Breakdown cover
Discussion
Ive been with the RAC breakdown cover for years now, longer than i can remember in fact.
Over the years the annual fee has crept up and up, i think its somewhere near £300 a year now, which includes my everyday car, and the classics that i drive, so if i breakdown they come out and tow me home,
For my everyday car i've decided to go with the old farts insurers SAGA (i'm with them for my home insurance and there excellent) anyway, thought i'd go with them for car insurance and they were about £125 cheaper a year, so thought it was no contest.
They also do breakdown cover, £89 per year for the everyday car, plus an extra £25 for any other car, which includes transporting it home if a breakdown occurs, so this sounds like a good idea to cover the classics being picked up should i break down in one i thought.
My question is, have any of you guys out there in Pistonheads land had experience of Saga before ? also the breakdown cover that they offer, they are so helpfull when you phone them, makes such a pleasant change these days i think.
Thanks for your help in advance.
Over the years the annual fee has crept up and up, i think its somewhere near £300 a year now, which includes my everyday car, and the classics that i drive, so if i breakdown they come out and tow me home,
For my everyday car i've decided to go with the old farts insurers SAGA (i'm with them for my home insurance and there excellent) anyway, thought i'd go with them for car insurance and they were about £125 cheaper a year, so thought it was no contest.
They also do breakdown cover, £89 per year for the everyday car, plus an extra £25 for any other car, which includes transporting it home if a breakdown occurs, so this sounds like a good idea to cover the classics being picked up should i break down in one i thought.
My question is, have any of you guys out there in Pistonheads land had experience of Saga before ? also the breakdown cover that they offer, they are so helpfull when you phone them, makes such a pleasant change these days i think.
Thanks for your help in advance.
Edited by EXKAY120 on Monday 14th May 17:47
Saga, who like to be known as ‘the mature person’s insurance’, are not necessarily the cheapest for over 55s. Like any insurance, and breakdown cover, shop around.
I have been with NFU Mutual for last two years, includes GAP insurance for up to two year old car, and breakdown. They also have offices, where you can breeze in and update any issues. May move house insurance to them next year, but LV= were quite cheap on renewal.
I have been with NFU Mutual for last two years, includes GAP insurance for up to two year old car, and breakdown. They also have offices, where you can breeze in and update any issues. May move house insurance to them next year, but LV= were quite cheap on renewal.
I'm with Saga on both my cars, Ford daily and Maserati Spyder. When searching for insurance for my Maserati was as it don't turn 15 untill this August I couldn't insure it with the usual classic insurance companies so I had the problem with my ncb which can only be used on one car normally which was on my Ford and already running but they was able to insure the Maserati for £400 as a seperate policy which didn't seem bad to me albeit on a mileage of 3000 a year.
If anyone finds themselves in the same position ie you own two cars that neither can be insured as classic obviously Saga were good here and Aviva do a dual policy as well for reasonable money.
I tend to try and keep with a reputable firm for insurance just in case I have to make a claim and it's because of this I tend to try the Coop (CIS) first to see what quote they offer as they've been faultless in the pass regarding claims in my family but in this instance their quote was way too high.
If anyone finds themselves in the same position ie you own two cars that neither can be insured as classic obviously Saga were good here and Aviva do a dual policy as well for reasonable money.
I tend to try and keep with a reputable firm for insurance just in case I have to make a claim and it's because of this I tend to try the Coop (CIS) first to see what quote they offer as they've been faultless in the pass regarding claims in my family but in this instance their quote was way too high.
EXKAY120 said:
Ive been with the RAC breakdown cover for years now, longer than i can remember in fact.
Over the years the annual fee has crept up and up, i think its somewhere near £300 a year now, which includes my everyday car, and the classics that i drive, so if i breakdown they come out and tow me home,
You are being royally shafted at that price.Over the years the annual fee has crept up and up, i think its somewhere near £300 a year now, which includes my everyday car, and the classics that i drive, so if i breakdown they come out and tow me home,
Edited by EXKAY120 on Monday 14th May 17:47
I had RAC cover on direct debit for years. Working overseas for much of the time I'd almost forgotten about it, until for whatever reason, the payment didn't go out and they contacted me. I then realised how much I was paying and didn't renew.
