Car Breakdown

I am with the AA. Every year when the renewal comes through I phone them and negotiate a cheaper price. There seems quite a lot of leeway!

All I can say is avoid RAC my granddaughter broke down one evening recently she managed to cruise into a deserted dark car park and was fobbed off as them being busy for five hours although she made a number of distressed phone calls
in the end a friends husband towed her away about 11 pm and she’s never heard anything at all from RAC not even an apology to the complaint her mum put in

I echo what BlueBelle says. I'd been a member of RAC for several years, and never had the need to call them out at all, until just after lockdown #1 when the timing belt failed on my car. It took 4 calls, over 3 hours before assistance arrived and although they took the car away on a low loader, I was told I had to make my own way home (30 miles) due to COVID. I'm with Green Flag now.

Last year DH and I went with Green Flag - £99. When he died earlier this year, I didn’t let them know and just let the policy run. The renewal came in at £129 but online £60 just for me to stay with them. A friend recommended 2Gether - they only offer 3 levels of cover, a basic, then a better one for UK only and the same including Europe. I’ve gone for the better UK only and it’s only £37.

Of course any insurance is only as good as when it’s needed, so fingers crossed that I won’t be calling them to find out.

I’ve had AA full cover provided with my car insurance for several years. It includes Homestart and also Onward Travel. I’ve called them a few times over the years and never waited more than an hour. They ask during the call if there is anyone vulnerable in the car. A solo female driver seemed to fit that category.

I could have a slightly cheaper car insurance without it but when I calculate it at insurance renewal time it always works out cheaper for me to combine them. The insurance company are always open to negotiation. I phone them each year when I receive renewal letter and have always managed a price reduction.

What insurance company is that Grannynanny? I was thinking of using a comparison site.
Bluebell, your poor granddaughter, they should be taken to task leaving anyone that long in a deserted place, but a young girl, thank goodness she is safe, it must have been traumatic for her,. Surely these breakdown companies are answerable to someone.

I’m with M&S insurance Allsorts

I too use AA. Every year i ring them when renewal needs to be done and every year they manage to bring down the price from the one they quote me by letter. I also have a recovery deal with them which covers me for a 20mile radius and homestart. I only need this as all my family live local and if i was going further afield, which i certainly didn't during the last 18months or so due to lockdown etc, then i would use a train, coach or my dear sister would take me. To be honest i don't really want to travel too far from home at the moment i am happy in my 'bubble' that i have created for myself.

Thanks allsorts it was a nightmare, she’s only 18 and managed to cruise it off the main road but it’s a very bleak car park, no lights very little used, except by drug dealers she was there till 11pm and every time she rang RAC they said a new time ‘it ll be another half hour’ or ‘should be with you by 9.15’ she told them she was a young woman alone in a deserted car park and they haven’t even answered her mums complaint both her and her mum were in tears that night and they are both strong women
I think it was disgusting
She’s now with AA

I've been with the AA since 1973 and never had cause to complain. We've called for their help a number of times, on and off, over the years and once travelled half the length of the country on their Relay trucks. Obviously if it's a busy time it takes longer for them to reach you, but they do keep you informed by text and ask if there's anyone vulnerable.

The other good thing about them is that they cover the member, not the vehicle, so if you're travelling with someone else you can still call them.

Sometimes we've used them for car insurance as well as emergency cover.

Your granddaughter was treated disgracefully BlueBelle. Then to add insult to injury they didn’t even respond to the complaint. Shameful service and I hope anyone reading your story will avoid them.

Just a thought. I have an account with my building Society that includes breakdown cover as well as other benefits.

It might be worth considering.

Peasblossom and others with breakdown cover included with bank accounts. Years ago, after DH broke down in Scotland and had to be uplifted in 3 separate operations, overnight too - we looked at that option with Halifax but it didn’t include homestart and only covered rescue within a 20 mile radius and would only uplift to the nearest garage, not one of our choice near home. A friend was caught out with this and her DH towed her to within the 20 mile limit! Incidentally, the
travel insurance that would have been included was also a non-starter as it didn’t cover USA.

I am with the RAC and have called them out several times without any issues. I use Tesco vouchers to pay in full, I think it was about £50 of vouchers last year for the level I want - everything bar onward travel.

Having just bought a new Ford car which comes with one years breakdown cover, I have let it lapse but am still saving my vouchers ready for next year.

I don't have breakdown now, because I don't really travel anywhere, not even to work anymore. The garage I use is 30 seconds away so no real need.

I had Greenflag for years though and found them very good. I bought a cheap online deal a couple of years ago and had to call them out twice within a week for totally different problems. They tried to bill me 150 for the 2nd call out, despite my having proof I'd had the work on the first call out done by my garage. Eventually, by complaining repeatedly and providing more and more evidence, I was refunded. But I'd never buy a cheap deal again.

To be honest, the breakdown service I've used don't cost as much as the annual premiums I paid for breakdown. AND they come quickly, because they're getting paid directly for it.

I’m another who has been with the AA for decades. They’ve been excellent on every occasion that I’ve had to call them.