timolloyd Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 I've been avoiding an annual subscription to any of these for a few years now. Most of my cars have been of the set-fire-to-it-and-walk-away variety, should they FTP.However, a baby is on the way, a tidy but unknown quantity XC90 is on the drive...and of course more chod will be incoming.So, I'm looking for recommendations for annual breakdown and recovery membership. Needs to cover the driver not the car (as in, whatever the driver is using at the time) and obviously cover any age of vehicle. Last time I did this there were all sorts of silly stipulations about the vehicle being less than 10 years old. Which is stupid because all moderns etc.... All advice gratefully received. beko1987 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doobietoo Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Personally I swap between RAC and AA playing one off against the other, this year it was £71 for both of us for everything except the home start as I live on a hill and can roll it to the outside of the half a mile limit timolloyd 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkNWeigh Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 The RAC have looked after me and mine pretty well for the last 30 odd years. The latest was yesterday, with, as usual , the newest car I own. They were there in 25 minutes , friendly bloke admitted he probably wouldn't be able to do much more than get me recovered. But was happy to talk to the Merc place I use and read them the codes and they pointed him to the collapsed pipe on the intercooler. Got me mobile within in 15 mins.The guys seem happy to get to work on something older, one of my daughters had a balljoint collapse on an MX5 a couple of years ago at uni and the bloke didn't just recover it , he got another patrol to pick a pair up and changed both sides.The only issues I've ever had are when the RAC sub out recoveries, 4 hours waiting in Knightsbridge last year ( again with a modern) for a contractor to find a vehicle big enough to take me home. Comes to mind. Needless to say I get much more than my monies worth for the top family cover each year, it helps that we pay for it with Tesco Points. Tickman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timolloyd Posted February 25, 2017 Author Share Posted February 25, 2017 it helps that we pay for it with Tesco Points Top tip, that. Hadn't even occurred to me. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timolloyd Posted February 25, 2017 Author Share Posted February 25, 2017 Personally I swap between RAC and AA playing one off against the other, this year it was £71 for both of us for everything except the home start as I live on a hill and can roll it to the outside of the half a mile limit Now I'm going to sound dumb but...I didn't realise you could haggle based on who's offered what price. Good to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rantingYoof Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 I've been impressed with Green Flag. Used them when Mason FTPed, came out in twenty minutes in horrific weather. Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Snipes Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Have used the AA a few times and always been impressed with the service. Once had to buy a battery on the spot and the price was surprisingly reasonable. We pay them as part of a package current account with the TSB bank. With the extra mobile phone cover and IIRC travel insurance it's excellent value for money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themildbunch Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 We get free AA cover with Peter James multi car classic policy - worked well so far and they've always believed me when I said I need a truck and it can't be fixed at the roadside! - cheap for cars over 20 years... crazy expensive for moderns though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Furious Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Another vote for the AA here, had one bad experience which is documented in the dusty archives of this parish, but on the whole they've always been superb Rescued me a couple of weeks ago with a traffic-side flat tyre on the motorway, from calling them to being on my way was less than an hour 9/10 would break down with again timolloyd 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timolloyd Posted February 25, 2017 Author Share Posted February 25, 2017 I've been impressed with Green Flag. Used them when Mason FTPed, came out in twenty minutes in horrific weather. Sent from my GT-I9505 using TapatalkI've looked in to Green Flag, but they're pretty vague on their website about cover for any car. I'm directed toward Personal Cover, but they want the reg numbers of the cars we currently have (which doesn't inspire confidence that they'd come out for any other vehicle) and there's a sneaky line about covering vehicles less than 16 years old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeRover Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 We were with autoaid, now got cover through the nationwide bank as they cover up to 3.5t and any age timolloyd and colino 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripped fred Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 I've been with autoaid for a few years now. Had to call them out a few times. I think they're great as a low cost option. Craig the Princess and loserone 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moog Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Only challenge with bank ones is that they often only cover recovery for 10 miles. Above that you have to pay I swap between AA & Rac using quidco and it makes it about £65 a year timolloyd 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Furious Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 You have to give the AA a reg plate even tho it's personal cover, think the policy has to be registered against a car or something. They've never queried coming out to other cars though, including a 23 year old Granada that broke down with a caravan Naturally I gave them the reg plate of the newest car for the quote in the hope of a more favourable premium, think it was £100 for the year with everything bar home start, you can add other people to it for about a tenner too if they live at the same address. