery to my preferred garage. Told them where it was what car it was etc. Guy on the phone was a bit of a knob (told him it was the harmonic balancer and he told me "You mean the crankshaft flywheel we ain't in America") but the guy who came to collect it was awesome.
He turned up on a huge low loader thing and was telling me he exclusively collects super/sports cars that are too low/big to fit on other stuff they have so we had a good chat about what he'd transported recently (with pics!). The car has no tow hook and has to come out and immediately be turned 45 degrees to clear the garage and space in front which he couldn't do but had a colleague on stand buy who turned up in a van to tow it out having hooked it up nicely. Then onto his truck and off to the garage. All on time and without incident.
My Mum was also with the AA for years, again every recovery driver who turned up was great, friendly and polite and never trying to flog anything extra. As she had us with her they did turn up pretty sharpish as a woman with children gets priority for recovery. Can't remember ever waiting that long.
Had to do a bit of back of fag packet calcs for this year's renewal.
Been with autoaid for probabaply 8+ years now, haven't needed them so far but others say good things.
Up till this year they covered our cars (currently 14/17/27 years old) for the standard fee because repeat customer (and presumably not using the service regularly, touch wood), i had this confirmed each year by email, this year i see that if we should need their services that there will be a £25 fee payable at the time of breakdown for cars over 10 years old...however even assuming one breakdown costs the £25 fee it still works out cheaper than the alternatives.
If we break down more than once we'll be out of pocket.
I shall be looking elsewhere next year, maybe combining with insurance renewal or bank account depending on whats the best deal.
Been with autoaid for probabaply 8+ years now, haven't needed them so far but others say good things.
Up till this year they covered our cars (currently 14/17/27 years old) for the standard fee because repeat customer (and presumably not using the service regularly, touch wood), i had this confirmed each year by email, this year i see that if we should need their services that there will be a £25 fee payable at the time of breakdown for cars over 10 years old...however even assuming one breakdown costs the £25 fee it still works out cheaper than the alternatives.
If we break down more than once we'll be out of pocket.
I shall be looking elsewhere next year, maybe combining with insurance renewal or bank account depending on whats the best deal.
Have used Gem, and they were pretty good. If you have a Nationwide account, they include breakdown cover with some accounts.
Worth checking if your manufacturer does cover, I get UK and European cover free with my extended warranty. Also worth considering if it's just UK you need or if you want something that incudes European cover.
Worth checking if your manufacturer does cover, I get UK and European cover free with my extended warranty. Also worth considering if it's just UK you need or if you want something that incudes European cover.
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