Classic car breakdown cover?
Discussion
Which of the breakdown companies do you guys use for your older cars? Are there any special deals out there?
Normally I take breakdown cover with my insurer, but they want £100 this year to cover my BMW 635CSi which is fast approaching it's 20th birthday. Perhaps not a classic classic, but old enough
Normally I take breakdown cover with my insurer, but they want £100 this year to cover my BMW 635CSi which is fast approaching it's 20th birthday. Perhaps not a classic classic, but old enough
The classic policy on my MG with Peter Best includes UK/Europe breakdown cover depite it's low premium price
I've found good and bad with both the AA and RAC and their contractors, never used Green Flag or Autohome (depite it being Northampton based)
As with insurance (and breakdown is insurance) it will pay you to ring round and not take as gospel what is on the main pages of the companies' and comparison web sites
For specialist vehicles I think it's best to avoid family car type companies like those that advertise on TV and to look for specialist companies
Classic and/or limited mileage policies vary with the various companies 10/15/20/30 years
See what policies and companies are recommended or run for the BMW owners club
Good luck
I've found good and bad with both the AA and RAC and their contractors, never used Green Flag or Autohome (depite it being Northampton based)
As with insurance (and breakdown is insurance) it will pay you to ring round and not take as gospel what is on the main pages of the companies' and comparison web sites
For specialist vehicles I think it's best to avoid family car type companies like those that advertise on TV and to look for specialist companies
Classic and/or limited mileage policies vary with the various companies 10/15/20/30 years
See what policies and companies are recommended or run for the BMW owners club
Good luck
I've had the RAC out to my XK150 twice.
The first time when the clutch master cylinder failed. He was amazingly quick getting there (less than 10mins! in the rush hour) He wasn't able to fix it obviously. He did however ask how far I was from home and since it was only a couple of miles he filled the reservoir up and bled the clutch enough to get me home. He then followed me back home and then helped me check it once back at my place.
The second time was when the bonnet came open on the motorway. Again they were quick, he took the bonnet off for me and again followed me back, with the bonnet and the wife in his van while I crouched down to drive the XK with the caved in roof. He was quite happy to order us a transporter but since I was happy to drive it, it was much quicker to do things this way.
They don't get to see many classic cars. One of them commented this was the first time he had ever used the imperial spanners in the back of the van, but he did say they carry a full set of Whitworths too.
Hope I won't need them again soon.
The first time when the clutch master cylinder failed. He was amazingly quick getting there (less than 10mins! in the rush hour) He wasn't able to fix it obviously. He did however ask how far I was from home and since it was only a couple of miles he filled the reservoir up and bled the clutch enough to get me home. He then followed me back home and then helped me check it once back at my place.
The second time was when the bonnet came open on the motorway. Again they were quick, he took the bonnet off for me and again followed me back, with the bonnet and the wife in his van while I crouched down to drive the XK with the caved in roof. He was quite happy to order us a transporter but since I was happy to drive it, it was much quicker to do things this way.
They don't get to see many classic cars. One of them commented this was the first time he had ever used the imperial spanners in the back of the van, but he did say they carry a full set of Whitworths too.
Hope I won't need them again soon.
Ferg said:
AutoAid brought my '71 Type 2 home when it spun a bearing. They cover both my wife and I for whatever vehicle in the fleet we are driving all for only £36 including recovery. They don't mind what vehicle either being quite happy with the VW and my GTM Libra.
+1 for Autoaid. No problem getting the frogeye recovered home earlier this year, and all for £36 p/a for me and the missus covered in any car.I have mine on Lancaster Insurance. Pay £130 a year, photo valuation, monthly premiums and free home start, relay (to destination) and return (within 100 miles of home).
Only two callouts. Once for a very hot engine and fuel starvation - it was 90F outside. Turned out the fuel pump was on the way out. Using a clever trick, he soaked the hot pump with cold water and then followed me home. Just about made it.
Next, a home call, nothing from the car on turning the key, turned out to be a sticking starter solenoid. Oh the embarrassment.
Only two callouts. Once for a very hot engine and fuel starvation - it was 90F outside. Turned out the fuel pump was on the way out. Using a clever trick, he soaked the hot pump with cold water and then followed me home. Just about made it.
Next, a home call, nothing from the car on turning the key, turned out to be a sticking starter solenoid. Oh the embarrassment.
Most of the companies mentioned are those that we work with. In terms of classic car policies Lancaster and Footman James are the two that we do the most work with.
You'd be surprised how many of them we can repair at the roadside but as has already been articulated members of such cars are usually very knowledgeable and just appreciate prompt service and want to ensure that their car is recovered without causing any damage.
You'd be surprised how many of them we can repair at the roadside but as has already been articulated members of such cars are usually very knowledgeable and just appreciate prompt service and want to ensure that their car is recovered without causing any damage.
I've been with the AA for 10+ years and cannot praise them enough. I have always found that they go out of their way to help.
The Oil Pressure of my 308 dropped to zero one evening, since I would need the car taken to the garage (Fullbridge Restoration about 25 miles away) I left the car at the in-laws overnight. The AA didn't send a mechanic, they simply turned up with a lorry that could cope with the low front end of the car and took it away - that alone would have covered the membership for a year. As luck would have it, only the Oil Pressure Sender had failed...
As mentioned previously with the older cars it is unlikely that they will be able to fix them on the roadside but they will always get you home one way or the other (including my father in his 1925 Twin Cam Sunbeam - Daventry to Romford at 1 a.m. a few months back...)
The Oil Pressure of my 308 dropped to zero one evening, since I would need the car taken to the garage (Fullbridge Restoration about 25 miles away) I left the car at the in-laws overnight. The AA didn't send a mechanic, they simply turned up with a lorry that could cope with the low front end of the car and took it away - that alone would have covered the membership for a year. As luck would have it, only the Oil Pressure Sender had failed...
As mentioned previously with the older cars it is unlikely that they will be able to fix them on the roadside but they will always get you home one way or the other (including my father in his 1925 Twin Cam Sunbeam - Daventry to Romford at 1 a.m. a few months back...)
They are probably more likely to be able to fix a classic at the roadside than a modern. When your typical modern dies it's some sort electronic gizzmo, since even the main dealers never seem to keep these in stock what chance does the roadside assistance man have. At least with our cars they often are fixable.
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