Roadside Recovery cover?

[cobblers]

Having been royally kicked in the balls* by the RAC when the driveshaft came loose on the Lupo, I cancelled my breakdown cover and just risked it because I rarely go further than 20 miles from home.

I suspect a few other people are making the first long journey all year to the gathering, and will be looking for some decent breakdown cover.

Most policies say they will only recover the car to the nearest garage, which to me sounds like a nightmare. Stranded halfway up the country, with my car in the hands of whatever garage the driver is friendly with, who can pretty much pick any price for the repair because they know they've got me over a barrel.

I need cover that'll guarantee they'll drag me home if it's not something they can fix at the side of the road.

The usual online compare the market places only quote for up to a 15 year old car. Mine's 17.

Who do people use, and what does it cost?

* They refused to fix it which would have taken about 15 minutes to put a few bolts back in, then made me wait 4 hours in the central reservation of a busy dual carraigeway with the car before turning up and refusing to drag the car the 5 miles home unless I paid £149 for a "special recovery" because the car was lowered. They then scraped the front bumper and shattered the output flange on the box anyway!

[useless inc]

There's not really that many options but I've been in the AA for years and have always found them good.
The AA nationwide recovery is only £69, which seems pretty reasonable to me.
Just make sure when you call up to buy it mention that cars lowered incase it's a problem.

I've got my insurance with Peter James and only just found out AA nationwide recovery was included in my Policy.

www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/uk-breakdown/view-options.do?cphc=Y&optMshp=vcon200

[boywonder]

I'm with the AA and have basic roadside cover and relay.

Over the years I've had quite a few trips on the 'big yellow taxi' from all around the country and they have always dropped me off with the car/bike at my front door.

I'm sure there are cheaper companies but the AA don't have age restriction for the vehicles and the cover is for me and any vehicle rather than being specific to just one vehicle.

They do have penalties for over use and there is a point where they think you have had too many call-outs. I've only ever come close to this one year when I had 5 breakdowns with 5 different vehicles and they sent me a polite warning letter.

[cobblers]

Thanks for that - I might go with the AA then. This worries me a little, though:

"national recovery to a UK mainland destination of your choice, if we're unable to fix your car at the roadside or arrange a prompt local repair."
I suppose they seem the best of a bad bunch though, I think I'll give them a ring!

[dbizzle]

Do you bank with Lloyds TSB, by any chance? I get AA cover free with my bank account - includes homestart, relay, the whole shebang.

[kee]

i got mine recovered from work when it died last year and that was about 27miles away, i think i was with RAC though. Your 106 isnt as low as the lupo though is it?
try it through your insurance, usually green flag. its cheaper than others although I know nothing about the policies.

also, whilst your here, Meadowhall retail park tonight

[Lawsy]

have faith in the car and don't worry about it breaking down...

failing that I've always used the AA, never had an issue, with anything lowered etc..

the bit about towing to any destination is great, that includes yoru home adress, so if tis a little break then get them to drag it home, also i think if garages are shut, they take you home, then come fetch again to take to garage of choice..

currently I am just relying on my insurance cover as at renewal the AA wanted £99 for me and I couldnt afford it at time

[useless inc]

Having recovery's worth it. When I was leaving the gathering last year it looked like an AA recovery lorry convention there was so many of them on the road back.

[dbizzle]

Aug 2, 2010 11:41:31 GMT useless inc said:

When I was leaving the gathering last year it looked like an AA recovery lorry convention there was so many of them on the road back.

Funny that the management didn't see fit to use this in advertising the event...

[popuptoaster]

I'm with first call, i get relayed to my destination AND back home again afterwards and the car will be towed/stored/returned home depending on the stiuation, mine also covers me for trailers (they know we have a 4x4 pickup so could be towing 3.5 tons and have a ton of gear in the back of the truck) over night stays etc and all for a few quid over the basic AA price, i have to pay extra if the car breaks down within ten miles of home but i could have added home start which would cover that, i didn't bother as it would be quicker to phone a mate if i need a tow or a spare part that close to home.

I cant comment on the service as i've never needed it (Japanese truck), but its nice to know, i have the full works if its needed.

theres loads of options, go on one of the comparison web sites and gave a look.

[allthingsauto]

AA for me.Used them lots over the last 7 years i have been with them.Never had a problem with being recovered and taken home with car.You are covered not the car with the AA so even if your a passenger and the car breaks down you can still use the AA and have the car recovered.

