Who do you use for Breakdown cover?

Lovelyjoolz

Morning all

My breakdown cover is up for renewal. I need national recovery, onward journey and home start. I've used Greenflag for years and have always been very impressed with their service. This year however, being all MSE, I've spent some time comparing prices and found many that are much cheaper.

Greenflag want £74 to renew this year. Here's the other results from moneysupermarket:

STARTrescue.co.uk £35.45
Rescuemycar.com £43.90
QDOS £46.50
Swiftcover £46.99
AXA £46.99
Autonational £49.50
Allianz £56.90
Green Insurance £58.20
Kwikfit £58.70
Greenflag £76.32

On the plus side, Greenflag are quoting me cheaper than their new customer price, but I can't get over the difference in prices - surely £35.45 is just TOO cheap??? If the old adage, "you get what you pay for" is true, I don't feel too confident in STARTrescue's service.

Who do you use and how much do you pay?

Note: RAC don't come up in the results, and AA come in at £139!!!!!

dogshome

You do indeed get what you pay for, Greenflag is the 'Freebie' breakdown cover that comes with my son's N.West bank account, but looking at it's T & C's it's almost worthless

A call-out gives 1 hour of fix time, which if it can't be done gives a tow to anywhere within a 10 mile radius, ( anything beyond 10 milies is chargeable), or a tow to the Green flag trucks home garage
Get stuck 100 miles away and your options are repairs at garage who's quality of work and rates you don't know, or a tow at God only knows what cost per mile.

I'm with Green Flag via the Caravan Club, my £86.50 subscription covers two vehicles for absolutely everything, including a double tow option which will take my car/caravan to my holiday destination, then hauls it back home at a later date.
Like most B/down companies, Green Flag have an age of vehicle limit, (12 years), but amazingly this does not apply for members of the Caraven Club !

fivetide

AutoAid www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk £39 for the year. Basically insurance against anything going wrong. You pay the recovery then they send you a cheque for the cost. Can't fault it.

1jim

+1for Autoaid. Also covers married/civil partners car also for the same price

GolfBravo

Currently I use John Lewis Insurance, full package including EU (European Rescue), for additional £70 p.a. Not sure which company they use for roadside repairs.

And until January 2014 I am also covered by ADAC (EU-wide, any vehicle I'm driving/passenger, plus travel insurance, incl. trailer/caravan, no car age limit) for €79.50 (£68). ADAC use the AA mechanics.

kkgree1

Another vote for Autoaid!

MX5huggy

Autoaid

Autoaid

lazer

No-one =- have the phone number for a few breakdown services in the car shoud i need it

In 12 years of driving I have only used a breakdown service once (and strangely it was when I had Breakdown cover - first year with a new car - and was on hold for an hour before the battery died in my phone - so got myself to a friends house and called them again)

So that is 12 years at £50 saved (and in my self insurance pot!)

sk240

Another vote for autoaid, had to use them a few weeks ago, cheque came back in no time at all, no hastle

Chorlie

My Bank Account comes with Full European RAC Cover Inc. Home Start, Onward Travel etc (the works) plus all the other standard stuff (Worldwide Travel Insurance, Mobile Phone Insurance, Gadget Cover etc etc etc) and its costing me £90 a year.

If you pay for Travel & Mobile Insurance, its worth looking at fee paying Bank Accounts to see if the overall cost works out cheaper (Nationwide Flex Plus £10 a month, plus 3% Interest on £2500).

Also check if your car insurance company offered Breakdown cover for a small added fee, which may workout a cheaper option.

And remember to look at Quidco for any Cashback on any of your above cover

Ultrasonic

I use Autonational Rescue and have done for years (and made use of their services a few times without complaint). I'll be considering Autoaid when I come to renew though going by the positive comments I've read on this site. The only issue with it is that you do have to pay at the time of the incident and then claim back later, so if for whatever reason you might not be able to do this, then avoid.

Make sure you check for cashback before signing up with a new company.