best car breakdown/recovery service ?

[peanut]

I need to take out a family breakdown and recovery cover and need some feedback.
I haven't had cover for over 4x years and previously used AA and RAC .
Had some horrific experiences with both to be honest but for the price the peace of mind of recovery is worth the small price.

Has anyone any experience of Green Flag ? they have the best cover at half the price of the other two. How do they work and how quick is their response ?

 

[Chrishazle]

In Family terms, one reason I stayed with AA is that it's you that is covered irrespective of what vehicle you are in. When son and daughter started going out in friends cars, their AA family membership meant my peace of mind in case friend's car broke down - especially for daughter!

I've also found that price is "negotiable" with AA! My renewal in May first came through at £160ish (just wife and I now, home start, roadside and relay). Went on their website for a quote, came in a lot lower. Phoned AA and used Option 4 - "I am considering leaving the AA" (I've been a member since 1982!). Oh dear sir, you've not been given the discounts you're entitled to, your proper price is £96! As I'd already renewed, they immediately refunded £60+ to my credit card.

 

[peanut]

wow thats a good discount. Pity you had to threaten to leave to get offered your entitlement though

I was insured with the AA for 8 years and had their breakdown & recovery service and despite never claiming I was never given any loyalty discount on renewal because AA always changed the insururance company every year

I need to look at the small print. There are some clauses now that can catch out the unwary . lots of things can be discretionary these days

 

[zcacogp]

There is one service - I think it could be Britannia - who don't have any vans of their own, they always use a local operator, and you pay the local operator directly for the services and claim the cost back from Britannia after the event.

This has several advantages:

- Using a local operator means you are more likely to be picked up more quickly (The AA and RAC will try and send one of their vans to you if at all possible, and keep you waiting until they have a van free. This can take a long time.)
- If you are organised enough to do the claim back then it means for much cheaper cover, as Britannia's overheads are less and some people won't claim back (effectively subsidising your cover.)

I don't have any cover at all (perhaps foolishly), but have always thought that I'd go with someone using the model above if I did.


Oli.

 

[andy watson]

Hi Peanut

I used to be with Greeenflag, and have now been with the RAC for 4 years.

Greenflag were OK I used them twice they do tend to just recover to a local garage unless you have the extra which covers an onward journey.

RAC have been excellant, have used homestart twice, fixed once at home and once recovered to my prefered garage, the only time I needed the 944 recovered, from Thruxton after a BTCC meeting (Camchain failure, ouch) they are supposed to deliver to garage, as I did not want the 944 left out over night they delivered the car to where I wanted even at 11.30pm and then continued to take me home another 11 miles on.

I pay £18 per month to cover both of us in any vehicle.

Cheers

Andy

 

[ukmastiff]

The trouble with this one is it is one of those you can only base on your own experience and we'll all give different preferences and none of us can be wrong just different experiences.

I have been with the 4 main ones and my take is that RAC and AA give the best service
( normally) and if I had to pick it would be the AA without question. Time after time over the years a friendly A.A man ( and one man/woman) have gone that bit beyond the call to help me. I totally agree with threaten to leave and get a huge discount mine went from 110 to 60.

Also I broke down with no Homestart , phoned the AA and they allowed me a great big flat bed tow truck as long as I upgraded. £40 upgrade instead of 200 quid tow quoted elsewhere bargain or what.

Now how many insurance companies will let you take out a policy
( which is what an A.A membership is) just so you can claim the same day !

I'll still play them off against the RAC at renewal time though

 

[peanut]

I'm the same as you Oli I have none either .
For the past two years I couldn't afford it so cancelled all my insurance (except the animals) []

The car desperately needs a service and belts , chain and repairs so I figure I can't afford not to get cover really.

I'm leaning towards the AA , not sure why really. The Green Flag look very cheap on the surface with better cover at half the price but it worries me that you are going to get whatever spanner monkey is free in a garage local to where you break down.

I'm very fussy about who I let work on my car and if I can't fix it myself by the roadside the chances are it will probably need a garage anyway I suppose and I would rather the garage was of my choosing.

 

[Alpine]

AA and RAC are probably pretty similar. I had a bad experience with AA a few years ago; have called RAC out a couple of times recently (for my daily driver, not the 944!)and had great service