Breakdown - do you get what you pay for?

InsideInsurance

mad_rich wrote: »

I guess if you're getting home recovery, you'll more than likely want it towing to your usual garage, which tends to be close by.

Just checked CF Recovery, who are the guys they usually send round here. £45 + £1.20 per mile for recovery, so that would give you 16 miles to play with.

Fine for most city-dwellers, possibly not if you live out in the sticks.

I've no idea of recovery charges tbh, its AutoAid's own website that states their limit is normally about the same as the call out charge.

egyptiancotton

InsideInsurance wrote: »

I've no idea of recovery charges tbh, its AutoAid's own website that states their limit is normally about the same as the call out charge.

What limit are you referring to? Is it the limit of recovery to any UK destination?

Are you saying that AutoAid's limit is about the same as the call-out charge?

skodafabia

It is £108 not £180

hgotsparkle wrote: »

Had to call up Green Flag this morning as my car wouldn't start. I thought home start was covered as I'm sure I remember that being something they said when I changed my address with them - turns out nope, and would have been £180 call out charge otherwise. Said no and went knocking on my neighbours door. Turns out it was 'fuel starvation' or something, so luckily I didn't agree to the call out!Yes, you do get what you pay for as I now believe that home start cover generally costs more because of the risk of a car being left for long periods of time. Thats my theory, anyway.

skodafabia

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Greenflag dont have any of their own vans, they have however paid some local companies to have their vans painted in the greenflag livery.


.

Incorrect. They only use Local Companies for rural areas of England. The majority of England have super contractors,.which with the liveried vans and the equipment they carry are a match for AA and RAC. The rural areas use local garages which usually are also RAC AA Autoaid Britannia etc etc agents. If youre in such a rural area then autoaid cannot be better than Britannia for example. It then boils down to what your policy entitlements cover and also the experience by ringing the call centre. I once had a policy with Call Assist and never again and reading others views on the internet I am not alone.

skodafabia

InsideInsurance wrote: »

I've no idea of recovery charges tbh, its AutoAid's own website that states their limit is normally about the same as the call out charge.

If you a buy a policy with the top 3 organisations youre pretty much covered for all of the below.

But if you want to be like the above writer and think its a waste of time having breakdown cover maybe this may change your way of thinking

what happens if your vehicle needs specialist equipment to load. (accident, locked car & lost keys), suspension collapsed onto wheel, stuck on grass, sand sea or mud)
If you rung a private garage then Typical prices are;
Skates £32 per wheel (£128 if 4 needed)
Hi-ab/lorry crane £180 call out charge
Winching £60 an hour
There are also snatch blocks, slippery jims etc etc. (if you are in an accident then it can be serious money and also storage charges of £24 per night if your not claiming through insurance)

What happens if two men are needed if your in a multi story car park. Now you have two call outs charges and all the above specialist equipment to get car down multiple floors

Cf may be too busy with work from AA RAC etc and may not attend for private work, it has been known. They may put contracts with their larger clients first.

Lost/damaged keys, a typical private call out charge for a locksmith can be £80+.