Moving away from RAC/AA

pstuart

Thanks guys for clearing a few points for me. You are right and I am guilty of doing a Daily Mail ie.repeating stuff picked up from other sources (in this case a well known car forum) without verifying it first.

We use ADAC for touring caravan repatriation, our lease cars are covered under a different system.

Now going to lay down in a darkened room for a while.

pinkteapot

Been with Green Flag for about five years and very happy.

Called them out three times. Twice they were there in less than an hour (even though one of them was in the middle of a massive jam on a motorway!).

The third time was on the Orkney Islands. They couldn't come out until the next day as their van for the Orkneys was on a different island that day(!). They paid for a taxi for us back to our holiday accommodation, then for a taxi to take us back to the car the next morning to meet the mechanic.

You don't pay-then-claim with Green Flag. I've never handed over a penny, except for the taxis above where I had to get receipts and then reclaim. For the actual car recovery/repairs, the garages bill Green Flag directly.

For cars under 10 years old, they're usually cheaper than the AA and RAC. The AA and RAC have flat prices that everyone pays. Green Flag are insurance-based and quote based on your car. If you've got a brand new car you'll pay peanuts. Once your car is over ten years old, you might find their quotes more expensive than AA/RAC.

I never accept the renewal from Green Flag. They offer good cashback through Quidco. Every single year I cancel and then take out a new policy through Quidco. This year our policy was about £60 (Recovery Plus) but we're getting £25 cashback. Last year, the policy was £55 and we got £40 cashback!

Ebe_Scrooge

AutoAid - £39.90 per year, covers you and your spouse travelling in any vehicle. It IS a pay and reclaim service, which the OP said they were wary of, but I've been with them for years and never had any hassle. Call them out, pay the recovery truck by credit card, send off the claim form, a cheque arrives within 10 days, ready to pay the credit card bill when it arrives. And they'll take you to a garage ( or destination ) of your choice. There are many threads on this site singing their praises.

No, I'm not affiliated to them, just a satisfied customer of many years.

nobbysn*ts

Iceweasel wrote: »

The ADAC cover is fine by me - no need for any extra cover for the UK at all.

If my car is broke I want it fixed - not brought home.

Horse for courses. Last time I used the AA was because my cam belt starting getting noisy. I didn't want that replaced at a local garage I knew nothing about. I got it recovered home, picked up my spare car, and replaced the whole belt kit and water pump at the weekend. If I don't want to do it myself (wife's front spring went on hers) we just get it taken straight to my local garage, who I know does a good job at a fair price.

Ebe_Scrooge

nobbysn*ts wrote: »

If I don't want to do it myself (wife's front spring went on hers) we just get it taken straight to my local garage, who I know does a good job at a fair price.

Must admit, that's what I like about AutoAid. No matter where I break down, they'll take me to my local indy garage - a family run business that is used by all the locals, does a great job at a fantastic price, and it's a 4 minute walk from my house :-) Much easier and better than being stranded miles from home, hoping that the "nearest garage" they've taken you to are not just a bunch of cowboys out to milk you for as much as they can.

sillygoose

pinkteapot wrote: »

Been with Green Flag for about five years and very happy.

Called them out three times. Twice they were there in less than an hour (even though one of them was in the middle of a massive jam on a motorway!).

The third time was on the Orkney Islands. They couldn't come out until the next day as their van for the Orkneys was on a different island that day(!). They paid for a taxi for us back to our holiday accommodation, then for a taxi to take us back to the car the next morning to meet the mechanic.

You don't pay-then-claim with Green Flag. I've never handed over a penny, except for the taxis above where I had to get receipts and then reclaim. For the actual car recovery/repairs, the garages bill Green Flag directly.

For cars under 10 years old, they're usually cheaper than the AA and RAC. The AA and RAC have flat prices that everyone pays. Green Flag are insurance-based and quote based on your car. If you've got a brand new car you'll pay peanuts. Once your car is over ten years old, you might find their quotes more expensive than AA/RAC.

I never accept the renewal from Green Flag. They offer good cashback through Quidco. Every single year I cancel and then take out a new policy through Quidco. This year our policy was about £60 (Recovery Plus) but we're getting £25 cashback. Last year, the policy was £55 and we got £40 cashback!

Your lucky to get away with that so long, they have been known to refuse cashback if they spot your not really a 'new' customer. Some people swap between the policy in the husbands name and the wifes name each year to avoid this.

I tried Start Rescue last year, very similar to Green Flag but the policy has long since run out and they have not paid up the cashback so never again!

This time I went with QDOS who again are similar to Green Flag, calling out a local recovery agent so can't be much different. Very impressed with the price that included a lot of cover, cheaper than Green Flag and the good cashback tracked and fully paid out in just days! (Topcashback)