Breakdown cover - difference between cheap and expensive

[ITSv40]

I have been with GEM Motoring Assist since 1984 - used them 4 times in that time and had superb prompt service every time. We have recovery reclaim for both me and 'er indoors and what I like about the service is that both of us are covered in whatever car we are travelling in and also in control of where the car is recovered to. I originally joined as they were the only provider who would undertake to recover my Silver Cloud.

[Zebster]

Originally Posted by Motormanical

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

I'm not sure, but I would guess that some will (certainly not AA nor RAC though). When I broke down I was surprised that Volvo simply farm out their recovery to local independent recovery agents who do not have specialist Volvo knowledge nor Volvo-specific diagnostic equipment. But nice to get 48 hours of a loan vehicle, even if it was a Kia instead of the expected Volvo.

[blacklab]

Am with RAC and they’ve been very good. Got stranded 300 miles away on holiday due to indi garage bad workmanship. RAC got local recovery agent involved and they lent us car to finish our holiday, no charge for car hire just £18 for their insurance excess waiver. They dropped my car back to garage when we got home and took the loan car back to Cornwall, excellent service.
Yes the RAC do use third party agents as when I called them out a few years ago they sent an agent, I rang to ask why and they said it’s in the small print! Basically if you request their patrolman he will arrive but you may have to wait a while.

[richardt1994]

I have been with the RAC for 11 years. Before that with the AA. Only used the AA once when we broke down badly in Devon. They insited on towing me to a depot in Bristol where we waited for 3 hours for a tow to another depot in Birmingham, where again we waited for > 3 hours for a final tow to home in Staffordshire. Never again! RAC used a local agent in deepest west Wales when my Audi A6 oil pump ground to a halt on the last day of our holiday. The local agent was brilliant. My daughter was still in a car seat that because of the design of the seat belts on the bench seat of their recovery truck, could not be fasted in securely. With no hesitation the driver went back to their depot and collected a different truck with individual seats that the car seat would fit into properly. Single journey back to Staffordshire with 2 toilet stops. When we got home we invited him in, cooked some frozen pizzas for all of us and after, he set of back to Wales.

IMHO the quality of service is down to the quality of the local agents that the service is out-sourced to.

[Discombobulated]

I drive a breakdown truck for a subcontractor, we work for RAC, AA, Green Flag, One call, Call Assist, Inter Partner Assist and many more. I’m sure the priority jobs are the ones you’d expect to be and not because of which breakdown company we’re attending on behalf of so it doesn’t make much difference who your cover is with. For the larger breakdown companies with their own patrols we attend breakdowns for them when they’re too busy or unable to attend. Personally my breakdown cover is with the AA because it was ridiculously cheap when I insured my car with them, in the past I’ve usually been covered by the RAC, but I shop around every year and get a policy that’ll give me roadside assistance and national recovery. And I always take cover over the phone not online so I can haggle, RAC price online was £150 for the missus’ V60, rang them up and got the same cover for £70

[ITSv40]

The last time I was recovered - about 5 years ago from the side of the M5 near Bristol to Northampton - the recovery driver said he liked working for GEM Recovery as they treated their contractors well. Brilliant service, he was there in 30 mins and 30 mins waiting on the side of the M5 seems like a lifetime

[tanujdua]

I have it through my bank (Nationwide Flex Direct account).

Get this, phone insurance, car breakdown and travel insurance for i think £13 a month now.

They've always answered the phone within a minute or so, and I've had someone come to my car within 20 minutes!

Used them three times now and honestly been amazing.

[Martin Cox]

I've been with the AA since 1984 and have no complaints at all over the service I've had from them on the rare occasions I've needed them.

However when renewal time comes, it's always worth speaking to them and haggling. I've found there's often some scope for a price reduction and it can be substantial.

Martin

[DAN AT ADRIAN FLUX]

Hi.
Please feel free to take a look at our breakdown offering if you wish.
https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/breakdown/
Regards,
Dan.

[canis]

Originally Posted by reggit

upto 4 hours for someone to come ... Managed to fix the car myself in that time.

This is precisely my point - Roadside Assistance is useless! Unless they'll tow me home (usually an extra fee to the policy) I'm not interested. It's the only service I want or need, everything else has no purpose.