Breakdown services

heavymental

Which is the best?! :? After getting stung for £70 to get my van towed 10 miles the other day I'm biting the bullet and shelling out on AA, RAC or similar. Anyone got a recommendation. I'll need relay and if it isn't too expensive european cover would be useful for those bike trips.
What do you folk use?

jongooligan

Hear the AA is dominated by heavy handed management, only interested in what they can get for doing as little as possible. I've only had bad experiences with them lately.

Perhaps this can help you to decide.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2007/jul/09/motorinsurance.insurance

chrisjsmith

Green flag!

AA wouldn't tow me in my Land Rover!

orienteer

GEM are good value:
http://www.motoringassist.com/

ivancarlos

I'm with the AA and had to use them twice this year with two different cars. First time they came to my workplace in 10min and fixed the problem ialmost right away. Second time was in Manchester city centre on a Saturday afternoon and they came within an hour and although it took a bit longer to diagnose had me going again about a half hour later so I can't really fault them.

Random Vince

i have to go with the AA as the RAC and green flag wont cover me as my usual vehicle is 27 years old

blackhands

Random Vince wrote:

i have to go with the AA as the RAC and green flag wont cover me as my usual vehicle is 27 years old

I'm in the RAC( through the Vintage Sports Car Club) and they cover all my old cars from my 73 year old Riley upwards. Had good service from them when my 50 year old MGA broke down on the A3.

alan_sherman

Get it with your insurance and it is much cheaper.

benjus

I use AutoAid:

http://www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk/

The only downside is that you have to pay for the recovery then fill out a reimbursement form and sent it to AutoAid. I've called them out twice and not had any problems with getting my reimbursement - and at £36 a year for full cover it's good value.

heavymental

Cheers chaps. I'll have a think about my options....and check the small prints.

giant_man

Been with RAC for about 10 years now and been excellent every time. Much better than the AA IMO.

nwallace

Got an RAC card as part of the deal Dad gets, never had a problem, you phone up, few mins later the garage phones you asks a few questions and turns up asap.

Had them out to
A commerce park in Dunfermline when a CV joint failed causing the steering to become dangerous :oops:

Glenbrittle SYHA when the clutch failed again :oops: 110k miles out of the original clutch isn't bad, but as we took it apart in the garage we realised it was total overhaul time, bearing was solid and loose, clutch plate was almost out of friction material and the fluid had boiled, despite that after it had been taken to the garage in Portree and bled there was enough pressure to drive home.

The Cairnwell ski area after I miss judged ground clearance at a car park and ripped the exhaust off, car was down on power but drivable, if my passenger hadn't been complaining about the noise it would have driven home with the pipe in the boot.

A mate is with the AA, his battery died, claiming he left lights and Air con on for 2 mins... yes that will drain the battery. 3 hours waiting for the van to turn up, I could have driven home in my car, got the jump leads and been back there with the car started before the pubs shut (it was half 10 when i got there to laugh at him).

Roadside recovery without breakdown/accident recovery insurance (essentially what RAC, AA, GF membership is) costs upwards of £100. It just makes sense.