Roadside recovery recommendations? GEM changed their policy...

[ChrisHGTV]

Hello all

my wife and I were with the AA for more than 15 years but the annual call to renegotiate the ridiculous increase became too tedious and even then it was getting increasingly expensive especially as we didn’t have one call out. So last year we switched to GEM after reading good reviews. £129 to cover our three cars for Recovery Extra joint. We paid a surcharge then for europe cover but it wasnt much.

I felt a bit sorry for them as we ended up calling them out after the gearbox ate itself on my wife’s Abarth 500 on the way to Whitstable. Recovery to a transmission specialist near our home was efficient. They used a local recovery company who did a good enough job.

I was about to renew but noticed they now only recover to a suitable garage within 10 miles or you have to pay costs associated with a further distance. This is a huge change should you break down far from home with all the hassle of collecting the car!

so any other recommendations for recovery? We have three cars, including my 20 year old Alfa.

cheers!

 

[jdrrco]

We use AutoAid. Have had to call them out once and very good. Again, they use local recovery people. Not aware of any 10-mile rule.

They were recommended by MoneySavingExpert site

 

[rf065]

Have a look at Award Winning UK Car Breakdown and Recovery Cover from AutoAid

 

[Marquisofraspberry]

+1 for autoaid. Called them out twice, both times great service.

 

[ChrisHGTV]

Great, thanks for the recommendations will check them out!

 

[ChrisHGTV]

Sorted £60! Thanks folks!

 

[219]

I just don’t bother ; I’ve twice had to pay for a recovery in 30 years , £200 all in .

It’s cheaper just to pay a recovery company on the rare occasion you need it .

 

[Dryce]

I was about to renew but noticed they now only recover to a suitable garage within 10 miles or you have to pay costs associated with a further distance. This is a huge change should you break down far from home with all the hassle of collecting the car!

I thought you said you have 'recovery extra' - does that not include taking the vehicle to a destination of your choice?

Complication with reading these policies is that they cover multiple levels of cover and separate limitations for braekdown at/near home, and for daling with tyres.

 

[Dryce]

It’s cheaper just to pay a recovery company on the rare occasion you need it .

I'm happy to cough just under £50 a year. If the worst happened at say up at Durness it would ultimately get looked after and car brought back to my indy. SWMBO pays the same for her car - I'm happy that she can call someone and just get it sorted if I'm working away.

Depends where and what you drive.

It's a form of insurance - which is optional - so question is what's the worst case vs the cost and also what's the peace of mind vs the cost.

 

[ChrisHGTV]

I thought you said you have 'recovery extra' - does that not include taking the vehicle to a destination of your choice?

Complication with reading these policies is that they cover multiple levels of cover and separate limitations for braekdown at/near home, and for daling with tyres.

Yes it’s not always clear for sure! Yes we had recovery extra and when the gearbox went on the Abarth it was no problem to get it recovered to a garage near us as it couldn’t be fixed locally. But with the renewal notice there was an update on policy changes with the 10 mile limit, without incurring additional cost.

ive often thought about not bothering with recovery, it’s more if my wife ever gets stuck and I’m away to be honest.

 

[ChrisHGTV]

Definitely always get recovery insurance when we take the car out of the country and just pay a small premium for that. A friend once had to abandon a car in the South of France after the auto box failed and he had no recovery. It was cheaper to leave it with a French breakers yard! We were on a cycling tour and the resultant adventure to get back with bikes etc turned into a bit of an epic!

 

[Deleted member 6183]

I just don’t bother ; I’ve twice had to pay for a recovery in 30 years , £200 all in .

It’s cheaper just to pay a recovery company on the rare occasion you need it .

I had a pal who had a similar view on life insurance.

 

[219]

I had a pal who had a similar view on life insurance.

Well , that depends on whether you have any dependants , or even if you do , whether you have sufficient assets to bury you and leave something to loved ones . Also on ages .