They bombarded me with offers to rejoin at less than 50% of what I'd been paying for years. A friend had a similar experience..
Most insurance policies can be had with inclusive breakdown and recovery at a fraction of the RAC costs. In fact my current policy has breakdown recovery included and guess what, it's with the RAC !
All of my classics are insured with Classicline and include breakdown and recovery. The cost of the policy, including this cover, is about a third of what you're paying the RAC !
If all else fails you could always buy a Lexus as your everyday car. Their warranty includes breakdown and recovery for any car you own or indeed any car you're a passenger in.
It does seem a lot for RAC cover. I'm with them, have been for some time, and I picked because at the time it was basically AA or RAC, and RAC covered me in whatever car I was in, rather than covering the car. So that's my everyday, my one classic at the time, and anyone else. I've only ever had basic recovery, because all I need in the event of trouble is to get me and the car home.
Last years renewal came through and it had gone up to £88-odd, a quick phone call got that down to £71, low enough to not be worth phoning around. I just had a quick look at historical renewals, for a few years it was hovering around the £50 mark, then it inexplicably dropped to £28, then £36, then crept back up to £75-ish. These are all prices since 2010, not back in the seventies.
My mate has had a similar renewal issue with the AA, cover up to £300-odd, switched to Green Flag but I think he's still paying more than £120. I'm not sure what the difference is - he's 20-odd years older than me, but I think he's only had one call-out in the last ten years, and I've had none.
Last years renewal came through and it had gone up to £88-odd, a quick phone call got that down to £71, low enough to not be worth phoning around. I just had a quick look at historical renewals, for a few years it was hovering around the £50 mark, then it inexplicably dropped to £28, then £36, then crept back up to £75-ish. These are all prices since 2010, not back in the seventies.
My mate has had a similar renewal issue with the AA, cover up to £300-odd, switched to Green Flag but I think he's still paying more than £120. I'm not sure what the difference is - he's 20-odd years older than me, but I think he's only had one call-out in the last ten years, and I've had none.
Just phoned the RAC as a "new customer" gave them exactly the same details as they already have for me as an existing member, anyway.. my renewal fee after 20 years of loyal membership paying on a yearly basis for home start,UK breakdown cover, and home start was £282.42p
The fee for a me as "new member" was £122.00. ! i was quite shocked to say the least, when i asked the guy why there was such a difference and let him know that i was already an existing member, he told me "your wasting my time" and that i had used them "7 times in the last 5 years" (1.4 times per year) hold on a moment its a breakdown service after all ! i asked him if he thought it was fair, and he said i should complain to the renewals team (which i already did) he carried on to say that he was trying to earn a living and that i was wasting his time, so it seems that the good old RAC are a bit of a rip off. I did ask to speak to a manager, who i heard shout out to him say "tell him i'm busy"
I think ill write to the CEO of the RAC Mr David Hobday and let him know my thoughts, but then again, am i wasting my time, is it worth it ??......
The RAC used to be that friendly breakdown service that mum & dad relied on years ago.. didnt it ???
The fee for a me as "new member" was £122.00. ! i was quite shocked to say the least, when i asked the guy why there was such a difference and let him know that i was already an existing member, he told me "your wasting my time" and that i had used them "7 times in the last 5 years" (1.4 times per year) hold on a moment its a breakdown service after all ! i asked him if he thought it was fair, and he said i should complain to the renewals team (which i already did) he carried on to say that he was trying to earn a living and that i was wasting his time, so it seems that the good old RAC are a bit of a rip off. I did ask to speak to a manager, who i heard shout out to him say "tell him i'm busy"
I think ill write to the CEO of the RAC Mr David Hobday and let him know my thoughts, but then again, am i wasting my time, is it worth it ??......
