Recommendations For Cheap But Reliable Breakdown Cover

[GLPoomobile 958]

Got my AA renewal through. £110 for roadside assistance and home recovery. Considering the small number of miles I do per year I can't justify spending £110 on yet another insurance policy, but equally I'd rather not take the risk of having no cover as I'd be out of my depth if I broke down in the Alfa.

 

Assuming that many companies give introductory offers that'll probably get me covered for half that price (as was the case with the AA), who would you recommend?

[M@tt 77]

http://www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk/

 

this who i use

 

£38/year for homestart etc

 

was recommended on that moneysavingexpert.com site. I've used them numerous times when the missus' crappy old golf shat it on a frequent basis. Basically they call out a local recovery service, you have to pay them but then sent off the invoice and they reimburse you with a cheque within a couple of days.

 

HTH

[Paul_13 212 1 Cars]

Pay monthly like I do, seems like less money

[Masekwm 2]

Call up to cancel and they'll offer the rate you paid last year. We are currently without cover as I keep forgetting to buy some, but I'll probably go for Autoaid as I've been annoyed so many times by the AA & RAC.

[SurGie 54]

I have RAC through the banks monthly account fee i pay, i also get phone/holiday insurance as well as other things included. I pay about the same as that £110 AA price tag in monthly payments, so not bad really compared.

Edited September 10, 2011 by SurGie

[Masekwm 2]

Surgie - Which bank and does it include Relay & Homestart?

[Alastairh 47]

Sign up as a new customer on the AA web site and you'll get it for the price you paid last year. They do it to me every year, but get told where to go.

 

Al

[omega 82]

Surgie - Which bank and does it include Relay & Homestart?

 

tsb does but you pay 25 a month you get other things like phone/travel/ insurance household cover,etc etc

you have to work it out if the benefits are worth it to you.a tip is if you make it a joint account both of you get the benefits so for us it works out.

before this i was with a company called G.E.M same system as auto aid you phone a number they arrange it all for you or if you are broke down outside a garage you can arrange it yourself.you pay them and claim the money back.i used them about 8 times and each time got my money back within the week,so if you have a credit card theres no real outlay.

also if you check out some of the cashback websites you can get good deals

[Steve.C 0]

I have double cover through with the RAC, first is via my bank account (Barclays) and the other is via my car insurance, word of advice though...

Be carefull if you choose coverage via a bank account as some of the lower account fees only give minimal breakdown cover, i.e your only covered within 10miles of your home address! we found this out when g/f broke down, I had a 'chat' with the patrolman after he said he couldn't recover her as she was too far from home (13miles away!) I said fine, I will drive over and tow the car 3.5miles then you do your job!

[SurGie 54]

Surgie - Which bank and does it include Relay & Homestart?

 

 

Its with Barclays, i pay £16 per month for my additions account. Although they have changed that part of it, now its called something else with a few different bits/options added. As i have a good deal with the type i have i can still keep it, it also keeps the overdraft interest lower when the overdraft goes over £300 mark, under is interest free

 

Iv been with quite a few banks through my time and Barclays is the only one that has measured up and served me well, even though im not on the biggest wages out there

 

It does inc the full breakdown package mate.

[stuart1298 6]

I have been with Rac and aa over the years, no one I no will use aa anymore. I deal with the Rac through work and would always go with them now

[SurGie 54]

Really, i had the worse day with them, it took 13 hours to get home 150 miles away

 

AA however was always there quick when i had them years ago.

[dcc 855]

Speak to your bank. lloyds offer brilliant cover with their accounts.

[stuart1298 6]

To be honest, I think it's down to who cones out. I told aa my cam belt snapped, n they had a van with now towing gear turn up. Another amusing one my missus broke down in a 2.0 n/a engined car, they told her the reason it broke down is cos re turbo was screwed... Quite amusing as it didn't have a turbo and the problem was a head gasket and warped engine, it was one of her company cars, turns out it ended up with a new engine, ECU, and wiring loom

[Paul_13 212 1 Cars]

I wouldn't use the breakdown cover offered from banks. I know a few people that have been shafted after the cover doesn't cover them at all for the circumstances.

I have only ever come across one idiot from the AA who couldnt diagnose a faulty alternator, wouldn't tow me home either. Said it ran so what's the problem?! Broke down 5 miles down the motorway again.

2nd AA bloke come out, knew what it was straight away. Big bar and hammer, wallop on alternator. It jumped back to life and got me home. Much better service!

[richsmells 2]

I signed up to AA through Quidco and got the £75 cover with £46 cash back, which i've just had though. I signed up about three months ago and i've had them out twice... for the girlfriend's car.

[GLPoomobile 958]

RAC - got very bad reports on Watchdog the other day

 

Have got Greenflag cover through Natwest, but haven't checked the T&Cs yet. I was at the bank yesterday changing my loan, and always sign up to their Advantage Gold account when I change my loan as you get 1% knocked off the APR, and then I cancel the Advantage Gold afterwards. If the Greenflag cover looks adequate, and if the other benefits are worth me using, then I'll keep the Advantage Gold account this time (£13 per month).

 

AA & Quidco - that's how I got my initial AA membership. I assumed (In fact I'm sure it's in the T&Cs) that you couldn't cancel and then get the lower introductory rate again. Same with most things. They keep your details on record and will know if you are trying to pull a fast one. But if Alastair has done it then I could give it a go.

[notamondayfan 44]

I recommend going through Quidco with the AA. The AA are very good, they repaired my snapped clutch cable (bike) in 30mins so I could drive home. Cash back is a no-brainer too, it usually takes a month or two to come through, but is always paid.

 

I was with the RAC, but their renewal was more than the website costs, so I rang them up and asked about the price, and they said it was only for new customers. You can't cancel and re-sign with them as you have to have 9 months gaps before you are considered as a new customer. Also don't be tempted to do their whole "don't pay for 3 months" thing, it's just a con. Basically if you breakdown in those 3 months, you then have to pay for the full membership, so don't think about it as 3 months free breakdown cover, more like a delayed payment.

 

Deano

[Baz 421]

ADAC.

[GilesW 41]

ADAC too.