Pothole Damage not covered by Autoaid

snagletooth69

The other day my car went down a pothole and a coil spring broke. When I rang Autoaid I was refused free assistance as this is classed as a road traffic accident by them and I would have to Pay £65 to have my car recovered. to a garage. I wonder what else is not covered???

daveyjp

An accident isn't a breakdown.

David713

daveyjp said:

An accident isn't a breakdown.

True but according to the AutoAid website, cover for accidents is provided for both personal (driving any vehicle) or vehicle based cover:

Snaggletooth, I would suggest that you contact Autoaid again and ask why you were refused cover for an accident.

cattom

who is autoaid? never heard of them. if they are breakdown recovery, there are plenty of others I'm sure would of helped if you were with them. 

MX5huggy

cattom said:

who is autoaid? never heard of them. if they are breakdown recovery, there are plenty of others I'm sure would of helped if you were with them. 

They are a long standing company recommend on this site for many years maybe 20 plus, however their price has crept up and some service issues are surfacing as they have changed ownership. They use local recovery companies to fix/recover your car, this has always been quick for me but I’ve never needed them more than within 10 miles of home in the 15 years of having a policy. For about £60 now they cover you and a spouse driving any car. The price is good you don’t have to check every year for a better deal or get special offers using codes or vouchers.

AdrianC

Did the broken spring "immobilise" your vehicle? Unlikely.

That apart, they didn't say they won't attend - just that they'll charge (as do almost every breakdown outfit). That would be part of any insurance claim arising from the collision.

Hasbeen

snagletooth69 said:

The other day my car went down a pothole and a coil spring broke. When I rang Autoaid I was refused free assistance as this is classed as a road traffic accident by them and I would have to Pay £65 to have my car recovered. to a garage. I wonder what else is not covered???

Its a breakdown company. Your car did not breakdown. If the spring had pierced the tyre? then probably they would recover.

Was it still drivable??

I had 2 broken springs, car still drivable, until I replaced them. Never even thought of contacting a breakdown company. 

facade

AdrianC said:

Did the broken spring "immobilise" your vehicle? Unlikely.

That apart, they didn't say they won't attend - just that they'll charge (as do almost every breakdown outfit). That would be part of any insurance claim arising from the collision.

Writing from experience, on a Megane, when the spring goes it moves sideways and rips the inner sidewall right out of the tyre in one revolution- then you aren't going anywhere once it happens as the spring prevents a fresh tyre fitting.

I wouldn't touch a megane with someone else's bargepole after seeing that.

OP, you shouldn't have said anything about an impact, springs break all the time, I've had one go when parked on the drive, but unless it was the aforementioned Megane, the car is still driveable, a lot of people (with better designed suspension) run round with broken springs until they are picked up at the MOT.

AdrianC

facade said:

AdrianC said:

Did the broken spring "immobilise" your vehicle? Unlikely.

That apart, they didn't say they won't attend - just that they'll charge (as do almost every breakdown outfit). That would be part of any insurance claim arising from the collision.

Writing from experience, on a Megane, when the spring goes it moves sideways and rips the inner sidewall right out of the tyre in one revolution- then you aren't going anywhere once it happens as the spring prevents a fresh tyre fitting.

I wouldn't touch a megane with someone else's bargepole after seeing that.

It's not just Meganes.
PSA had a recall a good few years ago to fit a "retainer cup" to prevent it.
A friend phoned me a while ago - she couldn't get her Rover 75 out the garage because the tyre was flat... Turned out not to rotate, either, because it was pinned thoroughly in place by the coil that'd gone ping while parked.

But, still, it's unlikely that the spring will immobilise the vehicle. The vast majority go unnoticed until Mr MOT flags it.

neilmcl

snagletooth69 said:

The other day my car went down a pothole and a coil spring broke. When I rang Autoaid I was refused free assistance as this is classed as a road traffic accident by them and I would have to Pay £65 to have my car recovered. to a garage. I wonder what else is not covered???

Have you actually read your policy document, and in particular what they define as a breakdown?

neilmcl

daveyjp said:

An accident isn't a breakdown.

• Breakdown(s) - mechanical or electrical breakdown (failures or breakages), flat batteries, punctures, lack of fuel, lost ignition keys or damage which is caused by an accident, vandalism or theft and results in you not being able to drive the vehicle