I had a call or letter this time last year from the RAC offering joint membership of the breakdown service for £38 (could have been £34, can't remember). As my son had recently passed his test, it sounded a good deal so I took it up.
I was a bit miffed to receive the renewal notice for £67 a couple of weeks ago. This is not the first time I've been stuffed on renewal after a good initial rate.
Can any backroomers recommend a basic (or better) cover at a more sensible price? It would preferably be car-based rather than personal, covering any driver, as my other two cars already have car-based cover.
|
I have just been shoping for this myself: I wanted car-based coverage (rather than driver-based), and breakdown plus tow-you-home, and coverage in Ireland.
The AA wanted somewhere over £80 (I can't remember exact figure), the RAC about £70, and CIS Roadrescue came in at £54. At those prices I'd have been tempted by the RAC because it has its own fleet, but the clincher was that the CIS package included Europe, whereas it was an expensive add-on for the others.
However, if you have several cars, you might get some sort of discount for putting all of them on the one policy.
|
All good advice.
I've been with Green Flag for several years, cost me about £90, but its due for renewal next month. Car based.
Includes continental motoring.
It worked for me in the first year when exhaust fell off in France.
Local man picked us up from the motorway at 7:00pm and took us to local Ibis.
Picked me up in the morning and took me to local Rover agent.
They had had their daily delivery, but said they would do my job first the following morning. My man took me back to hotel, and I signed his Green Flag chitty. He got 300 francs (about £30)
Rover garage called me at 9:30 am to say my cars ready.
I had to pay for the new exhaust of course, but GF paid for 2 nights at Ibis, including food,excluding drinks, for three people.
I was very pleased with the result.
Two years later a good recovery 40 miles from home , back to my local man, after cam belt failure. no wasted time: again, good result.
It doesn't matter what the cost is, its the quality of service when you need it.
I'm happy to stay with GF until they fail me.
Neiltoo
|
Green Flag were very good for me when my Fiesta decided to...*ahem* lock itself....with the engine running.
|
I don't think an operator that has it's own fleet is too important these days.
I've had excellent service in the past by local agents for Brittania Rescue in various areas - all of whom seemed to have the logos for every breakdown service you can think of on the side of the truck.
|
My renewal for self and SWMBO with the RAC was around £111, AA equivalent was £80 using a free partner offer. I eventually signed up with AutoAid for the princely sum of £32.00. This also includes homestart as well which my previous deal did not, as well as roadside, recovery etc. The downside is that you have to pay and then reclaim and they use independents rather than their own uniformed/badged fleet, this being an insurance product. However they have received very good recommendations with regard to roadside service and reimbursement from users on monesysavingexpert.com. My thought was that the sum saved made it worthwhile and SWMBO did not mind the thought of a non badged vehicle/driver turning up as this can and did happen anyway with the RAC. They do have a 24 hour telephone help line for when you need them. If interested telephone 01277 235500, apparently they dont have a website and real people talk to you on the phone!
MGs
|
|
Tesco's Club card offers RAC membership which is purchased by using the points deals. 1 point = 4p if used to buy their deals. A joint Roadside/Recovery membership costs £30.75 worth of Club Card points (RRP of £123). No vehicle age restrictions meant they were happy to recover my 73 VW Camper and trailer off the M5 at the start of the Yokel's hols to Cornwall...
|
I'm with the AA and I have no complaints. However, I've only had a car break down once in 50 years so it probably would have been cheaper for me to have had no breakdown service at all. I pay through a combination of force of habit and for peace of mind.
--
L\'escargot.
|
I got some kind of gold account at Lloyds TSB and get free annual travel insurance, plus free AA cover, plus free mobile phone insurance, all for nowt.
Seems that most (?) insurance companies these days offer free recovery membership, and don't seem interested in giving any kind of discount to delete the option.
I effectively have multiple memberships, through motorbike insurance, car insurance, bank accounts, new car cover, etc.
Pity I can't sell one of them on to yourself at knock down price!
|
|
|
