Breakdown cover

[Ski]

Hi guys,

Well my S2 hasnt broke down for over a year now and ive only just realised my AA cover ran out a long time ago.

So im wondering, RAC or AA ? AA say average wait time is 40 mins

Also, AA offer a kind of insurance :

Breakdown Repair Cover offers:
Cover for the common causes of breakdown – eg batteries, alternators, starter motors
Help towards costs of other causes of breakdowns – eg head gasket, clutch, cam belt
Cover for repair bills of up to £500 (including VAT; less £25 excess)
Up to five paid claims per year

Anyone got this and actually used it? Some small script Ive missed out? Anyone got any bad experices with AA or RAC ?

[s2avant]

Been with the RAC for about 5 years now. Never had any problems with them.

Everytime I've used there services they've been spot on. They didn't question me when I told them just to send a flat bed for my Avant and that I didn't want them attempting a road side repair.

Also they are great when you've been in accident. My old Polo was hit from behind by a car doing 60mph. The RAC duly sent out a truck to pick it up and while we were waiting they phoned to say they had arranged a courtesy car and a solicitor to deal with it all for me.

It costs me around £80-90 a year but it's more than worth it especially if your in a non-fault accident.

Personally I don't let anyone but the Lion Garage work on my cars so any extra cover is of no interest to me. Having worked in a main stealer I've seent he aftermath of roadside repairs done by both the AA and the RAC. They get cars going but it can cost a lot to repair the work they've done.

Just my 2p worth. I've no personal experience with other breakdown companies so I can;t compare the service.

Ben

[Keeper of The Kitten]

My friendly local garage guy said he uses AA to get him recovered if all else fails (of course he has no need for home start, lol!), his opinion was that AA relay would be the best bet just because they can get your car anywhere - home or to a garage. I am contemplating something like that because I definitely wouldn't want to leave Kitty lying around if she decided to be petulant.

__MDC__

[s2driveruk]

For me this has been what both cars have been covered by for the last 6 years. Only ever had cause to use them once on my wifes old pug 306 and they were great.

Its £59 and includes full european cover its a steal and its backed by a major breakdown provider so it has the confidence element too.

http://www.quotelinedirect.co.uk/breakdown/

[kriswithak]

I now use the RAC, the AA's service of late has been extremely poor, and after hearing some horror stories I changed.

[Jas11n]

For me this has been what both cars have been covered by for the last 6 years. Only ever had cause to use them once on my wifes old pug 306 and they were great.

Its £59 and includes full european cover its a steal and its backed by a major breakdown provider so it has the confidence element too.

http://www.quotelinedirect.co.uk/breakdown/

Excellent David, might give that a shot as my RAC cover is up next month.

[Knight Rider S4]

If you have an account with TSB select account you get cover included with the Account

Thats my cover sorted

[bazookachicken]

Hi all I work for the AA and with some experience i can say that none of the breakdown companies are perfect. I'm personally with the RAC!!! might sound strange but it costs me £19 a year to be on my mothers policy she got free with a Renault years ago and even with staff discount i can't match that at the AA.
I would say that there is not alot to choose between the AA and the RAC for level of service, it used to be the case that the AA had significantly more resources on the road than any other breakdown company, this is still the case (the AA has approximatly 4000 roadside patrols compared to the next biggest the RAC which has around 2000 obviously suplimented by local garages) however over the past 12-18 months the AA has been on a massive drive to bring in new members.
We currently stand at around 14-16 million personal members, plus all the commercial, manufacturer warranty and police recovery work we do.
Now i don't have an accurate membership count for the RAC so i won't give an estimate but needless to say it is significantly less than that, hence why in my opinion the AA's service has dropped recently 14 million plus members to 4000 patrols doesn't go very well (but it's still better than most).
There are horror stories with all the breakdown companies i've personally waited for 8 hours in the past for Green Flag to arrive to tow my mates Range Rover, but i could also tell you of people who've waited that long with the AA. Most of the problems come down to when and where you breakdown, for example if you breakdown on a sunny day at lunchtime i can pretty much guarantee the AA will be out in around 30mins if you breakdown in the snow at 2 in the morning it's probably going to take 2-3 hours.
Anyway i could go on for hours about how this all works, the simple answer is i'd go with the RAC purely because you've got more chance of getting better service with either the AA or RAC than anybody else but the RAC is slightly cheaper for essentialy the same service.

Rich

[bazookachicken]

Oh by the way Knight Rider S4 your cover with the lloyds tsb is provided by the AA and believe me it's not free!!! you used to get the first 6 months free then lloyds make charges to your account each month for "account services" certainly on the select account part of this charge is for your AA cover and it works out cheaper to buy it directly.

[Markarina]

Been with the RAC for years, and they are always on the ball enough to know that they can't tow my S2 and always send out a flat bed for it. Always had good rpompt service from them .

[Ski]

RAC it is then

Ben you mentioned RAC provided you with a curtosy car and a solicitor etc.. all for £90 a year?

[s2avant]

Indeed. I didn't even know they had the service. Only applies to accidents of course. Apparently it falls under legal protection.

Ben