Breakdown cover - difference between cheap and expensive

[Motormanical]

What is the difference between cheap breakdown cover and more expensive cover?

If I look at the table below for example, there are big differences in prices between companies for what seems like the same level of cover.

Breakdown Cover prices

Am I missing something? Anyone companies I should avoid?

[reggit]

I’m with RAC, have been for years. Got a good discount last year when I phoned them to say they where too expensive.

Had need to use them a few weeks ago - 17 minutes to get an answer, then told upto 4 hours for someone to come.

Managed to fix the car myself in that time. Just a broken earth strap, but needed tools and something to fashion a new strap from to start the car.

I will not be using them again next year!

Can’t comment on other companies yet.

[Dippydog]

Been with the AA since 1984[now get membership as part of my bank account] I've had to call them out 4 times-different cars,different issues-no complaints about their service.Things may have changed now[hopefully so at least]but in the late '80s a mate was with Green Flag and his battery went flat due to a faulty car alarm while he was at the motor show in Birmingham.When he phoned them to explain his problem he was told they wouldn't attend as they didn't class a flat battery as a breakdown

[Austin160]

I guess the answer to ‘am I missing something...?’ question lies in deciding what level of cover is required and what the small print conditions stipulate to ensure you are eligible for the level of cover you have chosen.
Obviously, there will be responses relating to good and bad opinions of different organisations, but personally I don’t have any experience of any of the ‘unbelievably cheap’ options. They may be OK, but you would need to study the detail.
My experience shows me the RAC automatically renews policies, which in my book is a recipe for disaster if you have any respect for your wallet. It also appears the major players tend to have targets on sales of such things as batteries, so if you have left your lights on then expect to be sold a new battery.
Again to me, it is important that the cover is extends to an option to ‘get the car home’ - to your local repair contacts, but the conditions under which this kicks in may well be restrictive.
So called ‘free with bank accounts’ can again be basic, and to me, it seems the current bottom line is an ‘£x/month’ cost and there can be a disregard to what that adds up to in a year.
Yes, there will be answers with experience, but I still feel it boils down to personal choice -having studied the small prints.
Cheapest is not always worse, and dearest certainly is never always best.

[john.wigley]

My experience broadly echoes that of 'Dippydog', above.

We're also with the AA. Linda joined in '70 while I had been with the RAC since '67. After we got married in '82, the AA was first up for renewal, so we made the AA 'joint' and dropped the RAC. (I'd also had 'Supercover' on a new Mini in '78 - anyone remember that?!) Again, no complaints regarding the AA's service on the rare occasions that we have needed to use them, but then we have not had to be recovered the length of the country.

There are undoubtedly more providers in the market place today and it is now a much more competitive industry. Cost is relative, and whilst price should reflect quality, that is unfortunately not always the case. Much depends on the individual providing the service. Generally speaking, we have always had better service from AA patrols than from garages attending on their behalf under a sub-contract agreement with them.

Regards, John.

[Zebster]

My bargain basement AutoAid recovery overlapped with my Volvo recovery and in the last year I have used both... they both used the exact same recovery agent.

[Bonefishblues]

Not much, if anything is the answer, I suspect.

Autoaid here - have used it a few times, and very happy. Even at the increased £60, cover for myself & wife, with all the bells & whistles is very good value.

[green van man]

RAC automatically renew policies agreed but mine has remained the same price for the last 4 years at least. However I buy through the Caravan and Camping club whom negotiate the whole deal which includes recovery of the caravan without car or both car and caravan and will also supply a driver to get car and caravan home should I be unable to drive. Personal cover for both me and the wife, so any car we are in covered £160 a year. Hope I never need it, but one never knows what's around the corner.

I also have the volvo assist which I think is RAC again on the volvo.

There are cheaper of course but few offer the services negotiated on my behalf by the CCC and with 2 cars a car specific policy would require 2 policies and 2 premiums.

Paul..

[Motormanical]

Originally Posted by Zebster

My bargain basement AutoAid recovery overlapped with my Volvo recovery and in the last year I have used both... they both used the exact same recovery agent.

That's interesting. So do others on that list use third party recovery agents?

[Motormanical]

Originally Posted by Austin160

I guess the answer to ‘am I missing something...?’ question lies in deciding what level of cover is required and what the small print conditions stipulate to ensure you are eligible for the level of cover you have chosen.
Obviously, there will be responses relating to good and bad opinions of different organisations, but personally I don’t have any experience of any of the ‘unbelievably cheap’ options. They may be OK, but you would need to study the detail.
My experience shows me the RAC automatically renews policies, which in my book is a recipe for disaster if you have any respect for your wallet. It also appears the major players tend to have targets on sales of such things as batteries, so if you have left your lights on then expect to be sold a new battery.
Again to me, it is important that the cover is extends to an option to ‘get the car home’ - to your local repair contacts, but the conditions under which this kicks in may well be restrictive.
So called ‘free with bank accounts’ can again be basic, and to me, it seems the current bottom line is an ‘£x/month’ cost and there can be a disregard to what that adds up to in a year.
Yes, there will be answers with experience, but I still feel it boils down to personal choice -having studied the small prints.
Cheapest is not always worse, and dearest certainly is never always best.

Yeah I've a lot of people complaining that their renewal price is more expensive than a new customer price. So much for loyalty. What stops you cancelling a renewal and then taking out a new policy with the same company at the lower new customer rate?