Associate
- Joined
- 25 Sep 2003
- Posts
- 2,340
- Location
- London UK
Hi everyone. Just got my RAC renewal quote through, and it's going to be almost £140 this year.
I think this is on the high side and am looking at other options before deciding whether to renew with the RAC or choose another breakdown organisation.
Just to summarise, my main vehicle which needs covering is my transit van, which is used every day by me for work.
I pay the standard RAC price for my level of cover, and then £5 or £10 extra for a "van premium".
I have always had Solution 3, which covers me for
Roadside
Roadside assistance anywhere in the UK 24 hours a day, 365 days a year providing you are at least a quarter of a mile from home. If we can't fix your car at the roadside within a reasonable time, then we'll give you a tow to a
nearby garage within a 10-mile radius.
Recovery
If we can't fix your vehicle locally, we'll provide Recovery for up to 8 people to any mainland destination.
At home
Breakdown assistance within a quarter of a mile of your home.
No Call-out discount
10% off your annual renewal fee for every year that you don't call us out, building up to a maximum of 50% after 5 years.
Accident care
Help and advice in the event of an accident even if the vehicle is still drivable.
Repair referrals
In the unlikely event that your vehicle cannot be fixed at the roadside, we can now offer an alternative of a tow to an RAC approved network of garages to carry out repairs (where available).
Now I had 2 experiences with the RAC recently which made me wonder about all of this.
Firstly, I broke down on the way to a customer. First time ever I had broke down in this van, and the RAC came within 1/2 hour and had me up and running again in 15 minutes. Fuel filter had "fallen off" which apparantly happens quite often on Transits if they aren't threaded pefectly. My reaction to this was "Thank god I pay for RAC breakdown cover".
Secondly, I was called to assist a ladyfriend who had broken down locally. I tried to fathom out what was wrong but couldn't so she said not to worry she would call the RAC using her card.
She called and was told that her membership expired 2 years previously and she hadn't paid the renewal premiums as requested. Then, to my suprise they said it's not a problem. They would send a RAC van out so long as she renewed her premium over the phone (with the RAC operator).
So finally my questions,
1) Why bother even having breakdown cover if you can call them up if and only when you actually breakdown, and save yourself the premiums in between?
2) Assuming you can't realistically do the above and save money, which is the best and most cost effective policy for my needs? I sometimes drive other cars with my 2 year old daughter in, so I need a policy that covers me for any car and the breakdown company needs to be reliable.
Mucho thanks in advance for your help guys
I think this is on the high side and am looking at other options before deciding whether to renew with the RAC or choose another breakdown organisation.
Just to summarise, my main vehicle which needs covering is my transit van, which is used every day by me for work.
I pay the standard RAC price for my level of cover, and then £5 or £10 extra for a "van premium".
I have always had Solution 3, which covers me for
Roadside
Roadside assistance anywhere in the UK 24 hours a day, 365 days a year providing you are at least a quarter of a mile from home. If we can't fix your car at the roadside within a reasonable time, then we'll give you a tow to a
nearby garage within a 10-mile radius.
Recovery
If we can't fix your vehicle locally, we'll provide Recovery for up to 8 people to any mainland destination.
At home
Breakdown assistance within a quarter of a mile of your home.
No Call-out discount
10% off your annual renewal fee for every year that you don't call us out, building up to a maximum of 50% after 5 years.
Accident care
Help and advice in the event of an accident even if the vehicle is still drivable.
Repair referrals
In the unlikely event that your vehicle cannot be fixed at the roadside, we can now offer an alternative of a tow to an RAC approved network of garages to carry out repairs (where available).
Now I had 2 experiences with the RAC recently which made me wonder about all of this.
Firstly, I broke down on the way to a customer. First time ever I had broke down in this van, and the RAC came within 1/2 hour and had me up and running again in 15 minutes. Fuel filter had "fallen off" which apparantly happens quite often on Transits if they aren't threaded pefectly. My reaction to this was "Thank god I pay for RAC breakdown cover".
Secondly, I was called to assist a ladyfriend who had broken down locally. I tried to fathom out what was wrong but couldn't so she said not to worry she would call the RAC using her card.
She called and was told that her membership expired 2 years previously and she hadn't paid the renewal premiums as requested. Then, to my suprise they said it's not a problem. They would send a RAC van out so long as she renewed her premium over the phone (with the RAC operator).
So finally my questions,
1) Why bother even having breakdown cover if you can call them up if and only when you actually breakdown, and save yourself the premiums in between?
2) Assuming you can't realistically do the above and save money, which is the best and most cost effective policy for my needs? I sometimes drive other cars with my 2 year old daughter in, so I need a policy that covers me for any car and the breakdown company needs to be reliable.
Mucho thanks in advance for your help guys
.