Breakdown Cover

[MrWest90]

I currently dont have any breakdown cover, and I'm looking to invest in some this month with my Christmas bonus for the year.

Obviously there are lots to chose from RAC, AA, Greenflag etc. But which one is going to be the best for me? (Fastest response, value for money, home start, etc.) I just want basic cover that will get me going again if needs be or back home if anything goes when away from home? I wont be needing anything like European cover or anything like that. I know that money supermarket do this for you and compare which ones, but I dont want to just go for the cheapest and get poor service.

Many thanks in advance

[jdwoodbury]

I have always had AA and they have been excellent every time. If you go with a cheaper policy you will be using local garage services rather than dedicated response. Plently of deals out there, use http://topcashback.co.uk and go with AA or RAC and get some money back (AA have up to £60 cashback at the moment)

[nottyash]

I always went through moneysupermarket and used First call or something like that, but was let down May this year when they refused to tow the car home even though I had recovery included in the Platinum cover. The small print said it was their decision to fix or recover, even though I had a plane to catch and it was Sunday with a Bnk holiday monday so no garages were open.
They had me well and truly stuffed. I ended up paying £600 to get it towed home and a further £100 for a train ticket to get us to Heathrow airport.

I have gone with RAC, and would recommend avoiding the really cheap ones on the internet. Stick to AA, RAC and Green flag.

[miniman]

Britannia Rescue.

[Toyless]

Been with the RAC for about 8 years now, its not cheap, but Ive used about 4/5 times over that period and never had any cause for complaint or waited more than about 65 minutes for a call out.

[crankedup]

www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk

Recommended for two years running by the bloke on telly who can save people bundles of money on all sorts of daily life stuff. Have a look and read then think about how much you can save by avoiding the big two.

[MrWest90]

Thanks for your inputs, I thought thats what most would say really stick to the main stream people. I was worried about going with somebody like that First Call as you say, for that exact reason. I think its going to have to be one of the main one's although I will have to take a moment to look at that link.

[davethebunny]

I've been with Gem for the last few years.

Really good deals for new customers.

Even when at renewal it was dearer due to the new customers offers, i couldn't find any better.

Works for me 'cos we have lots of vehicles and it covers for all.

I use the reclaim option, where you pay for the recovery and reclaim it.

This means you can use who you like for the recovery or call them and they'll sort it

I had a core plug go on a bike in Wales, ran them and half hour later a flatbed arrived from the nearest garage and took me home.

I paid the £150 recovery, sent the invoice in on the Tuesday, and had a cheque back on the Saturday.

[Tallbut Buxomly]

I get mine with my bank account.

[hairyben]

Green flag support brake, the anti-car political pressure group.

[andym1603]

I have been with Britannia for over ten years now. Got it through the CSMA. Only used twice and both times I could not fault the service. They use independants for the breakdown and recoveries (Green Flag) so have the country well covered.
A friend of mine works for the AA and often refers to them as assholes anonymous as they place demands on the staff and are always up for sale.
Andy..

[Festive Ferg]

crankedup said:

www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk

Recommended for two years running by the bloke on telly who can save people bundles of money on all sorts of daily life stuff. Have a look and read then think about how much you can save by avoiding the big two.

I've been with these people for two years (£36 + £37 = £73 for any vehicle my wife or I are driving) in this time they have recovered three different vehicles of mine (Siezed engine, disintegrated belt tensioner, clutch slave failure) having been unable to repair. The 'catch' is that you have to pay the 'local' operator and claim back the money.
So far for my £73 I've cost them over £400. Help has arrived on all three occasions within the hour and the operators have been very helpful and polite (and in the case of my Libra recovery) very careful with my vehicles.

[AlpineWhite]

hairyben said:

Green flag support brake, the anti-car political pressure group.

They're out then.

[ShampooEfficient]

RAC have always been brilliant with me.

[lost in espace]

I had an autoaid policy last year, paid me £600 for 2 recoveries no questions asked. Cost, £34! I also have an AA full recovery policy, through quidco. I would say having both policies is a good idea, if you want recovery home no questions asked the autoaid one gives you this perk, and the AA cover is good as a first resort.

[hairyben]

AlpineWhite said:

hairyben said:

Green flag support brake, the anti-car political pressure group.

They're out then.

FYI;) http://www.brake.org.uk/brakes-corporate-partners

[sunbeam_alpine]

Do you really need breakdown cover?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against it, but I've been thinking about not renewing ours when it runs out.

I've paid more than €5000 in breakdown cover over the last 10 years (European cover for 4 cars and 2 vans/4x4's with trailers). In that time I've had 3 callouts (2 involving recovery - one of approx 60 miles, the other of approx 30 miles).

Sod's law says that if I don't renew, the vehicles will break down a lot more.

Anyone have an idea of what recovery of a van & trailer from the UK to Belgium would cost? (this would probably be the worst-case scenario for me).

[Ian187]

I recently got AA cover for me and the girlfriend to be covered for any car. Together it was £100 odd quid, but I got £50 back (through using Quidco) so £25 each works out a good deal

[JQ]

Festive Ferg said:

crankedup said:

www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk

Recommended for two years running by the bloke on telly who can save people bundles of money on all sorts of daily life stuff. Have a look and read then think about how much you can save by avoiding the big two.

I've been with these people for two years (£36 + £37 = £73 for any vehicle my wife or I are driving) in this time they have recovered three different vehicles of mine (Siezed engine, disintegrated belt tensioner, clutch slave failure) having been unable to repair. The 'catch' is that you have to pay the 'local' operator and claim back the money.
So far for my £73 I've cost them over £400. Help has arrived on all three occasions within the hour and the operators have been very helpful and polite (and in the case of my Libra recovery) very careful with my vehicles.

I've been with them for 2 years now. Never actually had to use them, but the do get excellent customer service reviews. £37 fully covers, me, the wife and 2 cars including homestart and all the other bits and bobs of the top of the range AA & RAC cover for a fraction of the price.

[Cobstar]

Britannia Rescue through CSMA. It's usually been On Time that they've sent out and they've been very good. Some years ago they changed a tyre on my RS2 on a poorly lit stable yard (with help from the yard Bullmastiff). Britannia also kindly arranged for On Time to transported another Audi to a specialist dealer further away than the nearest main agent when it couldn't be started at home.