Recovery service through Nationwide Building Society

[baxlin]

I’ve just renewed my travel insurance through Nationwide, and to do this I had to upgrade to an ‘admin fee’ account. However, UK and European breakdown cover is now also included, underwritten by AA Insurance.

Anyone used this? The reason I ask is that I’ve been a member of RAC since 1978, and thinking of cancelling, in favour of the N’wide. The main difference I can see is that with the RAC Mrs B and me are covered even if we are a passenger in someone else’s car, but the N’wide only covers my/our own vehicles, but anyone driving with our permission.

By cancelling the RAC, I will save about £175 a year, which almost pays for the whole N’wide package - breakdown, travel and mobile phone insurances! (I can’t opt out of the N’wide cover if I want the travel cover, it’s a package)

Would I be daft to cancel (or not renew) the RAC cover, or even dafter not to? I’m now retired, and do a max of 8000 miles a year.

 

[GP801]

I have the Nationwide cover. Used it once when in Italy. Service was good but at that time it was provided by Britannia. I must recheck the cover because it used to cover you in any vehicle. One advantage is that there is no vehicle age limit on European cover.

 

[st13phil]

Would I be daft to cancel (or not renew) the RAC cover, or even dafter not to?

I haven’t used the Nationwide packaged breakdown cover, but…

Service was good but at that time it was provided by Britannia.

…it will depend upon who it’s contracted out to.

Based upon my experience of claiming from the Nationwide packaged phone insurance, my gut feel would be to cancel the RAC cover. FWIW, their travel policy is almost identical to the Direct Line travel policy I also cancelled in favour of the Nationwide package.

 

[W1ghty]

I’ve had it for a few years through an account because I go to France a couple of times a year . Never used it but the fact there is no vehicle age limit works for me .
Never heard of any issues with it on the forums and it has come up a few times over the years with people discussing it .

 

[Benzowner]

Not through Nationwide, but had similar and used a couple of times over the past years, once when as a passenger, I.e. not my car, and received excellent service. Also my package included telephone and holiday insurance

 

[baxlin]

Seems to be positive so far, thanks.

Hope I’m not too naive to expect the owner of a vehicle I’m a passenger in to have breakdown cover…

 

[GP801]

Just checked. It does still cover you as a passenger in any vehicle as long as it is UK registered, taxed and MoTd.

 

[baxlin]

Just checked. It does still cover you as a passenger in any vehicle as long as it is UK registered, taxed and MoTd.

Many thanks! Just looked at the small print buried in page 6 of the booklet - see attached.

The separate summary only refers to ‘your car’, whether being driven by the account holder or a n other with permission, no mention of ‘any car’.

So, it’s worth £13 a month (plus age extension of £65 to have all this!

 

[Dryce]

Many thanks! Just looked at the small print buried in page 6 of the booklet - see attached.

The separate summary only refers to ‘your car’, whether being driven by the account holder or a n other with permission, no mention of ‘any car’.

So, it’s worth £13 a month (plus age extension of £65 to have all this!

Interestingly - that looks like it would cover you in a hire car.

(There's a tendency in small print to mention that you are only covered in a privately registered vehicle).

 

[SW18]

I have the Nationwide fee-paying account and can vouch for the breakdown insurance, Britannia were great when I broke down. They seem to contract out to local recovery firms, but that was not an issue, the attending company were fast and helpful.

As well as the travel insurance, that account used to insure cracked mobile phone screens too, not sure if it still does? It was a benefit that has been well used in this house!

 

[baxlin]

Yep, worldwide mobile phone cover included, almost too good to be true!

 

[MrGreedy]

I've got the Nationwide cover. Claimed once for a new (old) iPhone and they did a reasonable like for like replacement (I.e. a new phone from the tale end of old stock, a bit better than the one that got smashed). I've used the breakdown cover also. It happened to be a Green Flag recovery van on that occasion on M25.

 

[clk320x]

Thanks for mentioning this account.

Just looked into it….

In short an absolute bargain!

Just renewed my breakdown for the car, and looked into travel insurance for our USA trip soon…. It would be 1/2 the price to just get this account

Cancellation incoming & a new nationwide account on the way.

 

[Williamwoo]

We used them when we had a puncture in France in my S212 - they couldn't source a replacement tyre for a few days and they gave us a hire car to tide us over. They also paid for taxis to take me to the hire company's premises to pick the car up, and again when I returned the car when ours was ready. Fantastic service - would definitely recommend.

 

[baxlin]

Update: I’ve now cancelled my RAC cover, getting a refund of unused premium. They asked why I was cancelling mid-year, and acknowledged I wasn’t the first to cancel in favour of the Nationwide policy…