Good point Doc, i was with Autohome for many years, local company, named vehicles which was a pita.

Though again, being a free at point of delivery service instead of pay and claim is more likely to see indiscrimnate use of the service, i dare say the ast majority of regulars here wouldn't dream of taking advantage but the real world out there is somewhat different to this place.

Just switched from LV Brittania to Autoaid after reading this forum and checking Which. Considered Start who do very well but its the fact that Autoaid offer personal cover which swung it for me. This is a much more expensive option with other companies and is ideal if you have more than one car.

At £200 i'd definately be self insuring BBD with the likely area you cover, no doubt you maintain your vehicle well and carry and are capable of changing a wheel or fixing other minor breakdown issues, and like your one and only breakdown you don't need a roadside mechanic you need the vehicle recovering to someone you know is on the ball because no one is going to have such parts in their back pocket or able to fit at the roadside.

That £200 would buy you a decent compact trolley jack the first year's saving alone, i have seen some made of aluminium so a lot lighter to carry on the van to make wheel changing the matter of minutes.

Cash is probably king for rural recovery rates.

I think he was relieved that it was a simple job! Although I felt a bit sorry for him after he spent a while manoeuvring his van so the front was parallel to the front of the Mazda. Apparently this was so he could get to the battery, but he hadn’t realised the Mazda battery is in the boot!

And then he wasn’t allowed to remove the plastic covers, I had to do it!

Same thing happened with me with a Mk2 Seat Alhambra. The manufacturer warranty had expired the previous day (!) and I hadn't arranged new breakdown cover. I was far from home and stuck in a car park, unable to turn on the ignition. I knew about waggling the steering wheel, but nothing was going to make the key turn in the ignition.

Eventually I rang the Seat breakdown number. The guy told me that unfortunately the warranty had expired the previous day and I pretended that I was unaware, hoping that they might stretch a point, but no. However, what they could do was sign me up for AA membership there and then and a patrolman would come to my aid. Having no alternative, I coughed up whatever the cost was and within 30 minutes the yellow van showed up. The AA man sat in my driver's seat, gave the steering wheel an almighty yank - far harder than I would have dared - and hey presto, the key turned in the ignition. An easy call-out for him and an expensive lesson for me, but at least I then had AA cover for the further year that I kept the car.