[kenb]

As much as i don't want to admit this, on the same day as the RR gathering at the Ace Cafe recently my van broke down when I blew the diff. We had AA recover it to the Ace so we could attend Anglias at the Ace during the day. We then used my gf RAC cover to get it home. I have nothing but praise for both company's- especially the AA who depsite rules saying they have to send out a patrol first, listened to me when i explained don't bother it broked. They sent out a flat bed within the hour. RAC took a bit longer hence why it was still at the Ace when you lot turned up. They used a local company, but the guy drove it right down to the workshop in my garden when they are not supposed to leave the highway. Top marks all round.
I think both companies do run a very basic policy where you will only get taken to the nearest garage/repair place. Are you sure it wasn't one of those.
Also there is an accidental damage get out on most of the forms I've seen where the vehicle is recovered from less than favourable circumstances.

[Adam]

Well i've just bought my AA membership (relay wotsit) for £69.64 online. They texted me my number, bish bash bosh i'm all covered!

[Gem]

I've not read the post but AA do a stay mobile option that if you break down miles from home, they will give you a hire car for 72 hours and bring your car back to you.

[rtlkyuubi]

I'm with autonational rescue and they have been spot on both times! Unlike the AA, they use local companies who are near where you break down. The best bit about it is that i havnt had to wait more than an hour for them to come. They use good companies too, as the 1st time I used it was all the way down in newquay. The recovery company was fully booked up so was given a hire car to get home in, sweet! ;D

I think i paid £60 but that include relay to get home, though if you request to get sent home, you cannot ring them again to take it to a garage if you cant fix it.

also pm'ed

[west4x4]

Insurance choice give me roadside and relay on our landy for £30 in fact i think it was £27

[vitesse6]

just a small point to all you happy AA customers.......have any of you asked the AA what would happen if you were involved in a road traffic accident ? i think youll find that they will not recover your cars!!!! they are a breakdown service NOT accident recovery ...green flag or RAC is the way to go !!!!!!!!

[Ads 19]

Lancaster insurance gave me breakdown on my rangey and any trailer. used when my A frame broke with a 5.6t dodge on the back and they recovered both home 250miles.

RAC have always recovered me no questions asked when terminal problems occur normally when picking up an unseen ebay purchase.

[PistonBroker]

Aug 2, 2010 11:59:37 GMT popuptoaster said:

I'm with first call

Me too. Just renewed it for £32 (I don't bother with paying the full whack either but nice that we've still got the option, albeit for a £50 excess).

Halfway down the M5 at 17.30 last Friday I suddenly remembered it was due for renewal that day. Phoned at 7.30 the next morning (Saturday) to check when the office would be open and a very helpful lady answered and renewed it for me including waiving the 48 hour excess you're supposed to be saddled with if you miss renewal.

Again, I can't really comment on service as we're covering an 8 year old Mazda 6, but they did come out to me last year when I was covering a Mondeo with a screwed DMF. Very quick and very helpful.

[RobinJI]

I've never had a problem with the RAC, get it cheep on tesco clubcard points, covers me to take the car on to wherever I choose, covers me as a passenger in other cars, gives me a hire car to finish my journey if needed... ect.. I opted out of home start, as if I'm at home I've got the tools anyway.

They never uttered even a word of complaint when picking up my scirocco when it was llloooww with the porsche wheels on it, just sent a truck and got me home. (Clutch cable pulled through the bulkhead.)

In fact when my golfs cambelt went and I had a new belt with me (was going to replace it that week!), the RAC patrol man was even nice enough to have a go at fitting the new one at the roadside on the off chance it would get me going again, which it did, (although only running on 3.)

Only issue that can be a bit annoying is that they insist on sending a van out to have a look before they'll call a flatbed, even if you tell them there's no way it'll go anywhere soon and it wont fit on an A-frame. Apparently this is because they have to validate your membership and that the issue is what you say it is, because the flatbeds they use are from external contractors who can't check your membership properly. (fair enough I guess, but a bit of a PITA)

I've also had people I know complain about the AA when there patrol man insisted that a mini with 10's would go on the a-frame, leading to a long argument, and a 'lets try it and see' which resulted in the mini sat on it's sump on the a-frames framework, and the patrol man still insisting it's fine.

I think to be honest whichever company you go with, it's always going to come down to luck, you might get a legend of a patrol man, or you might get a cock end, they might be hanging around doing nothing just down the road, and take 10 minutes to get to you, or they might be very busy and take hours.