RAC vs AA?

buckman

Hi, this is probably an over asked question, but for piece of mind I've decided to look at either AA or RAC for my older car now..

Is there any preference for one over the other or even a comparison on features and prices, for the basic membership?

Thank you

forgotmyname

Depends on what you want from your basic cover.

My dad was in the AA many many years ago and was swearing for days when he broke down and they would only tranport him to the border of the county and then he had to wait for another truck to collect him and take him to the next border.

I have avoided them when i started driving even though i do not know if they still do that?

Define basic membership? Do you want to be towed more than 10 miles to a garage? A thread on here complained because they had basic over to the nearest garage only and broke down late at night and complained because it wouldnt take them 100+ miles home.

Do you need home start? If it breaks down at home can you repair it or will you pay a garage to collect it or transport it?

I pay for the top cover with the RAC but i know that if anything happens then i wont be stuck.

buckman

Basic Cover, no home start, but I would guess towing or repaired so i could get home or to my destination?

I think I had RAC for a couple of years, around 16 years ago so it may have changed considerably.

I also have heard bad things about AA but wanted some impartial advice from the MSE's on here

stator

When I've used both they have been fine but I did not need a long tow.

I switch between them every year and get a new customer discount.

I didn't like some wording in the AA booklet last time though, it said we will take you to a garage of 'our' choosing, rather than 'my' choosing. Not sure what the RAC wording is though

Gloomendoom

I've been a member of the RAC for 30 odd years and always had very good service when I have needed them. Both at home and abroad.

However, in 30 years I probably spent far more on the cover than I would have spent sorting the breakdowns myself.

Mrs_Imp

We ended up switching from the AA to AutoAid. I was driving an older car, and they always said 'oo can't do anything with this, we'll tow you'. I can get that service from AutoAid for far less. It works slightly differently, in that you pay for your tow then reclaim it from the company

stator

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I've been a member of the RAC for 30 odd years and always had very good service when I have needed them. Both at home and abroad.

However, in 30 years I probably spent far more on the cover than I would have spent sorting the breakdowns myself.

Yes, that's often the case. If I only stayed in the town I live in then I might not bother with breakdown insurance. Just pay for a tow to your trusted garage if and when you need it. But I don't like the idea of being hundreds of miles from home with some local garage trying to rip me off because I have no idea what's wrong with it and don't trust anyone nearby. So it's great to have the AA or RAC on call as they have always provided a good trustworthy service.

mum2one

I've been with the AA about 25 yrs, my dad 35 yrs, theyve been brilliant for us, even going above and beyond the call of duty.

x

hollie.weimeraner

Mrs_Imp wrote: »

We ended up switching from the AA to AutoAid. I was driving an older car, and they always said 'oo can't do anything with this, we'll tow you'. I can get that service from AutoAid for far less. It works slightly differently, in that you pay for your tow then reclaim it from the company

Autoaid stopped requiring the pay up front and claim back system recently. My son was recovered from the motorway before Christmas and wasn't charged.

Been with Autoaid for years, excellent system as is IC Breakdown as well

buckman

Never heard of AutoAid before? Is this new?

Do they use local garages on call out to wherever you are?

I always preferred AA or RAC as they were actively patrolling the motorways, as have bad experiences of local garages based on call outs with using local garages to the area.

But anyway I am looking into AutoAid as a alternative?

jimmy_cricket

After my experience with the AA a few years ago I would never use them again. On renewal (which was auto renewal even though I had expressly asked not to have this) the premium was hiked massively. They would not price match quotes I could get on the Internet, fair enough. However, they then went about making it impossible to cancel, with excuses of 'the system down' whenever I phoned. In the end I complained on these boards and wrote. Massive hassle.
Having said this roadside assistance was always fine. Now with RAC and never had a problem negotiating the renewal.