Cheap breakdown firms

bainbridge · 15 Mar 2016 at 06:52

Just done a comparison and some firms are doing breakdown for as little as £30.

I like the idea of an excess if a.callout is required,.but have never heard of rescuemycar.com or surestart.

Has anyone used one of these cheap companies?

Stormster · 17 Mar 2016 at 00:42

I'm with Start Rescue after a recommendation on here. I've not used them as of yet (touch wood) but I paid £42 I think for good UK wide cover towing back to a place of my choice.

I needed to change my car details and struggled online so dealt with someone on the phone who was courteous and sorted it quickly so that was decent as well. For those who have used them based on me choosing them from recommendations they sounded like one of the best on a budget.

Phantom Shadow · 17 Mar 2016 at 02:02

Only costs £36 after cashback with AA for basic cover with unlimited callouts. Looks like RAC is around £20 after cashback though didn't see a mention of if callouts are limited.

At £30-40 per year why bother going cheaper when you can just get AA/RAC and be done with it.

Very happy with AA here, they've been quick to arrive and when it was a snapped spring the guy spent the next 5 hours replacing it at only the cost of the new spring. Would have cost more in labour at a garage than the entire year's policy cost me.

Plus 20% off at moto service stations with your AA card, I've probably saved more on burger king than I've paid AA on just that alone.

iaind · 17 Mar 2016 at 07:25

They get slated by some around here but if you use all the benefits then packaged bank accounts can work out as a cheap way of doing it.

Nationwide do breakdown, travel insurance and mobile phone insurance (plus identity theft and extended warranty cover) for £10 a month.

Mobile phone insurance is £60-£80 for a year. Annual travel insurance is £20-30 and breakdown cover is about £40. So if you shop around for cheap deals it works out about the same - but this way you always pay the same and don't have to bother renewing and shopping around every 12 months.

Obviously if you have a cheap phone and don't travel then it's not worth it, but I travel regularly and have a fairly expensive phone so it makes sense for me.

Rybo89 · 17 Mar 2016 at 07:35

AA is very good. Buying a BMW I thought I best get some decent cover now for when it breaks.

2 days into the cover I had to use them. The garage who fitted my disk brakes over tightened my handbrake which caused me to have to stop on the M1 after the rear disks massively overheating, luckily in happened just before a services.

Called AA through the app and some AA guy turned up within 20min and sorted it.

Was all very professional and very easy.

robj20 · 17 Mar 2016 at 08:02

I usually get AA or RAC for something like £19 a year after cashback.

shifty_uk · 17 Mar 2016 at 08:04

I've had to use the AA 3 times over the past 6 years; brilliant service can't fault them in the slightest.

Had to get them out when the other half broke down this year, chap knew the issue immediately and went a trek across the city in Saturday traffic to source all the parts; spent 45 minutes under the hood at the road side and it's been sound ever since.

Edit: i get the service through the bank which covers all the cars in the family(providing im there

)

pepsilol · 17 Mar 2016 at 09:23

ADAC 80 Euros IIRC for EU cover which for the UK is AA.

Used AA twice this year, accurate timing, good comms with texts, very happy.

Squink · 17 Mar 2016 at 09:32

My experience with the AA is that their breakdown service is now just a foot in the door for them to attempt to flog you large numbers of other products and services they offer. However, Green Flag (who don't try to flog me anything) try to sneak my policy costs upwards every year so I may end up looking for a cheaper alternative.

a1ex2001 · 17 Mar 2016 at 09:50

Doesn't the basic AA cover only cover you away from home so if you go out to start the car in the morning and it doesn't go you are stuck? I've got auto aid used to be all the rage on here a few years back home cover and includes my wife for no extra cost only downside is you have to pay upfront and then claim back for repairs but it worked perfectly the only time I've needed to use it.

InvaderGIR · 17 Mar 2016 at 12:45

iaind said:
They get slated by some around here but if you use all the benefits then packaged bank accounts can work out as a cheap way of doing it.

Nationwide do breakdown, travel insurance and mobile phone insurance (plus identity theft and extended warranty cover) for £10 a month.

I have the same and IME it's better than AA or RAC when you have to use the breakdown services. I called them on Black Friday in the middle of Exeter and they had a local garage tow truck with me in about 30-45mins whereas all my AA/RAC call outs have taken at least a couple of hours (I realise a patrol needs to be in the area etc.).
I don't know about the recovery of vehicles to workshops or home or anything mind as I was on my way again in about 20mins as the guy sorted the problem at the road side.

