Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions?

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Thu 1 Sep 2016 13:17
Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions? - Wackyracer

As title, my breakdown cover is up for renewal again. Currently with the RAC on personal cover for 2 people. Price has gone up to £188 this time so I think time to shop around again.

Rescue my car have come in at £88 for vehicle based mebership on 3 vehicles (2 cars and a small van(only used for SDP purposes)) The cars are both almost 16 years old and the van is 9 years old. Has anyone experience of calling out rescue my car?

The problem I'm finding is some won't cover cars over 16years and some won't cover vans.

Suggestions welcome.

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Thu 1 Sep 2016 14:10
Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions? - gordonbennet

Have been with Autoaid several years now, currently £42.50 which covers SWMBO and i in any vehicle.

As far as i know there is no age limit on the vehicle, but its a pay and claim back policy which inevitably leads to policy holdes mitigating their losses, just in case the claim is rejected, not saying it would be but that would always be in the back of anyone sensible's mind.

Several ways of looking at that, to me it keeps everyone's costs down, however i haven't had to be recovered for many years so how good the current owners are i do not know (that's no doubt tempted the fates), they were taken over earlier on in the year so might be worth having a look round to see what very recent claim feedback is like.

If you look after your cars in order to minimise breakdown, then IMO you struggle to beat the overall cost saving., i would like a blanket policy AA/RAC/Green Flag style but can see no reason to do so, wouldn't dream of calling out a breakdown service for a puncture and hopefully not stupid enough to run out of fuel or absent minded enough to lock me keys in.

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Thu 1 Sep 2016 14:21
Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions? - leef

Easy one, Both RAC and especially AA will give you UP to 50% off whatever they quote. AA quoted me £149 for Roadside, Recovery, Onward travel and Homestart for my car 8 years old and my mrs car 14 years old. After ringing a couple of times (depends who you get) I got it down to £89 for both of us. I think that Martin Lewis chap said AA and SKY were the 2 best companies to hagle down the biggest discounts in the UK (88% success rate), RAC came 3rd I believe

Of course there are other breakdown services, one that people swear by on the boards is where you pay upforn for the cost and claim it back, can't remember the name but seems very reputable. Also, remember cash back sites like quidco, a friend got £75 cash back on his RAC breakdown cover through them, although you pay the full whack upfront and have to wait for cashback. Depends if you want to haggle or not?

Cheers

Lee

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Thu 1 Sep 2016 14:39
Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions? - skidpan

Two answers, Aviva Rescue or your bank possibly.

They use the RAC so a patrol is always going to be pretty handy, on the 2 occations we have used them the RAC were with us within 30 minutes and one of those was rush hour on a Friday.

Cost, £53 for joint personal cover for me and the Mrs. Basically that covers our 2 main cars for any driver and me and the Mrs for any car we are driving or passenger in. We are covered for Rescue, recovery, forward travel and at home. European cover is extra but since we don't go abroad we don't need it.

Re your bank acount. Nationwide provide free breakdown cover if you have a certain acount that costs £10 a month, £120 a year. Offset against that 2.5% interest on balances up to £2500 and you could be getting £62.50 interest a year reducing the cost of breakdown cover. Problem for me is the T & C's. They only cover cars that are serviced exactly as per the manufacturers schedule and this is difficult to prove with my Caterham. In truth it gets far more TLC than the Leon and Note but proving it is near impossible especially when you are parked at the roadside. That is the only reason I have not taken up the offer.

The Nationwide deal also includes European cover and has other benefits as well. Worth considering if the T & C's match your needs. If we did not have the Caterham we would certainly be using it.

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Thu 1 Sep 2016 15:04
Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions? - RT

The last breakdown I had that could be fixed by the side of the road by a breakdown service was in about 1972. I can fix simple things myself and modern cars are now so complex they'll need to be recovered to a workshop anyway.

So for me breakdown cover is irrelevant, it's the recovery cover that's important - and since I drive an automatic 4wd which can't be towed it comes down to how easy it is to get a flatbed when I need it. As I also regularly tow a caravan, the Caravan Club Mayday (aka Green Flag) is by far the best - recovering after accidents and illness as well as breakdown.

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Thu 1 Sep 2016 15:20
Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions? - Steveieb

The Nationwide Flex plus account mentioned above has a fesature including breakdown cover for cars, caravans and long vans, phone insurance to cover I phones etc and worldwide travel insurance.

No problems calling out their agents Brittania and all for less than £5 a month if youn keep £2500 in your account.

In my opinion unbeatable from a great company that wont let you down.

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Thu 1 Sep 2016 17:36
Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions? - RT

The Nationwide Flex plus account mentioned above has a fesature including breakdown cover for cars, caravans and long vans, phone insurance to cover I phones etc and worldwide travel insurance.

No problems calling out their agents Brittania and all for less than £5 a month if youn keep £2500 in your account.

In my opinion unbeatable from a great company that wont let you down.

Beware of breakdown cover claiming to covers caravans - all they'll do is recover the caravan if the car was towing at the time the car broke down - they don't cover breakdowns to the caravan itself and they don't cover a double journey to collect the caravan if you're away on holday.

£5/month = £60/year plus the lost investment income on £2,500 - another £75 if you invest shrewdly, so about £135/year. I know savings accounts pay pittance but there are still sensible investments available.

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Thu 1 Sep 2016 15:22
Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions? - Galaxy

I always negotiate very hard with the AA at renewal time. I will never pay what they initially ask for. But you have to be very firm with them and threaten to leave if they won't give you a better deal.

Sometimes, it's taken me more than just one telephone call to do it, too.

Good Luck!

