Buying Breakdown Cover?

[andyborris]

Because my cars are slightly older than the norm, I've found that breakdown and recovery cover can be a bit pricey, esp. if you want European cover.

My bank, the Nationwide have an account that comes with a free car breakdown service and there doesn't seem to be (in the small print!) any age restrictions on the car.

Anyone used this kind of thing and would you recommend it over the normal type of breakdown, the price (with the other extras) is right for me, just a bit worried that a recovery truck will turn up and I'll be told "that old banger ain't covered, mate!".....?

Thanks
Andy

[Ryannn]

I've got mine with my account from Halifax. They've been out to my mini, Pajero, CLK and even my 924 when I didn't fancy putting a new fan belt on!

No issues, it's just limited to 6 calls a year I think.

[Ministrone]

I use Auto Aid Breakdown

www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk/

It's more of an insurance, so they send the local garage with a low loader to pick you up, you have to pay up the garage and Auto Aid pay you back within two weeks.
I pay £42 per year for any vehicle

[Clamity]

My SO uses Autoaid too and has called them out a few times for flat batteries including at home. Apparently claiming back is no hassle.

[Ministrone]

That's good to know, I haven't had to use them yet.

[yellowmexrep]

Used to have it with a HSBC account with a recovery add on, turned out that there is a 15 year old car limit which was in the small small small print!!!! Now with the RAC, it's just over £100 from memory for recovery and breakdowns and worked well and issue free when I had to call them out. Covers me in any car including my classics and with my motorbike as well. Not the cheapest option but reliable and easy especially when you break down in an awkward place and it's monsooning with rain!!!

[Wilk]

I'm with AA recovery as it covers me personally for whatever I'm driving or riding and they'll take me to location if choice .... which in my case would normally be home so I can get the spanners out

[bortaf]

May 6, 2017 20:00:10 GMT Wilk said:

I'm with AA recovery as it covers me personally for whatever I'm driving or riding and they'll take me to location if choice .... which in my case would normally be home so I can get the spanners out

Same here, me, the wife and my son are all on the same account, it was £196 for me and the wife and actually £6 cheaper to the 3 of us on this years renewall, apparently there's a special offer on lol

[Dez]

AA here too. Covers absolutely anything I'm in/on, no age or distance limits, 10 quid a month.

I've already had one very long free ride out of them back from Yorkshire when I blew a headgasket and another shorter one where I was recovered to the TAB Christmas do after I got a blowout in a borrowed car with no spare wheel.
If you drive any distance away from home at all on a regular basis is daft not to have it, regardless of the car you drive, as the law of Sod will dictate that if something bad is going to go wrong it will be when you're as far away as possible at the most inopportune time and when you're totally skint.

[andyborris]

I too have used Autoaid and it was fine, but I need Euro cover now and it's that part that's expensive.

If this bank account scheme covers cars over 15 years old (and I haven't found anything in the small print yet, to say otherwise!) £10 a month for 2 cars UK or Europe, with homestart and any car I'm in seems a good deal. Has full travel insurance too!

And yes Dez, I do know how Sod's law works, many fine memories of time spent in the court of Sod.

[slammedorion]

Join Csma ( Boundless ) £25 pa
You get discounted Britannia Rescue
We've just payed £70 for a main car and personal cover for me and the wife
£95 a year all in
There happy covering older cars

Not sure if they'll cover Europe?

[1900sr]

I get mine included with my insurance from RH Specialist. Obviously only covers the insured car, but does include European cover. We use them for the Mantas and our modern daily drivers and the premium is competitive.

[BT]

I am with RAC. Think it's about £12 a month and that covers me for any while provided it isn't commercial, I phoned to ask this and they told me that if it's a personally owned van or truck they will cover it. Their only issue is with sign written company owned vehicles. There also seems to be no age limit.

It's personal cover so will cover any of my vehicle that I own or am even in if the worst is to happen. I specifically wanted home recovery so that I don't get dumped at an expensive garage 300 miles from home. Take it to my garage and I will fix it!

It also has onwards travel, so if you need to be somewhere they will provide a replacement vehicle so that you can continue your journey.

I have never needed to use it and I hope I never have to. However it is a great relief not having to worry so much of something does prevent you from completing your journey and for the small price of £12 a month I am very happy with that.

[ontheedge]

AA for me, on the odd time I have used them they have been great and you know who you are going to get when you need them - the AA

[astranaut]

Also a note to add, make sure you add the part that gets recovery home, not to a safe place leaving you with a 34 mile walk home at 4 in the morning. What a fail that day was.

[georgeb]

What you do is spend half an hour filling out the online form to join the Philippine Automobile Association which, as a non-Tagalog speaking foreigner with a 22 year old vehicle is seen as essential.

You press “Submit” and get a message saying the website is down, or somesuch.

You send an e-mail and get an immediate response to try again.

You spend another half hour resubmitting. This time it accepts your application.

A month later, they remove several hundred Peso from your bank account.

You never hear from them again.

[rattlecan]

I'm another AA member, i called them once when my turbo went on my BMW, they were there pretty quick, put it on a flatbed & bought it home, very good.
Only other time was when fan belt went on my Delorean. Young lad came out (about 20 ish) he had zero clue. They carry no fan belts on board anymore, so he had to go & fetch one. He came back literally 2 hrs later & I fitted myself while he watched. My misus filmed it & it ended up all over her fb at the time

[Colonelk]

May 6, 2017 16:57:42 GMT andyborris said:

...there doesn't seem to be (in the small print!) any age restrictions on the car.

I'm glad you looked! I urge anyone with combo cover (or indeed any cover) to have a read of the small print.
In my brief period as a recovery driver the amount of people who had cover as part of a deal but had never read the restrictions was quite startling, and they can be quite strict.

FWIW I'm with the RAC and aside from standard recovery issues (giving forever extending estimates, sent a motorbike trailer for a car) they've recovered everything I've had (including the 1960 singer when the wheel fell off and ripped the studs up).

I'm on a policy that covers the person rather than the car also.

[andyborris]

May 8, 2017 11:02:49 GMT Colonelk said:

May 6, 2017 16:57:42 GMT andyborris said:

...there doesn't seem to be (in the small print!) any age restrictions on the car.

I'm glad you looked! I urge anyone with combo cover (or indeed any cover) to have a read of the small print.
In my brief period as a recovery driver the amount of people who had cover as part of a deal but had never read the restrictions was quite startling, and they can be quite strict.

FWIW I'm with the RAC and aside from standard recovery issues (giving forever extending estimates, sent a motorbike trailer for a car) they've recovered everything I've had (including the 1960 singer when the wheel fell off and ripped the studs up).

I'm on a policy that covers the person rather than the car also.

I'm going to get it in writing too!

[jamesd1972]

Check out Tesco vouchers offer for RAC cover - very cheap and cover the person if you want