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig the Princess Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Why do people pay £100odd pounds when autoaid does as good a job for £42? loserone, stripped fred, Rusty_Rocket and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rantingYoof Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 I've looked in to Green Flag, but they're pretty vague on their website about cover for any car. I'm directed toward Personal Cover, but they want the reg numbers of the cars we currently have (which doesn't inspire confidence that they'd come out for any other vehicle) and there's a sneaky line about covering vehicles less than 16 years old. Yes, well, Mason was retrieved under personal cover but I later found out they didn't have any obligation to help as he was over their age limit for personally covered vehicles. So they went above and beyond to help a muppet who hadn't declared that he'd changed vehicle from a Saab 9-3 to an LS400, and then weren't even obliged to help me once I'd sorted it out when calling them for help. So while I can see how this might be viewed as sneaky, I am pleased that they decided to overlook this and help me anyway. timolloyd 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Furious Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Mainly because I'd never heard of autoaid before today. But I might give them a look when the AA cover is up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeRover Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Why do people pay £100odd pounds when autoaid does as good a job for £42?Only recover up to about 2 ton for commercials in my case Craig the Princess 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripped fred Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Mainly because I'd never heard of autoaid before today. But I might give them a look when the AA cover is upI broke down a week after taking out cover and had to be recovered about 100 miles. I had to pay and then claimed it back which didn't take long. I'm not sure if they've changed this requirement now though as can't see it mentioned on their wedsite. They also cover your wife for free and include home breakdowns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loserone Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 I've called them twice now, both times the recovery has been a local company very happy to be doing the work, and neither time have I had to pay up front. A++ will no doubt break down again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacquer Peel Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 My AXA breakdown cover (roadside rescue, onward travel etc.) costs around £60/year via my insurance company. No complaints, reasonably quick response on Hogmanay when the Berlingo borked its engine but I might look at Autoaid once the year is up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_Rocket Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Another Autoaid customer here too. Simple/ straightforward and no age limit on cars (v useful for us!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slappy Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Both my girlfriend and I are with Autoaid. Very reasonable for what seems to be a decent coverage. Mr Fred, you're quite correct, they've changed their policy and you don't have to pay up front any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tickman Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 I am with the RAC using tesco points.Personal cover for me and Marianne and they have never let me down when needed.Best one was when I was having trouble with the Minor and it failed to start when trying to get home, the guy came out and went through everything it could be and fitted the parts I had in the car. He said it was a nice change to come to something he could sort without a computer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig the Princess Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 I broke down a week after taking out cover and had to be recovered about 100 miles. I had to pay and then claimed it back which didn't take long. I'm not sure if they've changed this requirement now though as can't see it mentioned on their wedsite. They also cover your wife for free and include home breakdowns.Yes, that changed early last year. No need to pay and reclaim now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig the Princess Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Only recover up to about 2 ton for commercials in my caseGood point, we have first call for the LDV400 as they also cover large trailers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_Q Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Both my girlfriend and I are with Autoaid. Very reasonable for what seems to be a decent coverage. Mr Fred, you're quite correct, they've changed their policy and you don't have to pay up front any more.Autoaid here too. Don't know if it applies to you but they cover me and my wife on any car for the £43 per year. Don't know if you have to be married or live together or what. I've never used them but I like the fact its national recovery with no mileage limit, if one of my heaps expires I want it dragging home not to the nearest kwikfit. timolloyd 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timolloyd Posted February 25, 2017 Author Share Posted February 25, 2017 Thanks very much for all the recommendations.I've gone with Autoaid. £42.50 for my wife and I, any car (apart from LHD or campervan over 2500cc), with a 13% discount via Quidco. No Europe or home start, but that doesn't bother me too much.The whole 'you and your wife' thing seems a bit UKIP-y, but guess that's like insurance policies. Rusty_Rocket 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael1703 Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 I've been with RAC and AA and RAC is 99% bettererer for recoverys AA relay you between different patches, so broke down in Devon, got dumped at Bristol,waited 75 minutes in Bristol,got dumped at Reading and then waited for another driver for an hour and then his hours were up 45 mins from home so we had to stop for his driver break timolloyd 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bub2006 Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Aa cocked me about so went with rac. They then ripped front bumper off audi, no apologies, left me stranded with my lad at night with the kia , no apologies. I told them to cancel policy, they said yes but carried on taking money. I played merry hell and still no apology for anything. I do need breakdown though and overall the rac were better than the yellow fellas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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