Breakdown Cover - Who to use?

Conanius

Conanius

Conanius

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18 Oct 2002
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I've just come from having a car that had breakdown cover as part of its warranty, so I need to get some breakdown cover for the new car.

I'm after something that will do recovery, home assist, and ideally, euro cover so we can have cover when we go overseas.

I know a while back everyone seemed to use ADAC, but interested in what people think.

I've just gone on Compare the Market, and they have cover with 'Insurance Choice' and their "Gold" package which is:

Roadside Repair & Recovery to a Garage
Onward Journey Transport
Home Breakdown Cover
Replacement vehicle when yours being repaired
Overnight Accommodation
Up to 30 days euro cover

This comes in at £70, which seems like a good price for the above?
 
I used Europ Assistance in the past and rolled in annual travel insurance as part of the package but I don't think that covered home breakdown but I get two lots of that free of charge anyway :o
 
Personally I wouldn't get breakdown insurance, which is surely what that package is? When you break down you get quizzed as if you are making an insurance claim, my experience is that they tried to catch me out by suggesting that I should have had the car serviced and other things which would have prevented the car breaking down. You just don't need this when stuck in the rain on the side of the road.

I just use RAC or AA alternating each year using quidco to slash the prices. AA this year was £119 for a pretty much top level joint package, with £45 quidco to come off that.
 
Get a Nationwide FlexPlus account dude - £10/month for full European breakdown cover, mobile phone cover, commission free withdrawals, full travel insurance, and interest earned on balances up to £2,500.
 
EU (I've got a similar nationwide account) but it's very cheap to add worldwide cover for the year and gives a much better level of protection than the policies the comparison sites bring up. I don't pay for my account though so I only get the travel cover and something else (which I can't remember) free, not breakdown.

edit: the flexplus has worldwide built in....bugger too slow
 
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I've used RAC for a few years now, used tesco vouchers to buy it as you can get top whack cover for 2 people for like 50quid of vouchers or something.

Saying that last year my renewal came through and was only about £90 so i just paid that straight to them.
 
NickXX said:
Get a Nationwide FlexPlus account dude - £10/month for full European breakdown cover, mobile phone cover, commission free withdrawals, full travel insurance, and interest earned on balances up to £2,500.
Click to expand...

Ive just read through that, it all sounds great except for the "Car must be maintained according to manufacturer guidelines".

I dislike breakdown insurance for reasons such as this, while most people do service the cars to the guidelines, a lot dont, and its just an example of the way breakdown insurance works as opposed to proper breakdown cover.
 
Get a little stamp made up "Jez services".
stamp the book.
voilà, "serviced to manufacturers guidelines"
 
Its just one example, i have had not fantastic experience with breakdown insurance policies.

I am told that the nationwide one is good though, so perhaps i am being over cautious :)
 
Sorry, I'm on about cover and not insurance, what have I said that makes you think otherwise?

I'd considered AA and RAC, but with this other one being cheaper, and them not offering euro cover without extra cash, I thought this made more sense... happy to be educated, I know nothing about these things.
 
NickXX said:
Get a Nationwide FlexPlus account dude - £10/month for full European breakdown cover, mobile phone cover, commission free withdrawals, full travel insurance, and interest earned on balances up to £2,500.
Click to expand...

I've got a similar thing with First Direct, it's brilliant. The breakdown is for me aswell not my car.
 
Jez said:
Personally I wouldn't get breakdown insurance, which is surely what that package is? When you break down you get quizzed as if you are making an insurance claim, my experience is that they tried to catch me out by suggesting that I should have had the car serviced and other things which would have prevented the car breaking down. You just don't need this when stuck in the rain on the side of the road.
Click to expand...

I've NEVER experienced that and as you know well, I break down loads. :D

Every single time I've called up AA/RAC and said my car is broken down and given a rough description (or accurate depending on know what is wrong) of the issue and requested a patrol. I've never been quizzed or made to feel like I'm cheating anyone or making an insurance claim. Just a few questions about the problem and where I am, wait for a few hours and get towed home.
 
Conanius said:
Sorry, I'm on about cover and not insurance, what have I said that makes you think otherwise?

I'd considered AA and RAC, but with this other one being cheaper, and them not offering euro cover without extra cash, I thought this made more sense... happy to be educated, I know nothing about these things.
Click to expand...

I was just saying that for £120, you get breakdown cover plus all the other stuff v £70 for just breakdown.
 
We use RAC, never really had to use it as all our cars are only a few years old. Only time we had to use it was when the exhaust fell off our car and we called them and they said it would be an hour wait. We just ended up pulling the exhaust pipe off and dumping it in a bush.

I suppose its good to have if anything serious happens.
 
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