Breakdown recovery

[mookie]

Seeing as the mrs has just passed her test and has bought a 2nd hand car, I think it'd be a great idea to get some breakdown cover. We've been looking at a few compainies but wanted to get some first-hand comments from you guys who may have had some experience with certain companies.

any comments or advice appreciated

 

[old.user4556]

If you're bank account is with the halifax and you get more than £1000 mandated per month, you can get free breakdown cover.

Personally, i've not borken down yet - so can't give a definitive opinion.

 

[Gumbo]

AA has rescued me a couple of times in the distant past, they were always good, I also have experience of the RAC, just as good. Currently with NU breakdown as they had a deal going with my car insurance.

Really any of the big names are pretty good, just shop around for the best deal. It'll probably be connected to who you bank with, or insure your car with or whatever.

One advantage of the AA is that you are the member, not a particular car.

 

[Tom]

Depends how old the car is. If its less than 10 years old, I'd say don't bother.

 

[Xavier]

Maybe not if you're a guy, but personally I wouldn't let my missus on the road without having coverage.

Last thing you'd want is her sat in a car late at night trying to ring around for a company who will come out to her at the roadside.

 

[mookie]

Maybe not if you're a guy, but personally I wouldn't let my missus on the road without having coverage.

Last thing you'd want is her sat in a car late at night trying to ring around for a company who will come out to her at the roadside.

exactly my thinking, cost isn't really an issue, i want somebody that'll get out to her quick so she's not hanging around getting upset or something

 

[Brynn]

I have direct line coverage - fucking top notch.

Couple of times i have called on them - once just running out of petrol bout 3 miles from my house - the guy turned up bought the petrol off him (cheaper than it was at the local petrol station) glugged it into car - he did something with the engine and off i scooted.

Then again when my altinator belt snapped, it barely started on the drive at home (i didn't have home start) i called the guy and he said "well if you dont have home start just drive the car as far as you can and aslong as its 1 mile from your house you get free breakdown and free delivery to your home or garage"

But as they rely on local breakdown coverage you can be sitting on your own for about 20-30 mins, and you get a text to your mobile (assuming you called in on one) letting you know who is coming to you/and how long they will be/and also where they are coming from.

 

[Tom]

Mookie, if she breaks down on a country lane somewhere, and she's not sure where exactly (face it, most of us wouldn't know), I suggest a cheapo GPS receiver so she can tell the rescue service exactly her location.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4668&item=5730599745&rd=1

It might seem frivolous, but in an emergency off the motorway, it could be enormously helpful. Also, in case theres no signal, perhaps a PAYG phone on an alternate network to make emergency calls? Don't need a SIM for those. Just shove it all in the spare wheel well in case of emergency.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

I'm with AA. They're very good. Basic package is about £35 for the year, and for that they'll come out and get your car started, or if they can't do that they'll tow it to home/garage of your choice. I've had to use them a few times for various reasons (locked keys in car, car won't start etc) and they've always been good, quick and friendly. One time I couldn't get my car started at 8.20am before work - phoned them - they had my car going less than 15 minutes later after the initial phonecall. Loads and loads of them cruising the streets so you never really have to wait long - longest I think I waited was 40 minutes, which is perfectly good considering circumstances.

 

[Xavier]

Mookie, if she breaks down on a country lane somewhere, and she's not sure where exactly (face it, most of us wouldn't know), I suggest a cheapo GPS receiver so she can tell the rescue service exactly her location.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4668&item=5730599745&rd=1

It might seem frivolous, but in an emergency off the motorway, it could be enormously helpful. Also, in case theres no signal, perhaps a PAYG phone on an alternate network to make emergency calls? Don't need a SIM for those. Just shove it all in the spare wheel well in case of emergency.

Phones without sims aren't on any network, even if they're sim-locked... So you dont need to buy another handset to make an off-network emergency call, just take your current sim out.

 

[venus]

I generally use the roadside that is offered with my insurance policy...I have been with Diamond, Endsleigh and More than,.Each of which i have called out at some point, and they have always been good.

 

[JBP|]

ive never had to use break down recovery thb

i had one car break down on me, i just left it parked up got a bus home and told the scrap man where it was and to pick it up.


a person i know had a fiat punto that needed a tow from the AA man, he managed to bend the axles somehow (make what you will of that)

 

[Damini]

The AA have really been great to me all the time I've been with them. And, it's perhaps worthy to note, that I am The Worst Female Ever in a car situation. Last time I called them I was belting down the M2, singing my little socks off, when a tyre blew out. I had no idea where I was on this motorway, and I was a bit shook up by it all, and they found me really quickly and weren't at all (audibly) exasperated by my "I think I might have driven past a turning a while back, but I don't know which one".

So AA has my glowing endorsement.

 

[rynnor]

I've had a few bad experiences with the AA - dont expect much from them around Bank Holidays or other peak times.

I once had a breakdown on a motorway slip road onto the M25 and waited an hour and a half for a response - it was Not a good place to get stuck and it caused major congestion but they didnt exactly rush..

Another time on the motorway on a Bank Holiday when I had a breakdown I had to wait 3 and a half hours for a non-AA pickup truck to turn up...

Its down to the way they prioritise calls - buy it if your a women who tends to travel alone but if your a bloke might be better to invest in a decent toolkit!