Good service though and when you combine it with the other extras for £10pm it's totally worthwhile IMO.

E: My last dealing with the AA resulted in the patrol guy breaking my car and them having to call for a flatbed to return myself and the car home...flatbed guy was good but the first guy taking hours to turn up and then spending hours doing nothing much other than breaking the car has left a sour taste in my mouth unfortunately.

Vern1961 · 17 Mar 2016 at 12:58

Currently got Green Flag but agree the premium creep due to car age is a bit annoying. That said, last time I was in the AA first year cost was okay but beyond the introductory offer went sky high for full cover.

Glanza · 17 Mar 2016 at 13:25

Moved away from AA after being with them 10 years as I'm now getting cover from Nationwide plus other benefits for £10 a month. Which is costing me less than what the AA originally was.

iaind · 17 Mar 2016 at 13:35

InvaderGIR said:
I have the same and IME it's better than AA or RAC when you have to use the breakdown services. I called them on Black Friday in the middle of Exeter and they had a local garage tow truck with me in about 30-45mins whereas all my AA/RAC call outs have taken at least a couple of hours (I realise a patrol needs to be in the area etc.).
I don't know about the recovery of vehicles to workshops or home or anything mind as I was on my way again in about 20mins as the guy sorted the problem at the road side.

Good service though and when you combine it with the other extras for £10pm it's totally worthwhile IMO.

E: My last dealing with the AA resulted in the patrol guy breaking my car and them having to call for a flatbed to return myself and the car home...flatbed guy was good but the first guy taking hours to turn up and then spending hours doing nothing much other than breaking the car has left a sour taste in my mouth unfortunately.

I've not actually had to use it before - I had the Natwest packaged account who I think used Green Flag and only just Switched to Nationwide. Do Nationwide just have a network of independent breakdown companies they use? The cover description seems to suggest it's provided by LV but I guess thats more for the underwriting

InvaderGIR · 17 Mar 2016 at 13:53

Yeah as far as I know they just use independent companies local to where you are so I guess if you're in the sticks and call them out it might take a while to attend (but so would a mainstream co.). I recall when you phone up the number on your bank card and choose breakdown you then get transferred to another dept./co. who deal with the actual breakdowns, might well have been LV.

postbox · 17 Mar 2016 at 14:23

I had to use RAC 3 times in a year couple of year ago and they were spot on. I've heard the same for AA. Greenflag however left my GF stranded for 2-3 hours in -5c. Someone kindly gave her a blanket that day. She was on the premium level as well...

t-rex · 17 Mar 2016 at 14:28

I have the Nationwide bank account. I had a flat battery at home, and they sent someone from Ravenscroft within about 20 minutes. No problems.

stoofa · 17 Mar 2016 at 16:00

Just need to shop around and make sure you look for the cashback offers. The AA & RAC quotes above at £20 - £30 are certainly not going to cover you in all situations - so if you want home start, recovery, recovery plus, onwards travel, European cover etc. then you aren't going to get that for £20 - £30 from the big companies.
I'm with Green Flag at the moment where I've got everything except European coverage and with the deal at the time and cashback I paid around £60 for the year which I felt was reasonable.

tom_e · 17 Mar 2016 at 16:02

postbox said:
I had to use RAC 3 times in a year couple of year ago and they were spot on. I've heard the same for AA. Greenflag however left my GF stranded for 2-3 hours in -5c. Someone kindly gave her a blanket that day. She was on the premium level as well...

I had a similar experience with Green flag only I was on a bike and no one gave me a blanket. Any longer and they'd have been putting me on the flat bed next to the bike.

xGBHxPegasus · 17 Mar 2016 at 17:57

Had AA for the last few years, haven't had to call out roadside for my car since I got it (11 yrs ago) which is pretty lucky although I don't drive as much anymore.

They tried to renew this year for £150! Quick phone call to their "rudeboy" customer services (it was actually quite hilarious as he called my 1.2 polo a "banging car"

) and got it down to £80 for homestart and roadside for the year.

Probably not the best but £7 a month isn't bad and I had to call them out 3 days after I renewed as my bonnet wouldn't close.