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[TheBoy]

Tunnie's saga reminded me I needed to tell the RAC that they were having a giraffe with their renewal quote, and that it had been "frozen" for this year wasn't gonna cut it.

£141 for both of us as personal members, including recovery to anywhere. Yeah, get lost, I have the same loyalty to breakdown firms as they have to me.

Usual 'dangle berries' trying to cancel, but did offer a suitable discount that I found acceptable, and was significantly less than next cheapest I could find including cashback offers.

So looks like another year of the RAC for me.

[tunnie]

Thing is, I get free basic AA via my Halifax Rewards account, I need to look at how much Relay Cover is.

[TheBoy]

Thing is, I get free basic AA via my Halifax Rewards account, I need to look at how much Relay Cover is.

The bank freebies ain't worth shit I'm afraid. I think one of my accounts offers it for "free" (though I pay a fee for the account).

My renewal came to far less than the quote you suggested last night to "upgrade" yours (2 people, any car (needed due to age of cars), national recovery).

[Nick W]

Thing is, I get free basic AA via my Halifax Rewards account, I need to look at how much Relay Cover is.

The bank freebies ain't worth shit I'm afraid. I think one of my accounts offers it for "free" (though I pay a fee for the account).

This is true. And this is also the way to find out that it only gives roadside assistance and a tow to a local garage rather than breaking down 200 miles from home at 01:30 in the rain on the motorway.


£141 for personal cover for 2 people is a bargain; if the companies who actually turn up to do the work were paid properly it would be about 4 times that.


A tow off the motorway to a safe place(one that you don't get to choose) starts at £150, paid up front to FMG who administer the scheme for the Highways Agency. The contractor gets about £50 of that.

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

I put Woman and I with ADAC. German company that then subcontract to the AA over here. Worth seeing how much they quote you, just ask if they speak English and they'll transfer you to someone who does 

[TheBoy]

I put Woman and I with ADAC. German company that then subcontract to the AA over here. Worth seeing how much they quote you, just ask if they speak English and they'll transfer you to someone who does 

I looked at them a couple of years ago, but there was too many restrictions for me in the UK

[raywilb]

I put Woman and I with ADAC. German company that then subcontract to the AA over here. Worth seeing how much they quote you, just ask if they speak English and they'll transfer you to someone who does 

  I worked in Germany for years & I was insured by the AA but because a uk policy would only cover me for 90days abroad the AA swapped me to a german company (with my approval) & the 90days abroad became the UK. at the mo Hastings are my insurer & I'm supposed to have  full recovery as part of the policy. though this thread has made me realise I have no idea who to contact if I did break down as the contact No is on a email.

[plym ian]

I do my rac through tesco insurance and costs me about £6 a month for road side recovery with onward travel pluse home start to, which i think is very good indeed

[Nick W]

I put Woman and I with ADAC. German company that then subcontract to the AA over here. Worth seeing how much they quote you, just ask if they speak English and they'll transfer you to someone who does 

  I worked in Germany for years & I was insured by the AA but because a uk policy would only cover me for 90days abroad the AA swapped me to a german company (with my approval) & the 90days abroad became the UK. at the mo Hastings are my insurer & I'm supposed to have  full recovery as part of the policy. though this thread has made me realise I have no idea who to contact if I did break down as the contact No is on a email.

That would worry me, as many of those polices are with providers whose service is so bad that waiting 4 or 5 hours for a proper AA/RAC/Green Flag recovery is preferable!

[Lazydocker]

We have FULL RAC cover, including European cover (but with an age restriction on the vehicle) with our Bank Account Bundle. Works well for us

[Sir Tigger KC]

www.rescuemycar.com

I've been with this lot for about 6 years now and have called them out 4 times and each time they have had someone with me inside the hour from a local garage. 

3 times they've relayed me home, including a long one once from South Wales home to Dorset, without any quibbling or arguments.  The premium is about £18, but when you call them out a £40 excess is payable, so cost wise it's very cheap if you don't call them out!  . If you plan to use the service however it could be expensive, but I always smile when I read about people paying  hundreds to the ' Big Boys ' and then sitting around for hours for them to turn up! 

Downsides have been one fella that couldn't open my Omega when I locked the keys in and a contractor who took me back to his garage in Pontypridd and tried to tell me that the injector pump on my old Merc was knackered and he could supply and fit for £1100 in 3 days!    When I stopped laughing and said no chance he organised the relay and I fixed the air leak in the fuel lines and went on to do another 15000 miles before selling it on. 

So I guess with this sort of service it's a lottery as to the quality of the local garages, but overall my experience with this company has been positive!  . Recommended! 

[omega2018]

www.rescuemycar.com

I've been with this lot for ...

second all of that

with others (all in fact) watch out for small print that says the nationwide recovery is at their discretion and they could put you in  a hotel for a night instead.

[Nick W]

www.rescuemycar.com

I've been with this lot for ...

second all of that

with others (all in fact) watch out for small print that says the nationwide recovery is at their discretion and they could put you in  a hotel for a night instead.

That's not so bad, you need to watch out for the ones that deny you any further service if you've been offered and refused a repair!

The smaller firms you've never heard have lots of even smaller print. Most of them actually provide VERY limited service.

[Viral_Jim]

Thing is, I get free basic AA via my Halifax Rewards account, I need to look at how much Relay Cover is.

The bank freebies ain't worth shit I'm afraid. I think one of my accounts offers it for "free" (though I pay a fee for the account).

My renewal came to far less than the quote you suggested last night to "upgrade" yours (2 people, any car (needed due to age of cars), national recovery).

Not universally true, SWMBO and I have a Select Platinum account with Natwest, its £16pcm and includes full Green Flag membership; by that I mean:

- Green Flag roadside and homecall cover anywhere in the UK
- Cover for all vehicles you own that are kept and registered at your home address
- Covers anyone driving or travelling in the vehicle
- We'll get you and your vehicle home, or to your preferred location, anywhere in the UK

The merits of Green Flag vs AA vs RAC are debatable, personally I think its luck of the draw with any of them. Granted £16pcm is more than £140 p.a. However, I make good use of the Worldwide Travel Insurance - claimed 3 times in 2 years, never had much resistance from them. We also insure phones and have medical cover through this. Good value IMHO. Last time I worked it out, buying it all separately would be knocking on £60pcm and I would buy all of it if I had to.

[omega2018]

the thing that's important to most oof member i suspect is nationwide recovery.  the thing that will be least important is at home cover, followed not far behind by roadside attention.  i have fixed a lot of things at home and could fix a few at roadside. if its a major malfunction I would just like the car towed home not dumped at a local garage.