I use First call, (Colchester) and pay £32 and a call out fee, or £42 no call out fee, you can do it online, but if you have 4 cars call them. I have been with them about 5 years and the once I needed them they were there in about half an hour. Thoroughly Recommended.

You can look up the landline number on saynoto0845 website.

happy motoring

We have been with GEM for years for both of our cars.

We have made 3 call outs and in all three occasions they reached us after about an hour.

I think GEM is a mutual society and not a for profit organisation (as AA and RAC used to be at one time).

You get a moderately interesting magazine every so often.

'Best value for money' can mean different things to different people. At renewal, whilst being mindful of the renewal cost, I would also want a service that is likely to get me mobile again quickly in the event of a breakdown.

In the September 2011 edition of Which?, they reported on both third party breakdown cover (AA, RAC, etc) and car maker branded cover (Handacare Assistance, Club Toyota, etc). The percentage scores given, were based on waiting time (based on the time it took for breakdown services to arrive at a scene of a breakdown), the percentage of cars fixed at the roadside, and the customer rating (based on overall customer satisfaction and whether they would recommend the provider to a friend). The average waiting time was 47 minutes, and the average for cars being fixed at the roadside was 61%.

The findings were based on feedback from 52,563 Which Car? survey respondants. 15% of these had called out a breakdown service in the previous year. 7,366 drivers were asked to rate the service delivered by their breakdown service provider.

The scores were: AA 70%; RAC 69%; Brittania, GEM Motoring Assist and Saga 65%; Autonational 62%; Europ Assistance 59%; Green Flag 53%; Auto Aid 51%; More Than 38%.

Definitely find some comparable prices (the AA are currently offering 40% off for new customers on-line) and then phone them and ask them to match it. With your 'record' they will most likely match the price.