Breakdown cover, do you have it?
Discussion
Just thought i'd post this thread out of interest really.
In the four years of driving i havn't bothered with breakdown cover, but then i only do around 6000 miles a year. Mostly locally with the odd 200 mile trip up to Wales. Last year I did a 2000 mile road trip down to the Alps in a mates 18 year old, 180k ragged 325, without breakdown cover - it ran like a beaut. Just got myself a 16 year old 328, and am going to continue without cover.
Am i running on borrowed time?
So what do you do? Cover or no cover, with what car?
In the four years of driving i havn't bothered with breakdown cover, but then i only do around 6000 miles a year. Mostly locally with the odd 200 mile trip up to Wales. Last year I did a 2000 mile road trip down to the Alps in a mates 18 year old, 180k ragged 325, without breakdown cover - it ran like a beaut. Just got myself a 16 year old 328, and am going to continue without cover.
Am i running on borrowed time?
So what do you do? Cover or no cover, with what car?
Breakdown cover is so cheap why risk it?! I am with AA, also have mechanical breakdown cover for my older cars. When the likes of AA provide basic cover for around £40/£50 a year it's a no brainer, whether the car is brand new or a classic/shed. Many Bank Accounts come with some level of cover also, as can car insurance policies
Edited by billzeebub on Thursday 7th March 22:33
I agree, it is very cheap, plus if you sign up to a cashback website, you can get even more money off, such as: topcashback.co.uk For example with the AA I paid £80 for breakdown cover (Roadside cover in any car + national recovery)and got £38 cashback,
I don't know how much it costs if you break down in Europe without recovery, but over here in the UK, if you break down on a motorway, you are allowed up to 2 hours to get your vehicle removed (so long as you're with it, abandon it and it could be removed straight away depending on the circumstances)
If recovery has to be arranged either by the HA or the police, you'll be looking at a bill of around £150 just for it being removed off the motorway. You have to pay the bill immediately with either cash or credit card, if you can't pay, the vehicle is removed to a secure compound incuring a storage charge of approx £20 /day until you pick it up and pay the bill.
Even if you can pay the initial bill of £150'ish, the recovery driver will only take you & your vehicle to the nearest place of safety, that could be a motorway service area, or the first lay-by off at the next junction. you are still stuck with getting it recovered back home/to a garage.
Before you buy breakdown cover, check out just what's on offer, as there are some excellent deals out there at the moment.
But PLEASE have the details with you about your breakdown cover, it's no good left in a drawer at home, you will need to quote membership details / policy number etc most times.
Also be aware of just what is covered, and more importantly, what isn't covered. Certain breakdown clubs will not attend for any sort of collision damage, you need the insurance accident claim number for that.
If recovery has to be arranged either by the HA or the police, you'll be looking at a bill of around £150 just for it being removed off the motorway. You have to pay the bill immediately with either cash or credit card, if you can't pay, the vehicle is removed to a secure compound incuring a storage charge of approx £20 /day until you pick it up and pay the bill.
Even if you can pay the initial bill of £150'ish, the recovery driver will only take you & your vehicle to the nearest place of safety, that could be a motorway service area, or the first lay-by off at the next junction. you are still stuck with getting it recovered back home/to a garage.
Before you buy breakdown cover, check out just what's on offer, as there are some excellent deals out there at the moment.
But PLEASE have the details with you about your breakdown cover, it's no good left in a drawer at home, you will need to quote membership details / policy number etc most times.
Also be aware of just what is covered, and more importantly, what isn't covered. Certain breakdown clubs will not attend for any sort of collision damage, you need the insurance accident claim number for that.
Was invaluable when I had my Lupo with no remote locking! I insisted on locking the door by pressing down the button and not locking it from the outside, so if I left the keys in the ignition or dropped them in the car and didn't realise it I'd lock myself out...
Happened twice and I had to call the RAC out both times!
Happened twice and I had to call the RAC out both times!
Don't have it but I know it's something I really should.
I just never seem to get round to sorting it out.
Had to get the AA out last week though, as the locking wheel nuts had rounded off and were impossible to get off. Of course, I don't have a policy but my mates GF has "person cover" with her bank account. So she just sat in the car and called them for me.
I just never seem to get round to sorting it out.
Had to get the AA out last week though, as the locking wheel nuts had rounded off and were impossible to get off. Of course, I don't have a policy but my mates GF has "person cover" with her bank account. So she just sat in the car and called them for me.
r44flyer said:
We've got cover through AutoAid. All the bells and whistles for £39. Only catch is you have to pay for all recovery services yourself at the time which is then paid back to you on submission of a claim.
Me too, used them twice now and was fast and painless both times. Recommended! 
te broke down. Free on my bank account. Used once when collecting a free car on here.
In 30 years of driving i've never broken down completely. In general if you maintain you car it won't break.
Most cars you see at the side of the road are near new VAGs, who's owner probably have no idea the bonnet can be opened by anyone but a main stealer.
In 30 years of driving i've never broken down completely. In general if you maintain you car it won't break.
Most cars you see at the side of the road are near new VAGs, who's owner probably have no idea the bonnet can be opened by anyone but a main stealer.
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