Car breakdown cover

[chillyuk]

I have been with the AA for 10 years and have had 3 callouts in that time and have no complaints about their service which on all three occasions has been superb. However they are getting expensive, about £140pa. As things are getting tight in my household we are looking for savings and I see lots of alternative providers offering the same service as the AA at less than half the AA charge. I could join the RAC for £70 odd as an introductory offer, which is what I am favouring at the moment, but I was wondering if anyone has any experiences of other providers they could suggest looking at. I would prefer practical experiences rather than a simple internet search, which I have already done.

 

[PBancroft]

When you get your renewal through from the AA do you phone them up to ask them to match the price they are offering to new customers?

My wife does this (and has done for the past four years or so). Each time they jokingly tell her off for being cheeky, and then match the offer.

 

[Bromptonaut]

Been with Britannia for several years now. Fell out with Direct Line/Green Flag over escalating prices and operators with no grasp of geography.

Called them out two or three times and they've always been excellent. Mrs B had a puncture and couldn't shift the wheelnuts, they were there and had the spare on in record time. Other case was my car, immobilised when the in tank fuel 'lift' pump failed. In spite of my conviction that I knew what the problem (you can hear the pump prime before the engine fires) the tech did a thorough diagnostic to confirm no fuel at the injector and to eliminate other causes. Car was flat bedded home with a second call allowed to get it to the garage when they were open. Not all operators will do that - some say one call per fault only.

Now whether that's just them or how much credit goes to the local agent, Cowans, I'm not sure.

 

[Klaus]

It's also worth checking what is included in that prices - I think they all do variou levels of service so you might be able to cut down on the price.

 

[swee'pea99]

We've been with First Call (at about £40 a year) for six or seven years now, and they've been fine. They've always come within the hour. (I say 'they' - they're actually a sort of federation of locals.)

 

[chillyuk]

Thanks for the advice. Britannia looks good and has excellent reviews and only want £65pa for the same service the AA want a few bob short of £140pa. I will however try PBancroft's suggestion and tell the AA I am moving and how much and see if they come up with anything!

 

[Alien8]

Honest John reckons that the RAC & AA are best for roadside repairs as some of the cheaper outfits will just tow you to a garage where you'd have to pay for the repair.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

When you get your renewal through from the AA do you phone them up to ask them to match the price they are offering to new customers?

My wife does this (and has done for the past four years or so). Each time they jokingly tell her off for being cheeky, and then match the offer.

+1

Mine has been held at £85 for the past two years after I phoned threatening to cancel, down from around the £150 quoted.

 

[chillyuk]

Honest John reckons that the RAC & AA are best for roadside repairs as some of the cheaper outfits will just tow you to a garage where you'd have to pay for the repair.

This is the reason I have stuck with the AA. I can't get rid of this little niggling suspicion that the smaller outfits who use local garages to come out to you have a vested interest in not getting you going, but prefer to get you to a garage. The AA or the RAC don't have this motive. If the AA wont come down in their price then I am now leaning towards the RAC whose first years fees are almost half that of the AA. I know that next year the price will go up considerably but I will then be able to join the AA and get new member discount

 

[gallego1968]

I have been an AA member since 1986 when i started to drive and they have been good to me over the years, they aren't the cheapest but i think they have the best service in my experience. I can't remember how much i pay a year but i have complimentary Home Start after 10 years which is free and i was up graded from Relay to Relay Plus for no extra charge as well.
When i have called them they were quick to respond and got there when they said.
The only thing i don't like is when my motorbike broke down and it was the immobiliser not letting the bike to start i told this to the person to send a recovery truck as it was not going to start until the dealer worked on it but they insist that a van comes along to have a look first and when the van comes and see's the problem he rings up for a recovery truck which then takes time to get to you and then to the dealer. This has happened 3 times now but they say it's the way they do things. But surely if they just send the truck the other guy could be helping someone else in trouble.

 

[twobiker]

I am with Britannia rescue, they recovered my car from Isle of Skye and my trailer from Applecross and brought it back to Devon, they did moan about the trailer bit, but once they were reminded that its called breakdown recovery, you breakdown they recovery it was all good.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

This is the reason I have stuck with the AA. I can't get rid of this little niggling suspicion that the smaller outfits who use local garages to come out to you have a vested interest in not getting you going, but prefer to get you to a garage. The AA or the RAC don't have this motive. If the AA wont come down in their price then I am now leaning towards the RAC whose first years fees are almost half that of the AA. I know that next year the price will go up considerably but I will then be able to join the AA and get new member discount

Live out in the sticks and most of the time the AA or RAC will send a local garage anyway.

 

[snorri]

Try ETA, the Environmental Transport Association. They have various levels of cover, including cycle recovery. I paid £23.00 last year.
All of these breakdown insurers use the same contractors to do the job, so time taken to come to your aid depends on the location of the contractor rather than the company you are insured with. The AA and RAC seldom send out their own people as there is usually a contractor that can get to you sooner. (IME)

www.eta.co.uk