Breakdown cover is just that-not accident cover

Contessa

Until I had a motorway RTA recently ( other driver's fault ) I didn't realise that my RAC relay cover did not include this ( it is "breakdown" not "accident" ). I phoned them up, blithely assuming that my car would be recovered. Apparently other companies, including the AA, don't do this either. I assumed my cover was for any relay ( read the small print!) My insurance company arranged for my wrecked car to be delivered to a repair centre near me, a couple of days later.
On two occasions the AA has relayed me home-absolutely brilliant and worth every penny at the time.
But I was still hale and hearty then, and the situations less serious.
Meanwhile, I had to return by train. Don't get me wrong, although the train journey was very slow, with a few changes, and took nearly 3 times as long as the road trip, I was still alive and OK ( but shocked and felt ill)
I think that if I'd known that I wasn't covered for accidents the situation might have been a bit easier, in that I wouldn't have felt so despondent and "on my own".
I just posted this so that others may be aware ( unlike me ), and I truly hope no-one has to go through a similar experience.

Hammyman

I just read the literature that came with the policy...

Gloomendoom

The RAC will recover your car after an accident but, unfortunately, they will charge you for it.

From the RAC help pages...

Do you cover accidents?

BoGoF

Have to say I thought most people would have been aware they are not covered for this.....that is what insurance is for?

Contessa

Gloomendoom wrote: »

The RAC will recover your car after an accident but, unfortunately, they will charge you for it.

From the RAC help pages...

Do you cover accidents?

I think the moral of the story is to read the small print, and to expect the unexpected! However, my phone call to the RAC just resulted in my being told to contact my insurance company re RAC charges and permission to use them.
Again, I reiterate that I realise how lucky I was to survive the accident, but it was so very stressful having to make the phone calls to RAC, insurance company, then liase with another recovery company, and inform relatives who had been expecting me. Worried all the time that my mobile phone (how would I have fared without one?) would loose signal, or battery power.

Gloomendoom

Contessa wrote: »

I think the moral of the story is to read the small print, and to expect the unexpected!

It is. Personally, however, I don't think there is any harm in raising the issue on this forum. I have met several people who think that the RAC/AA etc. will recover their car FOC after an accident.

I'm glad that you are ok.

jb66

I thought I'd be covered, cheers op, maybe a good reason to get breakdown via insurance company

Biketrials08

It used to be different, the RAC recovered me after an accident many years ago (about 12).

marlot

Yep. When I rode a motorbike I was particularly aware. A friend broke the clutch lever when he dropped the bike. Only a £10 part, and not one he'd want to make a claim for, but it was classed as an accident and the recovery firm wanted to claim against his policy.

There are organisations who recover after accidents, but RAC and AA aren't amongst them