The RAC used to be that friendly breakdown service that mum & dad relied on years ago.. didnt it ???
They almost all do it. Insurance companies disadvantage loyal customers. The only discounts are for new customers, so you need to switch every year.
RAC Plc is the breakdown service that it sold off many years ago.
EXKAY120 said:
...the good old RAC...The RAC used to be that friendly breakdown service that mum & dad relied on years ago...
No, that was the Royal Automobile Club, which is now only a private members club in Pall Mall. RAC Plc is the breakdown service that it sold off many years ago.
Edited by Roy C on Wednesday 16th May 15:09
We're with the AA and have personal cover so it covers us and can be used for any car we are travelling in, even ones we don't own. its around £150 a year and we've used it frequently. The AA app even gives you 20% off many restaurants - we have a Miller and Carter near us and 20% off a meal for 4 costing £120 is a big discount.
When I get the renewal come through (which is always at "retail rate") I check online and call them and they always reduce the cost to match. Maybe you should try this with the RAC.
FFG
When I get the renewal come through (which is always at "retail rate") I check online and call them and they always reduce the cost to match. Maybe you should try this with the RAC.
FFG
I'm surprised at the number of contributors that seem to break down regularly in their classic cars and have to be recovered. Doesn't it bother any of you at all ?
While we can all suffer from the occasional problem, it's not that difficult to make most classic cars reliable.
I've covered thousands of miles in classic cars in the last few years, including European tours, and have never had to call out the breakdown services.
I'm no genius, and perhaps I've just been lucky, but I make sure that my car is thoroughly serviced and checked over every year and carry a few essential spares with me.
If I couldn't set off in a classic without the fear of breaking down, it would take away the attraction of owning one.
While we can all suffer from the occasional problem, it's not that difficult to make most classic cars reliable.
I've covered thousands of miles in classic cars in the last few years, including European tours, and have never had to call out the breakdown services.
I'm no genius, and perhaps I've just been lucky, but I make sure that my car is thoroughly serviced and checked over every year and carry a few essential spares with me.
If I couldn't set off in a classic without the fear of breaking down, it would take away the attraction of owning one.
mph said:
I'm surprised at the number of contributors that seem to break down regularly in their classic cars and have to be recovered. Doesn't it bother any of you at all ?
I agree with the thrust of what you're saying, but I can't see in this thread where people were saying they break down regularly, or even at all. I have breakdown cover "just in case", if something happens and I can't fix it, I want to be able to get me and the car back home. Mainly it's for that peace of mind. I actually took it out originally because I used to drive into Manchester quite regularly, and had to keep off motorways as my daily driver was getting on a bit and I didn't fancy the cost of motorway recovery. The saving in fuel for not having to stop-start through Altrincham and Sale on a Saturday afternoon was probably about the same as the first years subscription. As it happened, the only time that car ever let me down was about a mile from home.
I don't treat a breakdown service as a substitute for looking after the cars, and I'd agree that was a crazy way to run classics. Or moderns, for that matter, though the scope for fixing a modern on the side of the road is that much less.
droopsnoot said:
I agree with the thrust of what you're saying, but I can't see in this thread where people were saying they break down regularly, or even at all. I have breakdown cover "just in case", if something happens and I can't fix it, I want to be able to get me and the car back home. Mainly it's for that peace of mind.
That's the reason I have breakdown cover as well, particularly as I regularly take my classic overseas.The OP has called them out 7 times in five years and another poster on this thread has "used it frequently" .
There was also another thread recently with more than one contributor registering an excessive (IMHO) amount of call outs.
I take a pride in keeping my cars in good order and would be very disappointed if they broke down. I accept that it will inevitably happen at some stage. Probably on my next trip now that I've posted here
A friend of mine has used the service numerous times. He doesn't maintain his cars well and, in effect, is using breakdown cover as an alternative to proper maintenance.
BTW I'm not implying that any of the contributors here are in the same category, merely that classic cars don't need to be unreliable..
Edited by mph on Friday 18th May 12:21
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