Punctures and Breakdown/Rescue services
Discussion
I had a puncture the other day on a motorway after hitting a small rock (dark, rainy conditions). Tyre was written off but no further damage, fortunately.
RAC refused to help (unless I paid extra), saying it was a collision and so not covered. I can see now that any sort of collision is excluded in their T&Cs, but I must admit that it took me completely by surprise. I'm not really sure how this can be classed differently from a puncture due to a pothole (that would likely have been easier to see and avoid) or driving over a nail. None of these are things that should be in the live lane of a motorway. I completely understand they won't cover hitting kerbs, negligence, etc.
Does anyone know which breakdown services would have covered this puncture (I believe Green Flag would, so long as no further damage to the wheel or car)? I'll be ending my RAC membership shortly - I have pointed out to them that their online ads suggest that punctures are covered and that you need to dig into the small print to find out that hitting a small object isn't!
In the end I paid for a 24/7 tyre fitter who came out pretty quickly.
Many thanks in advance.
(PS Long-time lurker who had an account but lost the details, hence starting afresh).
RAC refused to help (unless I paid extra), saying it was a collision and so not covered. I can see now that any sort of collision is excluded in their T&Cs, but I must admit that it took me completely by surprise. I'm not really sure how this can be classed differently from a puncture due to a pothole (that would likely have been easier to see and avoid) or driving over a nail. None of these are things that should be in the live lane of a motorway. I completely understand they won't cover hitting kerbs, negligence, etc.
Does anyone know which breakdown services would have covered this puncture (I believe Green Flag would, so long as no further damage to the wheel or car)? I'll be ending my RAC membership shortly - I have pointed out to them that their online ads suggest that punctures are covered and that you need to dig into the small print to find out that hitting a small object isn't!
In the end I paid for a 24/7 tyre fitter who came out pretty quickly.
Many thanks in advance.
(PS Long-time lurker who had an account but lost the details, hence starting afresh).
How odd. I had a puncture that ripped a two pence piece sized hole in the tyre from a pothole but like many cars these days had that stupid tyre weld instead of a spare. RAC were there within half an hour, put a space saver on and followed me to my preferred tyre garage. I never knew there was anything in their Ts & Cs that either included or excluded flat tyres.
StartRescue state in What is included section.
‘ puncture to the vehicle or accident which immediately renders the vehicle immobilised.’
Now how that is interpreted, I would not know. I would presume that with me having runflats, then driving further to a safe place would not be covered. Having said that I would expect they would subcontract to, or expect me to call a mobile tyre repair company.
FYI StartRescue operate on a low annual membership fee plus a £30 per call out charge. It suits me, I have never needed to call a breakdown service in 12+ years.
‘ puncture to the vehicle or accident which immediately renders the vehicle immobilised.’
Now how that is interpreted, I would not know. I would presume that with me having runflats, then driving further to a safe place would not be covered. Having said that I would expect they would subcontract to, or expect me to call a mobile tyre repair company.
FYI StartRescue operate on a low annual membership fee plus a £30 per call out charge. It suits me, I have never needed to call a breakdown service in 12+ years.
Sterling0797 said:
I had a puncture the other day on a motorway after hitting a small rock (dark, rainy conditions). Tyre was written off but no further damage, fortunately.
RAC refused to help (unless I paid extra), saying it was a collision and so not covered. I can see now that any sort of collision is excluded in their T&Cs, but I must admit that it took me completely by surprise. I'm not really sure how this can be classed differently from a puncture due to a pothole (that would likely have been easier to see and avoid) or driving over a nail. None of these are things that should be in the live lane of a motorway. I completely understand they won't cover hitting kerbs, negligence, etc.
Does anyone know which breakdown services would have covered this puncture (I believe Green Flag would, so long as no further damage to the wheel or car)? I'll be ending my RAC membership shortly - I have pointed out to them that their online ads suggest that punctures are covered and that you need to dig into the small print to find out that hitting a small object isn't!
In the end I paid for a 24/7 tyre fitter who came out pretty quickly.
Many thanks in advance.
(PS Long-time lurker who had an account but lost the details, hence starting afresh).
Do you mean you actually told them you'd hit a rock, rather than just "I've got a puncture"?RAC refused to help (unless I paid extra), saying it was a collision and so not covered. I can see now that any sort of collision is excluded in their T&Cs, but I must admit that it took me completely by surprise. I'm not really sure how this can be classed differently from a puncture due to a pothole (that would likely have been easier to see and avoid) or driving over a nail. None of these are things that should be in the live lane of a motorway. I completely understand they won't cover hitting kerbs, negligence, etc.
Does anyone know which breakdown services would have covered this puncture (I believe Green Flag would, so long as no further damage to the wheel or car)? I'll be ending my RAC membership shortly - I have pointed out to them that their online ads suggest that punctures are covered and that you need to dig into the small print to find out that hitting a small object isn't!
In the end I paid for a 24/7 tyre fitter who came out pretty quickly.
Many thanks in advance.
(PS Long-time lurker who had an account but lost the details, hence starting afresh).
If so, that's one I'll bear in mind for the future.
Seems odd, I'm with the RAC and a couple of years back hit a huge pothole which took out the front and back tyres on the passenger side.
RAC arranged for a recovery truck to be sent out and I was dropped back off at home! (It was late on a Sunday and did take about 3 hours, but they did get there!).
RAC arranged for a recovery truck to be sent out and I was dropped back off at home! (It was late on a Sunday and did take about 3 hours, but they did get there!).
So how big does the object have to be before it moves from being a puncture to a collision? If I drive over a screw it will be covered as a puncture but a small stone is a collision? Just seems mad that they would try to get out of helping you on such a ridiculous technicallity, especially when sat at the side of a motorway in poor conditions.
The RAC are known for their technicalities. They asked someone the purpose of their journey and when they said they were visiting customers they declined breakdown cover saying that the driver needed RAC Business Cover. I imaging the OP told them too much and should have feigned indifference "I don't know, the tyre just went flat and I can't see what's wrong."
Good old venture capital out to cut costs
Good old venture capital out to cut costs
Lo-Fi said:
Do you mean you actually told them you'd hit a rock, rather than just "I've got a puncture"?
If so, that's one I'll bear in mind for the future.
There was something on the app where you put details of what happened. I just thought was giving them more info as required. If I’d just said I’d got a puncture/hit a pothole, they’d probably have turned out If so, that's one I'll bear in mind for the future.
Sterling0797 said:
Lo-Fi said:
Do you mean you actually told them you'd hit a rock, rather than just "I've got a puncture"?
If so, that's one I'll bear in mind for the future.
There was something on the app where you put details of what happened. I just thought was giving them more info as required. If I’d just said I’d got a puncture/hit a pothole, they’d probably have turned out If so, that's one I'll bear in mind for the future.
It's unfortunate, but we live and learn. Sorry, man.
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