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Ford Focus 2003 1.6 auto. - Breakdown insurance - bluenun

I have been with Autoaid breakdown recovery for the last 2 years, never needed to use them.

It went up a few quid last year to £43.31 and my renewal price has just arrived, the premium has gone up 38.5% to £59.99.

Any other recommended options out there or is this still worth the money?

Ford Focus 2003 1.6 auto. - Breakdown insurance - KB.

I, too, am with them and have been since the mid eighties.

I suspect if it's just one driver and one car you might find it cheaper (not saying you'll get better - but it might be cheaper).

But in my case there are two cars and two drivers (the Mrs. and I) and I haven't found anything to compete - even at the new price.

If I found that there was a better deal then I would consider it but considering the level of cover with AutoAid I think it's still OK. Especially as it's no longer a 'pay out first and claim back later' service and has become the same as the other big players.

Ford Focus 2003 1.6 auto. - Breakdown insurance - S40 Man

I have a bank (building society) account where I pay £10 per month and get breakdown cover plus mobile phone and travel insurance. Over the years I have had to use all three.

I got the impression they weren't as effective as AA or RAC at fixing at the roadside but they sent a truck quickly enough.

If the above solution doesn't appeal, see if you can get a good deal somewhere where as a new customer.

Ford Focus 2003 1.6 auto. - Breakdown insurance - nellyjak

I;m with Autoaid too.,.and just gone through the same thing...quite a hike in premium I thought and no explanation why.?

We have two cars covered so I did look around but couldn't find anything better..so I've renewed with them again.

Ford Focus 2003 1.6 auto. - Breakdown insurance - Big John

I've had Autoaid breakdown cover in the past - the problem with it for me now iis I need European cover as I drive over there a couple of times a year.

Instead we now have cover through our Nationwide Flex+ account which covers car breakdown, mobile phone and also gives us effective travel insurance.

Ford Focus 2003 1.6 auto. - Breakdown insurance - KB.

Re, Nationwide Flexaccount - I had to check to see if mine was still active ... I had one for years but never used it for whatever reason.

It looks as though it isn't. But do still have a dormant Nationwide savings account with a very minimal amout within.... the password etc. seems to be still extant.

I had a look to see what the cost implications of having a Flexaccount was and it looked as though it was free from monthly fees. And then found the breakdown service that went with the account and, at first glance, failed to find a price for that .... but feel sure it has a cost - coz in this world you don't get owt for nowt.

Ford Focus 2003 1.6 auto. - Breakdown insurance - gordonbennet

The steep rises with Autoaid i have no doubt is due to the move away from pay and claim to straight normal recovery, when it was pay and claim people would be more careful about using the service in case the claim was rejected, now its a free for all anyone with a ropey old banger on its last legs isn't bothered about attempting unrealistic travel.

I wrote to them at the time they changed it pointing this out, but never received a reply.

Ford Focus 2003 1.6 auto. - Breakdown insurance - Steveieb
Decided to leave Nationwide Flex plus when they hiked up the travel insurance additional fee for over 70s massively so kept with Brittania Recovery who do well in Which.
Now considering Start following their top rating in Which for the first time.
Has anyone had any experience of them.
When I checked they were the only recovery company who would allow dogs in the recovery truck. I was left stranded once because I wouldn't allow my dog to travel alone in my car being towed behind the recovery truck.
Ford Focus 2003 1.6 auto. - Breakdown insurance - oldroverboy.
Decided to leave Nationwide Flex plus when they hiked up the travel insurance additional fee for over 70s massively so kept with Brittania Recovery who do well in Which. Now considering Start following their top rating in Which for the first time. Has anyone had any experience of them. When I checked they were the only recovery company who would allow dogs in the recovery truck. I was left stranded once because I wouldn't allow my dog to travel alone in my car being towed behind the recovery truck.

Yes, I am with Start via one of the comparison websites, have full EU cover with all the bells and whistles, was £65 ish last july when i renewed. Yes they will accept dogs, (uk) and up to individual driver in EU.

When the KIA venga broke down in Nov 2018 they were there quick, dropped my car off at the dealers, and rather than mess me around with a taxi the driver took me home, a tiny bit out of his way.

