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Car breakdown cover

(25 Posts)
Allsorts Sun 21-Aug-22 11:16:10

Having been with the same breakdown association, AA, despite negotiation the price is double other companies. Has anyone else experience if other breakdown association please.

Septimia Sun 21-Aug-22 11:45:35

Sorry, can't advise as I've been with the AA all my driving life. The reason I stayed with them is because they cover you as a person rather than the car you're driving. If you've borrowed a car or are helping out a friend or relative by driving theirs, or are a passenger, you're still covered - unless they've changed their policy since I last looked.

Galaxy Sun 21-Aug-22 11:49:16

Have you looked at your car insurance you can usually get good breakdown deals via your insurance.

Germanshepherdsmum Sun 21-Aug-22 11:49:44

You need to compare the cover they give you with what others offer. No use having your car towed away and being left stranded. We’ve been with the AA for years.

62Granny Sun 21-Aug-22 11:59:26

We used Green Flag in the past and have found them to be reasonably priced and because they use local breakdown garages they always seemed to come out quickly. I think we could tag it onto our car insurance premium. We have a Motorbility car now so it is all included .

Jaxjacky Sun 21-Aug-22 12:09:46

I’m still covered with the car I bought two years ago as part of the purchase. I’ll be comparing reviews in a year.

Grannynannywanny Sun 21-Aug-22 12:22:53

I’ve had my car insurance with M&S for several years and it includes full AA cover. I never let it auto renew until I’ve done my sums and see if can find it cheaper by separating the 2 policies. But it always works out more expensive to have a stand alone AA membership with the level of cover I want ie European cover, home start, onward travel etc.

Be careful to read the small print when shopping for breakdown cover as many policies only cover you from half mile onwards from your home.

Elizabeth27 Sun 21-Aug-22 12:52:52

I go to a price comparison site every year and choose the cheapest.

Septimia most companies offer the option of person or car to be covered.

Ladyleftfieldlover Sun 21-Aug-22 12:59:11

I have been with the AA for years. For the last decade or so AA cover is included with my bank account. I have certainly had my money’s worth! I have full cover which includes calling them out to my home. Best was when I broke down in Manchester when I was bringing my son home for the holidays. AA Relay did the trick!

Davida1968 Sun 21-Aug-22 13:03:02

Like 62granny we can recommend Green Flag. Have found them to be excellent when we had a crisis; GF arranged for a local company who came out to us quickly & resolved a serious problem. (This was in an urban area; perhaps it depends on where live, & where you are when help is needed.) As other GNs say, you need to research your own needs alongside the company conditions of service. (And look at reviews?)

Zonne Sun 21-Aug-22 13:05:43

I am happy to recommend GEM www.motoringassist.com/

We were Green Flag customers for a time and found them to be very good too, but it was a while ago.

We now have breakdown cover with the RAC via our bank account.We’ve had to use them once fairly recently and it was shockingly bad.

Granny23 Sun 21-Aug-22 13:14:09

I am with Green Flag via my Direct Line Insurance. Unfortunately I have had to call them twice in the past year, but on both occasions they were with me in 20 minutes. 1st time gave me jump start and recharged battery, 2nd time car was 'Dead' so they towed it to my local garage who fixed the problem (ECU). The car was returned to my door the following morning. We have the most excellent obliging Garage in our village, so I am not concerned about 'no cover within half a mile of home".

Keeper1 Sun 21-Aug-22 13:41:47

I am with GEM but haven’t needed to call them out as yet.

Cabbie21 Sun 21-Aug-22 16:05:29

Like Galaxy, I get breakdown cover as an added extra with my car insurance, but it is underwritten by the RAC.
Very useful during the first lockdown when my battery was dead.

Georgesgran Mon 22-Aug-22 13:58:58

I looked at Breakdown Cover as part of a Bank account which also offered travel insurance, but both were very basic. Travel was limited and not Worldwide and breakdowns not repairable at the roadside were uplifted to the nearest main dealer - no use if you’re 100s of miles away from home.
I’ve got a good (I hope) deal with 2Gether, but like all insurance, it’s only proven good should you need it.

Zonne Mon 22-Aug-22 14:53:37

Whereas mine - through the Co-op Everyday Account, which I pay for - covers roadside assistance, recovery, onward travel, and at home help, in both the UK and Europe.

The travel insurance, also included, is up to age 80, worldwide and includes very good coverage and reasonable excesses. Some medical conditions are covered automatically, and the additional amount we were charged for my husband’s life-limiting illness was very competitive.

Georgesgran Mon 22-Aug-22 15:04:04

Yes Zonne my SiL had her travel and car breakdown insurance through her Barclays account. Covered her DH who was in poor health and got her safely back home when she broke down on the M6.
We used to be with the AA and they played a blinder getting DH and his vehicle home from the North of Scotland to Durham although it took 12 hours and part of the next day. Over the years the cost rose and after DH died, I did some comparisons and found what I have now covers what I need for very little outlay.

crazyH Mon 22-Aug-22 15:09:51

I am with LV Car insurance, including Breakdown Cover. And it sure came in useful, when I had a mishap the other day.

annodomini Mon 22-Aug-22 16:20:44

I had cause to make use of Green Flag today. It did take the recovery driver longer than he intended because of road closures, but he did a great job and the car is now safely parked at my local garage.

Katie59 Mon 22-Aug-22 19:04:03

Adding breakdown cover to your insurance is not expensive, maybe I’ve been lucky I havn’t had a breakdown or puncture away from home for over 10 yrs

Kim19 Mon 22-Aug-22 19:56:17

I'm with Green Flag. Think I was originally introduced to them by Direct Line Insurance. I now deal with them independently and they even give a discount for no call outs. Like that.

Allsorts Mon 22-Aug-22 19:58:30

Thank you all.

25Avalon Mon 22-Aug-22 22:33:18

I switched to RAC from AA. I had a breakdown and it took over 2 hours to send someone even though I was a woman on my own. They didn’t keep me informed just kept moving the time back. In the end I rang someone I knew who worked out my battery had gone and kindly got me a replacement. It turned out the RAC had an agreement with a local disability organisation who took priority. Fair dos but the total lack of transparency put me off and I would never use them again. Back with the AA now but there are some good deals when you renew your car insurance.

Mollygo Mon 22-Aug-22 22:44:05

We have ours through Green Flag. Not very expensive. Very useful, even in France-and we’ve had to make use of it there.
It covers both our cars.

MarinaL Mon 22-Aug-22 23:51:34

I'm with Start Rescue. It costs about £35 a year and includes Home Start. I have called them out recently and they were very good.
Why pay more for the big boys!