Car Breakdown Discussion

mrfourcreditcards

Just had a ridiculous renewal quote from the RAC.  I've been lazy and allowed my policy to auto-renew for a few years, so was probably already paying too much, but the latest renewal was daylight robbery!  Last year £299.99, this years renewal quote £412.99!  I sent them a message saying the quote is far too high and to cancel my policy.  They've come back with a loyalty discount taking my renewal down to £70!  That's more like it!

diolchynfawr

Please do not use the autoaid breakdown.  They have auto-renewed.  I tried to cancel online, and they have taken half of my money.  They would not reinstate the policy or give me my money.  They are complete charlatans with no sympathy for people..  Please remove the recommendation for this company.  

ctrainor

Just had a renewal letter through KIA for my year sportage for RAC roadside assistance advanced £159 for 2 year deal! Sounds reasonable. but I can get full cover through top cashback for £71 a year RAC Complete package . do you experts out there think that's a good deal? Seems so to me

rufford155

I left RAC for a year but got nervous about how efficient my manufacturer's scheme would be.  I'm especially bothered about punctures at inconvenient times or places - I can't handle one myself now I am 81.  I rang RAC and got them down to £120 for personal service for self and wife. Seems every haggler gets a different deal !  I personally yearn for the old days when everybody paid the same standard price and believe that the current haphazard system should be banned. It's ridiculous that a huge, majority proportion of the price you pay is an "arrangement fee" that goes who knows where. In other words it's the cost of everyone haggling - it's barmy !!!!

Ash_Pole

My car is over 15 years old now and the AutoAid quote is creeping higher. Start Rescue looks cheaper, and seems to have good reviews, has anyone here any experience with them?

RL59

Have not had time to go through all of this forum, but has anyone ever heard of 2Gether Insurance breakdown cover?

I've had my AA renewal quote which is £188 so I've been on Confused.com and searched based on cover for a single vehicle (as we've now gone down to one car) including nationwide recovery, home start, roadside assistance, onward travel, overnight accommodation, car hire, out of fuel and mis-fuelling the quote is £14.50 for the year with no excess! This sounds too good to be true so I'm assuming it to be just that - but what's the catch? 

EeeTea

musical_norwich said:

Given the manner in which both the AA and RAC try to rip-off customers at renewal, why bother? I've been looking for a European policy and the prices from the AA and RAC are quite simply ridiculous profiteering.

I just bought annual home, recovery, Europe, etc. for £60.99 with Axa, one of the largest insurers in the world. No cashback, no arguing, no attempts to rip me off. Just a fair price from a single phone call for a four year old car and no obligation to auto renew. And fairly decent reviews too. And Axa now has got an app for the iPhone and Android that can be used in the event of a breakdown, which I think is a useful innovation. The chap I spoke to in the call centre was based in an English speaking country too (Republic of Ireland).

When the AA comes out with insulting renewal quotes like some of those listed here, charging loyal customers more than double what they will accept after haggling, I don't think we should even lower ourselves to call them back. I've never known a car or home insurer have that kind of mark-up and wriggle room. It is blatant profiteering.

I have to say, I do worry about some of the companies at the other end of the market that this site is recommending, particularly Green Insurance, when the review sites seem to view their customer service as utterly appalling. Quoteline was great while it used Britannia, but again the reviews for Mondial, Britannia's replacement, are dire.

I have an AXA Assistance policy...I had a puncture and they said I wasn't covered, as I had hit a pothole (and ripped the sidewall of my run-flat tyre) and they deem this to be an accident.  So "tough luck mate, you're on your own"

£485 it cost me (with a new, typically, £195 tyre) and 6 hours of my life.