***** star service.

ORB

Ford Focus 2003 1.6 auto. - Breakdown insurance - Engineer Andy

I can' say any reason why it has gone up that is specificcally to do with AutoAid (having never used them myself), leaving that explanation to other Backroomers, but what I would say is that the age of your car can also make a big difference - when my Mazda3 reached 10 years of age, the quoted premium jumped by approximately 25% (I'm with the RAC), and similar amounts from direct mainstream competitors.

I suspect because the car is older, they think it's more likely to go wrong. Even after getting cheaper quotes from other firms and going back to the RAC (as I do every year to bat them down on price), they wouldn't reduce the end premium down to my normal one, essentially adding about the same percentage onto the final price I paid.

The price I currently pay with the RAC is not that much different from the AutoAid quote (my car now coming up to 14 years old).

Ford Focus 2003 1.6 auto. - Breakdown insurance - KB.

"The price I currently pay with the RAC is not that much different from the AutoAid quote (my car now coming up to 14 years old)".

Are you saying I can have RAC breakdown and recovery in the UK for my Mrs. and I and for two cars for circa £60?

If so point me to the page and I'll have it. AutoAid has been fine for me the past 35 years (gifven that I've only ever used them on a maximum of three occasions in that time) but given that the RAC or the AA are the two primary organizations in the UK then I would sooner have either of them for similar money ... it's just that whenever I looked in the past they were all much dearer.

Edited by KB. on 29/12/2019 at 12:37

Ford Focus 2003 1.6 auto. - Breakdown insurance - Engineer Andy

"The price I currently pay with the RAC is not that much different from the AutoAid quote (my car now coming up to 14 years old)".

Are you saying I can have RAC breakdown and recovery in the UK for my Mrs. and I and for two cars for circa £60?

No - I was saying my quote was in the low £60s for presumably what the OP was asking for when I read their original post - one car. My coverage is Breakdown and At Home, but not Recovery.

Ford Focus 2003 1.6 auto. - Breakdown insurance - KB.

^^^ Right you are.

Indeed, I just put the same level of cover into the RAC website and the equivalent to what I currently have is £210 with them.

Ford Focus 2003 1.6 auto. - Breakdown insurance - Engineer Andy

^^^ Right you are.

Indeed, I just put the same level of cover into the RAC website and the equivalent to what I currently have is £210 with them.

To me, that would be an 'opening bid' from them - I always knock them down to whatever Green Flag is quoting. My normal quote from the RAC is now around the £90 mark, something I'd never pay. I have noticed that they generally aren't so willing to better the other quote(s) though any more, similarly with general motoring insurers. I get much more joy on that score from ISPs/phone providers.

To be fair, I still pay less than I first did when I joined them in 2000, and have used them four times since, though all for my previous car (i.e. nothing since 2005, touch wood), only once for a reliability fault and nothing major really.

Ford Focus 2003 1.6 auto. - Breakdown insurance - bluenun

I did get some quotes from a comparison site and £59.99 is still the lowest quote.

Some companies would only insure cars less than 12 years old.

I had better call Autoaid before I renew to check that my car does qualify as it is over 16 years old. They insure the person not the car but the age may be a problem.

It passed the M.O.T today, I have owned the car since it was 3 years old, never kept a car for this long before but it is lovely to drive.

Ford Focus 2003 1.6 auto. - Breakdown insurance - alan1302

If they insure you rather than the car the age of the car should not matter as they won't know about your car.

Ford Focus 2003 1.6 auto. - Breakdown insurance - gordonbennet

If they insure you rather than the car the age of the car should not matter as they won't know about your car.

They will if they come to recover you.

Ford Focus 2003 1.6 auto. - Breakdown insurance - bluenun

Yes there would be nothing worse than breaking down, calling them, giving them my registration and being told my car is too old.

I believe there are companies specialising in cars of my age and older.

Ford Focus 2003 1.6 auto. - Breakdown insurance - alan1302

If they insure you rather than the car the age of the car should not matter as they won't know about your car.

They will if they come to recover you.

Yes, but they cover the person not the car so the age of the car does not matter