AUTO AID recovery

Author
Discussion

markymarkthree

Original Poster:

2,236 posts

170 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2018
quotequote all
I have just been quoted £43.31 for Auto Aid breakdown cover.
This will cover me and the Mrs and any car as long as one of us is the driver and will recover the car to a destination of my choice.
I haven't heard of them before and it seems a bit of a bargain.
Does anyone know of any negatives.

Thanks.

KungFuPanda

4,324 posts

169 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2018
quotequote all
I think the only downside is that when you need a call out, you have to pay for that callout and then recover the cost from AutoAid. A bit of a ball ache to be fair.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2018
quotequote all
KungFuPanda said:
I think the only downside is that when you need a call out, you have to pay for that callout and then recover the cost from AutoAid. A bit of a ball ache to be fair.
I've got a GEM policy - their cheaper one, which is also pay-and-claim-back. I had the car recovered earlier in the year after the cambelt jumped a tooth when started at home, only to find the recovery was more than their payout cap... Not doing that again.

AutoAid were taken over a year or two ago by an insurer with an atrocious rep - RCIB. For us, they were a total non-starter, because they don't cover unmarried partners, only spouses - so we'd have had to pay for two policies, even though we've been living together for damn near 20 years. I think they're run by my mother...

markymarkthree

Original Poster:

2,236 posts

170 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2018
quotequote all
KungFuPanda said:
I think the only downside is that when you need a call out, you have to pay for that callout and then recover the cost from AutoAid. A bit of a ball ache to be fair.
I had heard that, however I think that has now changed this is from their website.

Important changes to your AutoAid policy
With immediate effect you are no longer required to pay for the breakdown assistance services provided by this policy and then reclaim them from AutoAid.
If you require breakdown assistance please call our 24 hour helpline on 0800 328 4439 or 01277 720700. AutoAid will deal directly with the recovery agent regarding any costs and you will not be required to pay the recovery agent at the roadside.
The procedure described on Page 8 of your Policy Booklet (Claims Procedure) no longer applies to breakdown assistance services.

KungFuPanda

4,324 posts

169 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2018
quotequote all
That sounds good then. Pretty decent value. I'm going to have a look myself.

Sheepshanks

32,528 posts

118 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2018
quotequote all
As well as previously mentioned points, they are very much a "scoop and run" set-up - unless the car just needs something like a jump start or a wheel changing, they go straight to recovery mode. AA/RAC etc will try and get you going if possible.

Torcars

8,056 posts

188 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2018
quotequote all
Have a look at your bank account. Many offer recovery as part of their package.

No need to renew every year. Me and my wife are covered even when passengers in other cars. All our cars are covered.

Owning a nearly two decades old MGF it has proved useful websites times.

gnc

441 posts

114 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2018
quotequote all
auto aid worked for me. didnt have to pay. they wont cover the same fault on the same car twice though.

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2018
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Very good service. I have used them and always asked for straight recovery to my house or workshop.

lost in espace

6,136 posts

206 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2018
quotequote all
Go through Moneysavingexpert and get 15 months for 12.


KTF

9,788 posts

149 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2018
quotequote all
Here is the 15 months for the price of 12 link: http://www.silvertap.com/autoaid/

edthedead

374 posts

181 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2018
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Had it for years, never had to use it though (touch wood). Advantage for me is there is no age limit for the vehicle so they cover my classic (unless that's changed!).

Stenasev

80 posts

109 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2018
quotequote all
lost in espace said:
Go through Moneysavingexpert and get 15 months for 12.
I got £5.46 off through topcashback but the above is better value.

JQ

5,691 posts

178 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2018
quotequote all
Used them for years and whilst I've never used them, my wife has numerous times and the service has always been excellent - far quicker than my historic experience of the AA when I was a poor graduate.

I can't believe people still pay for the AA and RAC at the their exorbitant rates.

S. Gonzales Esq.

2,556 posts

211 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2018
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AutoAid have worked well for me for the last ten years or so. My wife having a different surname confused them and required a copy of the marriage certificate, but I only had to do that once.

Alucidnation

16,810 posts

169 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2018
quotequote all
I think they also insure the person and not the car so it doesn't matter as long as you are with the broken down vehicle?

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2018
quotequote all
Correct.

MattyB_

2,008 posts

256 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2018
quotequote all
I use them too - Autonational Rescue wanted two policies to cover my two cars! £170 vs £35 with AutoAid.

gnc said:
auto aid worked for me. didnt have to pay. they wont cover the same fault on the same car twice though.
What do you mean? If I break down with a faulty alternator, get it replaced and the new ones fails in 3 days time they're gonna tell me to jog on? wink

p.l.edmonds

17 posts

91 months

Thursday 4th January 2018
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I've been with AutoAid for a few years. Had the need to call them out for the first time last year and the experience was fine - arrived in around an hour (but was safely parked at a filling station, in daylight, so not exactly a priority) and it was rush hour, so all in all not bad. Per Sheepshanks' description above, they didn't bother attempting to diagnose / fix, just took me to a garage of my choice. In fairness, a couple of litres of DSG oil had made a break for freedom by that point and made a nice big puddle under the car, so it was pretty clear there was nothing which could be done there and then.

I've just renewed (effective Feb 2018) using the link KTF provided and my policy document says 15 months despite me not being a new customer (the terms on the page linked to says 15 months for the price of 12 for new customers only). Maybe they'll pick up on this in due course and change but I figured there was nothing to lose...

Boosted LS1

21,165 posts

259 months

Thursday 4th January 2018
quotequote all
I was with them last year when my ignition lock jammed outside my house. They came and wanted to take my car off to a garage for them to fix. I decided to sort it out myself rather then pay a hefty garage fee.

I suspect the AA would have attempted to fix it foc at the roadside and I prefer this option to recovery. I'm back with the AA now.

Edited by Boosted LS1 on Thursday 4th January 16:09