Car Breakdown service recommendations

[Linc]

After 20 years with the AA I’ve cancelled as they would not give me any discount on my renewal. All they would offer was there current online prices. Very annoyed with this.

Anyway, what’s people’s experiences with the other breakdown services RAC, Green Flag etc.

There prices are cheaper than the AA, but what’s there service like?

I don’t do much driving at present, a 90 mile round trip to the office twice a week the rest locally around Greater London/Surrey.


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[thegreatdogwood]

Appreciate you are asking about service but on the cost front use a price comparison website and look at the options for policies with a call out excess, most are cheaper there than on the service providers own site. There are some great deals to be had if you want a policy for peace of mind and rarely (if ever) use it. Can't recall the specifics but for instance Green Flag were about £30 with a £30 call out excess last time I looked, so you need to have at least 2 call outs each year before a conventional policy starts to be a similar cost.

[Seamaster73]

AA are the best by a country mile.

The cheap outfits like Green Flag are incomparable. They don't have their own fleet and just send out a local grease-monkey in a tow truck who's got neither the expertise nor the incentive to fix you at the roadside.

[Captaincook]

AA are the best by a country mile.

The cheap outfits like Green Flag are incomparable. They don't have their own fleet and just send out a local grease-monkey in a tow truck who's got neither the expertise nor the incentive to fix you at the roadside.

I would agree with the comments around Green Flag and the likes, however I have alway considered RAC and the AA near equal.

I used to switch annually between the 2, although for the last 5-6 years RAC has always come back as the cheaper option. Touch wood, I can’t comment on the service as I’ve not had to use them for a very long time.

[Jeremy67]

RAC member for 25+ years and the service has always been very good when I've needed it. You have to barter the price back down each year which is annoying but who doesn't do that. (Actually I griped on renewal this year and the chap said he had frozen my price and I wouldn't need to barter next year, it will be interesting to see what comes through).

[Linc]

Helpful comments thanks. I think I’ll give RAC a go. There roadside + home start was around £95 and AA quoted me £169 but offering new customers £119.


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[bloater]

Worth checking if you have coverage via a bank account, but be aware not all cover is equal.

Also worth looking at Cashback sites normally a few quid on offer

[vulcangascompany]

I've used the RAC a few times in the last couple of years, no complaints with service or getting things sorted. Yes you have to phone up every year to discuss the renewals but i've always got a reduction. In my experience there seems to be more leeway if in the previous year you haven't called them out.

[Onelasttime]

GEM Motoring.

Only had to use them twice and they were quick, polite and car fixed in no time.

[ianlib]

If you're going to try RAC, then consider signing up via Quidco. You can get cashback of up to £160.
Here's a link.

https://www.quidco.com/rac-uk-breakdown-cover

Cheers
I

[Snowdon]

I'm with nationwide flex plus which I pay £13 per month for. That buys me spot rate commission free debit card use abroad, mobile phone cover, travel insurance and breakdown cover. There's an excess for mobile phone and travel. No excess for breakdown

I drive a 15y old Porsche so I'm fine with them taking my car to my chosen specialist every time I need them. It's definitely worked well for me but if you want your car fixed at the roadside, might not be the best option.

[Kingstepper]

I'm with nationwide flex plus which I pay £13 per month for. That buys me spot rate commission free debit card use abroad, mobile phone cover, travel insurance and breakdown cover. There's an excess for mobile phone and travel. No excess for breakdown

I drive a 15y old Porsche so I'm fine with them taking my car to my chosen specialist every time I need them. It's definitely worked well for me but if you want your car fixed at the roadside, might not be the best option.

I'm also with Nationwide Flex Plus and, TBH, no idea who they use as the service provider.

If I was paying for cover separately, breakdown is so infrequent I'd just go with the cheapest. Current car (Honda, which says a lot about the brand) has never had an issue in 13 years ownership. If it did I'd put up with perhaps a bit more inconvenience.

[andy tims]

I left the RAC after many years when they let me down very badly. I also got fed up with their hugely inflated renewal claims every year.

I've been with GEM a while now. Only had to call them out once, buy no complaints.

[degsey]

I have a Nationwide flex account and they have just contacted me to say they will be using the AA for breakdowns from April.

If you have a joint account you are both covered for the £13.

I advised my kids to get a flex account and so far we have used the breakdown, travel and mobile phone insurance between the 4 of us.

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[Snowdon]

Don't just advise, refer! I think the referrer gets £100

[Linc]

If you're going to try RAC, then consider signing up via Quidco. You can get cashback of up to £160.
Here's a link.

https://www.quidco.com/rac-uk-breakdown-cover

Cheers
I

Nice, ta


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[shoppy]

I have a packaged lloyds/nationwide accounts and both use the AA. My Volvo and Landrover have road side assistance included; the Volvo gets renewed every time I service and includes EU cover.

[Maris]

Startrescue, but then I’ve got a lowly Honda so unlikely to need it.

[vagabond]

I'm sure I have breakdown cover as part of my "First Directory" package with my First Direct account. Never had to use it though and it had slipped my mind....so thanks, will check T&C's.

Wife has Green Flag cover with Direct Line insurance, again never had to claim on that either.

[comdiver]

I’m with autoaid, used them once with no problems.


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[Low-Key]

Hi

Another Autoaid member here - Martin Lewis seemed to recommend them few years back so gave up AA.
Never had to use them but by all accounts straight forward.

L-K

[KavKav]

After 22 years with the RAC, I called them out for the very first time one afternoon a few years ago. I rang their ‘emergency’ number and spent one hour and forty minutes on hold listening to their recorded ‘we are busy’ messages before my mobile battery ran out. I walked a couple of miles to a local garage and they came out and sorted the problem. The next morning I phoned the RAC and being entirely unmoved by their scripted token apology I cancelled my membership and never went back. As far as I am concerned, the RAC venture capital buyout was just a big opportunity to trade on the RAC name and history with profits taking clear priority over customer service. Frankly if RAC were currently 50p a year for full breakdown cover, I still would not go anywhere near them!

[Mike2500]

It’s checking ukhotdeals website for offers too


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