Breakdown cover

beachBOYken

beachBOYken

beachBOYken

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Hi

Anyone here buy yearly breakdown cover from likes of AA, RAC?

I normally get it free with my car service, but wondering if it will work out cheaper buying it separately and getting a cheaper car service.
 
jpaul said:
via gocompare V ,was a new concept for me, breakdown cover with an excess - signed me up
much easier than often undelivered cash-back promises or vouchers for just-eat/crap

rac essentials

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payed that in nov 25 ... but, I think I only found it via compare sites and had never seen such policies looking directly on aa/rac as I always did previously.
- a comment on reddit put me onto it.

e: yes it is full year .. I've never payed as little, but I have an excess.
 
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beachBOYken said:
Are those prices for the year? I checked AA/RAC direct and the packages work out at around £100!
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AA/RAC/Greenflag are a rip off. Autoaid/Emergency assist places like that come in around £30 for the year and the service is just as good as RAC etc because in a lot of cases they end up using the same subcontractors anyway.
 
tom_e said:
AA/RAC/Greenflag are a rip off. Autoaid/Emergency assist places like that come in around £30 for the year and the service is just as good as RAC etc because in a lot of cases they end up using the same subcontractors anyway.
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I use Auto aid as it covers me as a driver, not a specific vehicle. I could break down in/on anything and they'll come save me. They were on Topcashback with a special promo which meant I paid something stupid like £15 for the year.
 
Are these lesser named breakdown services easy to cancel after a year, or can you just pay a year thats it? I don't like all the auto renewal nonsense, sometimes I just like to pay a one off charge for the year, and thats it.
 
depends if you want a basic cover that takes you to nearest/10m garage, or forwarding .. I've only opted for cheapest ~£20 options for 10+years,
but since I'm ffrequently driving older relations now & I'm older, pushing the boat out for a service that would take the car anywhere is useful, for £24/pa
 
If you have mobile internet, do you need breakdown cover at all? You can search for local recovery providers if necessary.

If you combine that with doing the basic checks on your car and regular maintenance, is it really worth a breakdown service?

I guess it depends how quickly you might need to be rescued.
 
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radderfire said:
If you have mobile internet, do you need breakdown cover at all? You can search for local recovery providers if necessary.
Click to expand...
You could be broken down in an unfamiliar area with patchy 4G etc coverage, making it difficult/impossible to search for anybody local.
 
When was the last time you broke down?

Run flats keep me rolling, and a battery jumper / tyre pump combi thing get me started if ever needed, anything else would be rare and unexpected and most likely require mechanical knowledge from a garage. You can arrange a tow as and when appropriate. If the dire situation occurs where you are in an emergency with no other option... Call up and join on the spot.

Did a 3000 mile drive around Europe in a 20yr old mini like that haha

You'll save a lot more this way, unless you're constantly breaking down...
 
I'm with Start rescue, for both my car and bike which gives me Euro cover too for not a lot of money.
 
We've been with green flag for 20 years now and I called them out once when the focus I had at the time went into limp mode about 15 years ago. I was at a friend's house.

Recovery truck arrived and offered to take me home. I declined as it was running, limped 20 miles home and fixed the car the next day (coil pack).

So I've never actually been recovered and must have spent a couple of grand on breakdown cover over the years.

Granted I'm probably paying over the odds and could look at cheaper options, but I know exactly what we are and are not covered for and plan around this.

The Mrs's car is also listed on the breakdown policy and if she gets stranded, she has a number to call for help and a wagon will take her and the car home.

IMO if you're a good driver the most likely thing to happen is a breakdown, and it's reassuring having a number to call that holds my details and will come out if needed.
 
I view it like any insurance, you pay for years without using it, but when you need it you're glad you've got it.

The only time I've used it in recent times was getting a flat on the A1 at a point with no hard shoulder. Not a pleasant experience being sat only a few feet off the carriageway so was happy that the RAC treated it as urgent and was there quite quickly.
 
Maybe have a look at this thread before going with the RAC.

The RAC have lost my car.

The wife's car broke down at my dad's place in Devon, weekend before last. RAC came out and arranged for the car to be relayed to my home address. They took it away on Saturday the 8th April. I've heard nothing since. Stuff I've done: Called them on the 11th to be told to email logistics...
forums.overclockers.co.uk forums.overclockers.co.uk

Personally im very happy with green flag
 
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