Breakdown cover?

twopenny

I've searched the forums but the results disappear into the top of the page banner and I can't scroll up them.

Until this event I haven't bothered. Driving the West Country I can always ask a local for  a good garage and take B&B if necessary which is a lot cheaper overall.

Now with places open at odd times if at all and locals not out and about I feel I need National Recovery to get me and the car home should anything happen. But looking yet again at the sites for the 2 big ones they want over a £100 for the year and all my details to pester me with.

Should I ring up? What could I use to bargain with? I have a 20yr old car with 50,000 on the clock in good nick (bargain buy) so I think this might work against me. Never needed help, no probs for 20yrs but the current situation has me nervous of travelling .

A past neighbour found a bargain at £60 but couldn't remember the company. Before I knock on his door and stand 2 meters back would anyone have some advice on how to go about this please?

AdrianC

twopenny said:

I've searched the forums but the results disappear into the top of the page banner and I can't scroll up them.

Until this event I haven't bothered. Driving the West Country I can always ask a local for  a good garage and take B&B if necessary which is a lot cheaper overall.

Now with places open at odd times if at all and locals not out and about I feel I need National Recovery to get me and the car home should anything happen. But looking yet again at the sites for the 2 big ones they want over a £100 for the year and all my details to pester me with.

Should I ring up? What could I use to bargain with? I have a 20yr old car with 50,000 on the clock in good nick (bargain buy) so I think this might work against me. Never needed help, no probs for 20yrs but the current situation has me nervous of travelling .

A past neighbour found a bargain at £60 but couldn't remember the company. Before I knock on his door and stand 2 meters back would anyone have some advice on how to go about this please?

Ask the Meerkats... All the comparison sites compare breakdown cover.

Different companies offer different things. Some rule out older cars. The most obvious things to think about...
Do you want personal cover (you, in any car, even as a passenger), or is car-specific OK? If personal, just you, or other half/kids, too?
Do you want them to take you to a local garage, or all the way home/your destination?
Do you want to be covered for problems at home?
Are you happy to pay then be reimbursed?

twopenny

Thanks for being so quick Adrian.

Not much of the above. Just to get me and the car home again. I can sort out anything else once there. And that seems to be far too simple for the comparison sites or need to sell me stuff I don't want.

Also they seem to want my life history to send me emails and post about all sorts of other stuff which is an annoying price to pay. But if needs must ..........

AdrianC

twopenny said:

Just to get me and the car home again.

So you want "relay"/"national recovery" - that's one of the extra-cost options. Standard is just to take you to a local garage to wherever you break down.

Pay-and-reclaim tends to be cheaper, if you're happy doing that.

Have a look at GEM or AutoAid, they're usually the cheapies.

KimJongUn88

Just as an aside, why are you bemoaning having to provide your details with a company who you are interested in buying services from. How else are they meant to give you a tailored price?

Ectophile

twopenny said:

Also they seem to want my life history to send me emails and post about all sorts of other stuff which is an annoying price to pay. But if needs must ..........

No insurance company is going to sell you an insurance policy unless you are willing to tell them everything about yourself.

greyteam1959

I think a 20 year old car rules out Autoaid ??

Norman_Castle

No age limit with Autoaid.

https://www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/AutoAid-1216-V3-0.pdf

"Never needed help, no probs for 20yrs but the current situation has me nervous of travelling"

I've been with autoaid for over 20 years and only used them twice. Since the price rise from £40 to £60 I've considered if going without could be cheaper. I wish they'd offer a ncd or lower prices with an excess.

twopenny

Adrian what is Pay-and-reclaim please? I've never heard of that.

Yes, working it out during my daily walk it's been 40yrs of motoring and only called out once.The second time I phoned a local garage. Ironically with the newest car I had.

Norman, yes. I got away without having cover for the last 30yrs despite driving older cars. Worked on the premise that I had saved enough to justify paying through the nose if I had to in an emergency. Didn't have to.

I live in rural part of the Westcountry , so from Bath to Cornwall I've always been confident of being able to manage if there was a problem.

Now returning by train, bus or coach is not desirable and no accommodation and for a while I wouldn't want to and it's getting harder now older to find friends to help. Circumstances have changed.

And I don't know that I'm bemoaning. It's just that once you give your contacts they deluge you with calls and post for 'other services' and it goes on for years. Or perhaps they don't now?

I'll have a look at Autoaid. I'd not heard of them and they didn't come up in my searches and explore what Gem are.

Thank you for your help. It's given me something new. Sorry about the novel here.

twopenny

Found Pay & Reclaim. Not for me.

But the search did throw up a whole lot of companies that I didn't know were in on the game. 3rd parties but big names. Always advise others against 3rd parties. Worth exploring though unless anyone knows otherwise.

Gem work out £40 cheaper than the big three.

Jonesya

Another provider to consider for low cost break-down:
https://www.startrescue.co.uk/