Which breakdown service?

[Gucci]

Got to thinking about renewing my breakdown cover. The only time I ever used a service was back in 1999 for a Vauxhall Cavaliar flat battery in high street and in 2005 for a faulty alarm on a Z3... both with the AA

So, difficult to know who to go with. I'm with Green Flag, but no idea what they're like when the chips are down.

We use the car for dropping little one off to Nursery, but it can be walked in an emergency or by taxi. So, we're not really dependent on the car as such.

Who do you recommend and what package?

 

[flango]

Insurance choice absolutely brilliant, called them out twice once when check strap went on the CLK and when Puma battery filed in France, were there in 30 mins no hassle nice people wouldn't use anybody else now

 

[A210AMG]

Hello

I bank with Barclays and as part of our account we get 'free' RAC cover, comprehensive cover that includes Roadside, Recovery, European and At Home Assistance.

Its also me thats covered not the car so handy if needed...


So worth checking you don't already have something?

Never used it but nice to know its there, especially when in Europe or down south with the caravan

 

[219]

I am currently insured with RAC and get roadside assistance as part of the deal . Having said that , I've never needed it .

I carry a good set of tools and some useful spares , so can fix most things myself .

 

[robertc43]

I think the AA provide a great service. I've called on them several times and in all cases except one, I got a dedicated AA patrol vehicle within about 45 minutes. I was advised by the last mechanic who helped that they are very choosey about who they employ - most of their mechanics are trained as master technicians from main dealer garages.

In the one case where they sent a non-AA mechanic, the man had little knowledge and the service was poor. I appreciate this is anecdotal, but this puts me off buying cheap cover where you're likely to get assistance from a local breakdown firm without expert training on getting your car moving again.

As for the level of cover, you need to work out what fits your needs. Personally I think homestart cover is a must but because I don't drive many miles and I'm rarely far from home, I don't opt for relay cover.

I buy cover for myself rather than for my car and that has proven to be a smart move as I've called on them twice for a car that wasn't my own.

 

[Dryce]

So, difficult to know who to go with. I'm with Green Flag, but no idea what they're like when the chips are down.

We use the car for dropping little one off to Nursery, but it can be walked in an emergency or by taxi. So, we're not really dependent on the car as such.

Who do you recommend and what package?

We're with Green Flag since we stoped dealer servicing and came off Mobilo.

Over the years we've been with AA, RAC, and Green Flag (aka Direct Line).

Over the years we've had OK experiences with all three.

Had some niggles with the AA with whom we've had most call outs. Even in urban areas they will use subcontractors at night for recovery - and on one occasion tried to suggest we leave the car until morning. They also sent out the wrong type of recovery vehicle to try and tow a rear wheel drive auto.

We go for relay and homestart package with GF because they were cheapest to cover both our cars. Cover is on the vehicles not the drivers as this was cheaper.

With relay it means that if your car can't be fixed at the roadside you can get the car recovered to the location/dealer/indy of your choice - not just to a local garage of their choice. We do a significant proportion of our mileage in the west and north east of Scotland. Not many local MB dealers or independent specialists when you get out of central Scotland.

And the homestart is there because we have found over the years that a significant proportion of call outs have been because the car won't start at home or there has been a problem within a mile or two of our home.

 

[hawk20]

AA and RAC are expensive. You can pay for some bank accounts that include membership but I prefer to have a free account.

The AA website shows full AA cover in the UK for man and wife at around £140 per year. And for European cover they want another £100. That is more than the cost of an A service at an MB dealer, so I find the free MObilo breakdown cover with full MB service history well worthwhile. Pity it is not one of the options in the poll. BTW it covers all drivers of your car (unlike the AA con where extra drivers cost more).

Worth checking T's and C's because some bank or insurance provided services only cover one driver. And often don't include all that is covered by full AA/Rac/Mobilo cover.

 

[Dryce]

AA and RAC are expensive. You can pay for some bank accounts that include membership but I prefer to have a free account.

Good point about the bank account route.

What we found was for a single car/driver then the cover options apart from the most basic look expensive.

As soon as you get family cover or cover for two cars all three became much cheaper. GF are a bit more agresssive as the third player.

This year because we had no callouts last year GF charged £94 for two cars inc home and relay.

£47 per car is not bad IMHO.

At the other end of the scale AA for cover on relative (driver as opposed to car) was £179 this year. They are negotiable. Said relative phoned them after learning what GF would charge him and they matched it.

