Difference between big name and no name breakdown cover

[LowEndTorque]

Thank you for your replies guys. I haven't ran a quote on Green Flag yet. Will do it and see what comes out. The AA people said that I cannot get the discount prices of £168 as it is for new customers only. That does not make sense to me as returning customers should get low prices or price matched. Just like car insurance these services seem to have shot up in prices.

 

[Werewolf]

I've had greenflag for a few years and the one time I needed them they were with me in about 30-45 minutes which wasn't terrible.

 

[shifty_uk]

My brother had AA and after needing them a few times one year they actually refused to come out anymore lol.

So its break down cover that is quite limited when it suits them.

Sounds like you need to spec your brother a new motor

Its ‘unlimited’ call outs except for recurring issues.

Used the AA a good few times over the years, always been excellent, worth the peace of mind.

 

[adam cool dude]

I have broken down once in 20 years of driving and if I had the tools I could have fixed it. (Split coolant hose).

Now I always keep a roll of fiberfix and scissors in my mini toolbox in the boot so I am covered for most things.

I was with AA but just seems like a waste of money. I'd rather roll the dice and pay the £100 if needed for a call out.

 

[MissChief]

Worth considering Nationwide Flex plus at £13 per month, you get European breakdown cover, mobile and travel insurance, it's a fantastic deal.
The breakdown cover is with AA as well, I've used them (via Nationwide) and have always been decent but it is indeed luck of the draw!

I have AA cover (and travel insurance, mobile insurance and home emergency cover) with my Halifax premium reward account. I think it’s about £17pm and I’ve used the AA cover a couple of times. Once for a flat tyre and the tyre release in the boot for the underslung spare was rusted so wouldn’t budge with a normal tool and when I had a flat battery. Both times I felt I wasn’t treated any differently for not being a direct customer and I had someone to me within an hour. Both times it was an actual AA bod too.

 

[DarkBahamut]

Before Covid, they took 11hrs to get me at most 1.5-2hrs home. I can't imagine how bad they must be now if they've got even worse since then.

We had RAC cover. I broke down last year (failed brake/siezed caliper), around 85 miles from home. Our recovery took 18 hours.

We were initially told 30 minutes to attend due to high prioirty (broken down on 70 MPH road), that took 7 hours for attendance, who recovered us to a motorway services 50 miles from home with further onwards recovery "on the way". After another 8 hours they arranged a taxi for us, who took 2 hours to turn up, then an hour home.

Oh, and the car took 3 days to turn up after that.

I don't think I'd have any qualms about trying the "no name" players these days. None of our recoveries took place by RAC patrols anyway. It was all 3rd party companies they contracted after they got fed up of me moaning on the phone about being stuck on the side road all day (and night!).

 

[ver01@]

I've only used breakdown for the main car of the family - all the other never had breakdown (unless it was included in the insurance). Everyone knows how to change a wheel in the family.

 

[Uther]

I've only used breakdown for the main car of the family - all the other never had breakdown (unless it was included in the insurance). Everyone knows how to change a wheel in the family.

I know how to change a wheel, but I'm not going to do it on the hard shoulder of a motorway.

 

[adam cool dude]

I know how to change a wheel, but I'm not going to do it on the hard shoulder of a motorway.

Why not just ring the police and they will shut down 1 lane whilst you do it!

 

[ver01@]

I know how to change a wheel, but I'm not going to do it on the hard shoulder of a motorway.

You wont have to do it unless you don't have run flats that will allow you to exit the motorway.

 

[Uther]

Why not just ring the police and they will shut down 1 lane whilst you do it!

And risk getting my Gucci belt dirty? I think not.

 

[RedMogg]

RAC took 8 hours to attend my daughter's car - she was at my parents' house, but at 6am she needed to get to Uni.
They kept telling her "won't be long" - if they'd been upfront about the length of time, she would have just caught the bus and not missed her lectures.

When the van finally got to her, the young chap was quick to diagnose the issue and put it right. My mother did her usual of trying to match-make, persistently, which was rather awkward when my daughter had to say "Öma, he's as gay as I am".
The lad looked incredibly relieved, as my mother retreated indoors "to get another cuppa; I assume he takes two sugars?"

Probably not the most well-thought out Coming Out to the Grandparents story, but possibly one of the funniest.

 

[adam cool dude]

And risk getting my Gucci belt dirty? I think not.

It will get dirty very quickly when you're standing up an embankment for hours whilst you get truckers tizer thrown at you.

 

[Uther]

It will get dirty very quickly when you're standing up an embankment for hours whilst you get truckers tizer thrown at you.

I did have a HGV licence, I can return the favour...

 

[LowEndTorque]

Called the AA and cancelled my renewal. They didn't even bother to stop me. I did say to them that their quote is way too high, and I have had no call outs in the past two years for me to be paying a higher price. All they said was thanks for staying with them for 6 years.

Going with Green Flag for next year. Same cover as AA, Home Assist, National Recovery and two people covered. All for £101.92 against AA's £170.42. I added the Missus'car that is a 16 plate on the policy as mine is a 59 plate. Mine is still covered as it falls under the 16 year old car but they didn't want to record the plate on the policy. Felt like an arbitrary figure to come up with for the vehicle age to not be covered.