Breakdown Cover & Accident Recovery

bjblackmore

Hi,

Just had my renewal through from Greenflag for my Breakdown cover, which has gone up, again. So I decided to look around, and found I can get cheaper cover, with cash back, from both the AA and RAC.

I was going to go with the AA, however I was reading the cover inclusions & exclusions, and it seems to contradict itself:


What is covered:

• Roadside Assistance is available if Your Vehicle is stranded on the highway more than a quarter of a mile from the Member's Home Address following a breakdown or accident;

What is not covered:

• Any recovery or tow following an accident.

So, will the AA provide assistance following an accident? Reason I want to know, is because before I was with Greenflag, I was with the RAC, and skidded on a patch of ice patch going around a corner, hit the curb and bent the wishbone on the driver side front wheel. When I phoned the RAC they wouldn't provide assistance as it was an accident.

Thanks

Ben

moonrakerz

Have you read this ?

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/roadside-recovery

giraffe69

It sounds from your description as if they will attend and try to get you going but not tow you. If you want a tow you pay.

The_AA_Company_Representative

Basically, if the car is repairable at the roadside, we would send a patrol free of charge under your membership, with the aim of getting you back on the road. If the car needs to be recovered, we can certainly arrange that and would ask for permission to invoice the ‘at fault’ insurer. In some cases, this might be the member’s own insurer if no one else is involved. The other option would be for the member to pay us for the recovery and then reclaim it from theirs or the third party’s insurer, if appropriate.

The reason we look to reclaim the cost of the recovery is because accidents are covered by car insurance policies and are not technically breakdowns, which is what AA membership (or any other motoring organisation membership) covers. Other motoring organisations also charge for recovery following an accident.

Hope this is helpful.

StaffieTerrier

A slight aside to the original question but I've just renewed my cover with Green Flag. When the renewal came through it had gone up. I wasn't happy but I've always had good service from them so didn't want to change. I got an online quote from them, as a new member, which was £50 cheap. I rang the renewals hotline to query it and they discounted the renewal to the online price. I was told if you get a cheaper online quote from them, as long as the criteria match (mileage per year, etc.) they will match it. It's always worth ringing them.