That is more than the cost of an A service at an MB dealer, so I find the free Mobilo breakdown cover with full MB service history well worthwhile.

Problem is that not every service is a basic A service.

If you don't make use of the Mobilo European cover then its value is poorer too.

To get my book stamped last year by a dealer for a 50,000 mile Assyst+ F service (B plus various extras) was being quoted at £1200 after going through the service sheet.

Complete no-brainer to switch to an indy and cough up for GF.

 

[killwilly]

Insurance choice absolutely brilliant, called them out twice once when check strap went on the CLK and when Puma battery filed in France, were there in 30 mins no hassle nice people wouldn't use anybody else now

I totally agree with you. I had a power steering pump fail on a BMW in France a few years ago and IC were fantastic, dealt with everything including a hire car whilst mine was off the road. I still recommend them to anyone who asks the question.

 

[GP801]

We have used RAC a few times over the years. Expensive but excellent service including in europe. Only experience of AA was dreadful - their recovery agent caused damage to the car and the AA refused to accept any liability. I realise this is only anecdotal but would never touch the AA again.

 

[GP801]

We have used RAC a few times over the years. Expensive but excellent service including in europe. Only experience of AA was dreadful - their recovery agent caused damage to the car and the AA refused to accept any liability. I realise this is only anecdotal but would never touch the AA again.

 

[Spinal]

I have a few friends with large cars and tow ropes... does that count?

 

[jaymanek]

think they will all have horror stories attached to them as of course when you break down, you are not going to be in a good mood anyway...

we have been with the AA for as long as i can remember, we have the top level cover. The one time they really cheesed me off was when I had a blown out tyre on my W123... somehow my spare alloy had got mixed up from years ago and was the incorrect offset so i couldnt use it.
I was around 20 miles from home/work where a new tyre would cost me next to nothing... instead they insisted they wouldnt tow me back home, instead they would take me to one of their nominated tyre monkeys.... I even offered to pay but they say no...
So we go 10 miles back into nottingham where the chimps want to charge me £120 for a tyre I can get for £20-30... Im not having it...
I suggest they swap my tyre from the spare...the manager wont have this as its not the same speed rating as my other tyres..
Im getting seriously peeved as i could have been home long ago if they had just towed me... i have a rant at the AA who then agree to tow me home... this takes 2 hours to sort out...
About 90 minutes in the manager feels like he doesnt want to be a jobsworth now and agrees to swap my spare tyre... costs me around £20 and im off...

Missed a load of appointments that day.

The other thing that annoys me is the fact they always want to send a noddy van first and then i have to wait 2-3 hours for a proper truck who may only take you part of the way home.

But in general they have been good for us...

 

[SL300-24]

Hello

I bank with Barclays and as part of our account we get 'free' RAC cover, comprehensive cover that includes Roadside, Recovery, European and At Home Assistance.

Its also me thats covered not the car so handy if needed...


So worth checking you don't already have something?

Never used it but nice to know its there, especially when in Europe or down south with the caravan

Thanks ....I too have a Barclays Premier account, but thought the RAC cover was just the basic get you home deal. Must read the CD they gave me

 

[kwakdonut]

RAC cover using Tesco Clubcard vouchers makes it super value at a quarter of the price!

 

[SilverSaloon]

I got full AA cover (well everything apart from home-start) for £45 this year. I did this by going via one of the cashback sites, and also getting their Winter offer they had at the time. this was also for my wife on it too as a joint member. worth checking out the cashback sites.

 

[proser]

I have mine with the Caravan Club Mayday service (provided by GF) - provides full cover for car and caravan, with double journey within the UK. This covers the car.

Rang them up asking if they do joint cover (wife's car is ending it's 3yr warranty) and ended up getting personal cover for both of us for an additional £20 til April, as it was cheaper than 2 car cover

 

[219]

I have a few friends with large cars and tow ropes... does that count?

I have a couple of large cars and tow ropes - quite a few of my friends avail themselves of Derek's breakdown service , too

 

[219]

I remember being accosted many years ago outside a supermarket by someone trying to sell AA membership - quick as a flash ,I replied ' I don't need it : I DRIVE A MERCEDES-BENZ ' . The poor guy wasn't quick enough to have an answer ready , and was gobsmacked when I drove by a couple of minutes later , giving him a friendly toot and a wave , in the Ponton

 

[Grimez]

I have RAC and I haven't ever broke down in my life yet so I can't give you any advice, sorry mate