Green Flag are much better - they do try to get you to agree a patrol/garage will visit first but once you convince them of the real nature of the problem they will/do send a flatbed straight out and the recovery is in one go.

Even when my new car gets recovery as part of it's package, usually with AA or RAC, I still keep my Green Flag policy going to ensure decent service if it's needed.

Same with Britannia. Used them 4 times in last year across both cars. If my diagnosis by phone is that it'll be a tow job - clutch pedal on floor or LHM dumped for example - I've gone straight onto a flatbed.

Exceptions were two calls in Sheffield to what at first sight was a 'dead key' - no power to start. They sent a motorbike first as these are on call round city for simple breakdowns. Good rationale as they can go anywhere including m/s car parks. He jump started it but it died again on inner ring road. This time a full fat diesel transit came out and tech diagnosed real problem as a loose connection to alternator. Pole tow back to the depot and, as they couldn't fix it on site, a flat bed home.

Moved between Britania and Green Flag over years but never considered AA/RAC even before the PE vampires took them over. Cover with Brtiannia includes any driver of both our own cars plus Mrs B and I in any other car.

Have also heard good things about autoebid but they dont cover European travel.

I also left AA because they added 50% to the policy cost for being a loyal customer who didnt use them!

Currently dont have any cover which is a bit risky, noticed RAC advertising 40% off

Is this the best deal around?

www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/parts-and-accessories/20.../

I turned my back on the AA decades ago because they were more interested in selling finance related products and tacky rubbish rather than rescuing motorists.

They are just another corporate imbroglio that diversified so much they lost sight of the actual reason for their existence, which is to assist motorists. And if Green Flag go the same way I will move away from them.

They've outpriced themselves now (and i'm now with Autoaid too) but for years i was with Autohome, Northampton based but nationwide recovery service.

Very good when you need them, used them twice full recovery no problems, no relaying the full distance on one vehicle in both cases but i expect they and any smaller recovery people try to work together to keep their vehicles as local possible which would make sense.

Long ago gave up with the sales techniques of AA etc.

Much of modern business practice annoys me especially insurance based things, penalise good long term customers who try their best not to claim at all...and mitigate their costs if they do...whilst drawing in customers they don't know from a bar of soap with special deals.

Strange old world we live in now.

Edited by gordonbennet on 01/10/2013 at 10:42

Do people buy breakdown insurance on price or cover?

For me, it's define the cover I want first and avoid any supplier that doesn't give that sort of cover.

When you need them, they're not all equal.