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Thu 1 Sep 2016 20:06
Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions? - Cyd

As I also regularly tow a caravan, the Caravan Club Mayday (aka Green Flag) is by far the best - recovering after accidents and illness as well as breakdown.

Are you ABSOLUTELY sure about that?

I renewed my cover at the weekend. I never do this sort of thing online, always by phone AND record the calls. I asked GF specifically about recovery after an accident and was told in no uncertain terms that after an accident I should call my insurance company as I would not be entitled to recovery.

I have been with the RAC for many years, particularly since my rallying days because I have been recovered several times after damage sustained in competition. Ok the RAC is no longer involved with the MSA and this wouldn't happen now but again I asked the question and was told categorically YES I could be recovered after an accident - Their priority is to help the member first and sort cost later (there may be a claim on third party insurance for example).

Also I renewed FAMILY membership with rescue, onward travel (with hire car option) and home assist for £177 with the RAC. I was able to pay monthly too, so was pleased with that overall.

Oh, and BTW, the family cover includes my 16 year old son. He can call for assistance if he is a passenger with a friend and suffers a breakdown or accident. My 19 yr old lad has his own car and is covered at uni too, the only condition being he normally comes home in holidays (which he will as living in halls)

There is more to it than just the ticket price. As with any kind of insurance one has to consider if the cover suits your needs. For me knowing my wife and sons can call for help is worth the price of a pint or two a month.

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Thu 1 Sep 2016 21:12
Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions? - RT

As I also regularly tow a caravan, the Caravan Club Mayday (aka Green Flag) is by far the best - recovering after accidents and illness as well as breakdown.

Are you ABSOLUTELY sure about that?

I renewed my cover at the weekend. I never do this sort of thing online, always by phone AND record the calls. I asked GF specifically about recovery after an accident and was told in no uncertain terms that after an accident I should call my insurance company as I would not be entitled to recovery.

I have been with the RAC for many years, particularly since my rallying days because I have been recovered several times after damage sustained in competition. Ok the RAC is no longer involved with the MSA and this wouldn't happen now but again I asked the question and was told categorically YES I could be recovered after an accident - Their priority is to help the member first and sort cost later (there may be a claim on third party insurance for example).

Also I renewed FAMILY membership with rescue, onward travel (with hire car option) and home assist for £177 with the RAC. I was able to pay monthly too, so was pleased with that overall.

Oh, and BTW, the family cover includes my 16 year old son. He can call for assistance if he is a passenger with a friend and suffers a breakdown or accident. My 19 yr old lad has his own car and is covered at uni too, the only condition being he normally comes home in holidays (which he will as living in halls)

There is more to it than just the ticket price. As with any kind of insurance one has to consider if the cover suits your needs. For me knowing my wife and sons can call for help is worth the price of a pint or two a month.

Caravan Club Mayday is operated by Green Flag but has fewer restrictions than going direct to Green Flag - I've twice had my car & caravan recovered by CC Mayday (aka Green Flag) following an accident.

Insurance companies would only recover the car after an accident leaving you to make your own arrangements to get the caravan towed home.

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Fri 2 Sep 2016 10:29
Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions? - FoxyJukebox

Agreed-the most important benefit of breakdown cover is the peace of mind of knowing that you will be towed off the road and into a garage.

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Thu 1 Sep 2016 23:56
Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions? - Big John

Another vote for Nationwide Flex plus. Joint account personal breakdown cover for two and car cover for two cars including European travel and no car age limit.

Combined with 3% interest for up to £2.5k , worldwide travel iinsurance that copes with previous conditions inc cancer a few years ago, mobile phone insurance and free European cash withdrawals the £10 a month fee is a bargain.

My son has tested the breakdown cover (flat battery xmas eve - on his way 30mins) and the mobile phone iinsurance (cracked screen - fixed and returned 2days)

Edited by Big John on 02/09/2016 at 00:03

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Fri 2 Sep 2016 09:51
Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions? - galileo

'Startrescue' is the recommended breakdown cover provider this year according to 'Which'.

I had a look and prices seem very competitive for all the cover options

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Fri 2 Sep 2016 12:30
Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions? - Snakey

I've been with the RAC a few years and they generally will knock it down for the effort of a phone call. I think I paid about £97 for me and the missus for any car cover, with full UK coverage and home assist which was quite competitive.

One thing about the cheaper quotes I noticed is that they will only take you to home/garage within 10 miles radius of your breakdown, no good for me working 20 miles from home!

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Sat 3 Sep 2016 13:25
Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions? - Cyd

One thing about the cheaper quotes I noticed is that they will only take you to home/garage within 10 miles radius of your breakdown

Yes, I noticed that too. One of the reasons to look beyond the ticket price and check the cover is right for your needs

That caravan club deal sounds good then. Clearly been negotiated by the CC for the benefit of members.

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Fri 2 Sep 2016 12:49
Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions? - Wackyracer

'Startrescue' is the recommended breakdown cover provider this year according to 'Which'.

I had a look and prices seem very competitive for all the cover options

Although their website quotation system shows a van , it seems they do not cover vans.

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Sat 3 Sep 2016 22:30
Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions? - KenMavor

I use Tesco points to fund my RAC habit.........

5 people in the family and 5 cars.....£85 in Tesco vouchers for road side and recovery but not home start.

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Sun 4 Sep 2016 10:41
Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions? - Cyd
We do too, usually. Fantastic value. Didn,t have enough this time though so had to pay real money
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Sun 4 Sep 2016 13:23
Breakdown cover renewal time, Any suggestions? - RT

I use Tesco points to fund my RAC habit.........

5 people in the family and 5 cars.....£85 in Tesco vouchers for road side and recovery but not home start.

Problem is - you have to shop at Tesco - no thanks, tried it a few times but always something inedible, out of date or short measure.

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