Super cheap AA & RAC breakdown cover loopholes.

Former_MSE_Archna

For a rundown of some top breakdown discounts see the

Breakdown Discounts Note

If you've spotted a better deal, or you've feedback on those I've listed, please post below.

... just click 'post reply' to report new offers

Thanks for your help

Back to the original post....

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What's the deal?

There are currently a number of ways to get cheap breakdown cover from the two big providers. The AA has relaunched its promotion to give away a £20 M&S voucher when you sign up to its £35 basic (or any other) cover.

For the RAC, as usual you can get it for £14 if you pay in Tesco Clubcard points or alternatively get £25 cashback via a special site bringing its basic price down to £8.

The deals

It's worth noting that there are many other cheap standard roadside recovery deals with other companies before looking at these promotions starting... see Breakdown Cover: Get the cheapest.

• AA vehicle only cover for £35 plus £20 M&S vouchers
  
  Sign up to the AA at the moment and it has a promotion on that it'll give you £20 M&S vouchers for any policy you take out.
  
  Its basic roadside policy is just £35 so you can effectively get cover for £15, provided you use the vouchers for something you'd have got anyway. This only covers the one car though, rather than a person and for cars under 10 years old.
  
  You still get the vouchers with bigger policies, but the relative discount is diminished. You can get this via its £20 M&S vouchers promo or by calling 0800 294 7817 and quoting 1081.
  
  You may experience problems with this link...
  
  If you click it and it doesn't have the get £20 M&S voucher on the page, its probably as you've visited the AA site before and the old page is stored in your computers cache. The AA knows about this problem and simply asks that if this occurs, please call its phone number instead.
  
  Who is it open to? New customers and those that cancelled more than 6 weeks ago.
  
  If you've got an AA policy and are coming to renewal, you won't be eligible for this deal, but it's great for your haggling arsenal. Many who've told the AA they're unhappy with the renewal price and are considering trying elsewhere, have been given heavy discounts... throw this deal in the conversation and it should help.

• RAC membership for 1/4 price using Tesco Clubcard deals
  
  Tesco shoppers can swap their points for Clubcard Deals vouchers which are worth four times the face value. One of the deals available is RAC cover; the basic cover will cost you £14 worth of points, but there are a whole other range of deals too.
  
  If you've got Clubcard deals saved up this is a great system. For more read the Breakdown Cover: Get RAC cover at 1/4 of the price

• RAC membership for £8 via using a cashback site.
  
  Cashback sites are specialist websites that list retailers/product providers and get paid if you click through them. Importantly they then give some or all of this cash to you. If you're new, please read the Best Cashback Sites guide before continuing.
  
  Right now, sign up to the breakdown cover via a cashback site and you can get up to £25 cashback for doing it. You could also opt for higher cover, and get the same (or increased cashback at higher levels); though then it's a lower effective discount.
  
  Wepromiseto: Pays £25 but if you're new it takes the first £5 you earn each year. Link: Wepromiseto
  
  
  Cashback Kings: Pays £21 but if you're new it takes the first £5 you earn each year (though if you switch to it from a different cashback site it'll waive your fee (read the details). Link: Cashback Kings
  
  Topcashback: Pays £22 to all Link: Topcashback
  
  Quidco: Pays £21 but if you're new it takes the first £5 you earn each year. Link: Quidco
  
  
  Warning! The cashback isn't 100% guaranteed
  
  While there shouldn't be a problem with these deals; the payout on cashback sites is never guaranteed, as if there's a dispute with the retailer and the cashback site doesn't get paid - nor do you.

Thanks to those already discussing these deals on the forum, we've started a new thread to amalgamate the deals and provide extra info.

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adaadat

I have RAC cover "Single, Solutions 2" I]Roadside[/I] & [I]At Home[/I and my renewal is £72.

The equivalent AA cover (for a driver, which is what I want, and not simply a car) is £84.

I try to switch every year to maximise my cashback potential and save as much as I can, but can't find any better AA cashback rates than these:

UKRewards.co.uk ..................£12.50 [£25 min. for payment]
E-cashrewards.com ..............£10 [£15...]
ipoints.com .........................1,000 pts.
Loyaltyshopper.co.uk ............2,000 pts (£20) [£30 min...
Rpoints.com ........................1,000 pts. (£10)

I only have cashback, which is anywhere near to reaching the minimum payment threshold, with the most popular sites: Quidco, Topcashback, Rpoints, edealsuk, etc.

I don't have a Nectar card but do have a Tesco clubcard, although without sufficient points.

I was thinking of sticking with RAC for another year in the hope, next year, the cashback may be better; certainly better than £10 or £12.

Are there any better deals?

Allybally

Be aware that if you sign up to AA on line you do not qualify for the £20 M&S vouchers. The reason that they have given is that you will already receive a discount for joining on line. If you join using the telephone membership starts at £35 and you will qualify for vouchers, on line cover starts at £29 but no vouchers. I joined on line yesterday but did not know about this offer. I called them this morning but they say because I joined on line I do not qualify for them.

adaadat

Anyone?....

Pete268

Have you thought of trying some of the other recovery companies such as Green Flag, Brittania Rescue, Tesco Breakdown etc. Also does such as your employer or union etc have an affinity deal with any companies to get cheaper rates?

There are now quite a few companies out there who may work out cheaper than the 'big two'.

Pete

storm3

Beware if you think you have full AA cover with your Lloyds TSB Gold Card.It will only tow you within a 10 mile radius of where you've broken down!To the nearest garage or home if it's nearer.We made this mistake & had to pay over £300 to get towed from the M3.Ouch!Will double check all the small print next time.:mad: :eek:

Rajesh

I've had my fingers burnt with AA and Quidco. Last time I tried it (August 2007) they refused cashback point blank :mad:. Nothing to do with overlapping cookies etc. After that they disappeared (or were taken off due to the number of complaints) from Quidco.

I do not trust the AA with cashback.

golddustmedia

Personally I would recommend Green Flag!

They're also on Quidco offering £20 back and the basic recovery policy for my vehicle is £38 (so £18 after cashback).

What's more from past experience I've found their service to be better anyway! (Faster arrival to a call out and more helpful when there).

Swattie

I got a good deal today.

For £40.40 I got AA Annual Individual cover (I'm covered in all vehicles as driver or passenger) plus £20.00 in M&S vouchers. I did this over the phone using the number in the 1st post.

On-line this offer was £57.00 plus £20 vouchers.

The vouchers won't go to waste as I do shop in M&S from time to time (mostly during the sales!), plus Christmas is coming and they are useful as a pressie!

Not as cheap as the £18 above - but also no hassle with cash back sites - so I'm happy.

davidjmcarthur

Sadly the new M&S voucher offer the AA are doing is not as good value as it might seem. Before they lauched this offer you could get an online discount through their website. With this discount you and your partner could get cover which included Roadside and Relay for £102.00. With the M&S deal you get the same cover for £127... Ok, so you then get £20 off but that still means you're paying an extra £5 on top of what they were offering previously.

A good deal? I think not!

Swattie

Well I'm happy with my 1 year individual cover for £20.40 - and I don't feel ripped off.