Car Breakdown Discussion

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• Given the manner in which both the AA and RAC try to rip-off customers at renewal, why bother? I've been looking for a European policy and the prices from the AA and RAC are quite simply ridiculous profiteering.
  I just bought annual home, recovery, Europe, etc. for Ј60.99 with Axa, one of the largest insurers in the world. No cashback, no arguing, no attempts to rip me off. Just a fair price from a single phone call for a four year old car and no obligation to auto renew. And fairly decent reviews too. And Axa now has got an app for the iPhone and Android that can be used in the event of a breakdown, which I think is a useful innovation. The chap I spoke to in the call centre was based in an English speaking country too (Republic of Ireland).
  When the AA comes out with insulting renewal quotes like some of those listed here, charging loyal customers more than double what they will accept after haggling, I don't think we should even lower ourselves to call them back. I've never known a car or home insurer have that kind of mark-up and wriggle room. It is blatant profiteering.
  I have to say, I do worry about some of the companies at the other end of the market that this site is recommending, particularly Green Insurance, when the review sites seem to view their customer service as utterly appalling. Quoteline was great while it used Britannia, but again the reviews for Mondial, Britannia's replacement, are dire.
• I just took up the AA offer thru Topcashback today...
  Got fully comp breakdown...Ј89.00
  30 minutes later had email from Topcashback to say Ј50.50 tracked!...
  
• I joined Autoaid last year - a bit doubtful about it as it sounded too cheap. Anyway I didn't have to claim, so still wasn't sure if it was a good buy. I joined again this year, and unfortunately had quite a bad breakdown. I let them know what had happened, then phoned our local breakdown man who sent out a recovery truck. I filled in Autoaid's claim form and sent it off. 2 weeks later I received a cheque for the full amount, with no trouble at all. It seems to be an excellent service as it covers the person, rather than the vehicle and my husband is also included in this. For Ј39 for the year, I think it is a great deal. All power to their elbow!
• My RAC renewal is up at the end of the month. I am covered for -
  Roadside
  Accident Care
  In any car I am travelling in. The policy price is Ј72.50 and I have a membership discount of Ј17.00 making the renewal price Ј55.50.
  Can I get a better deal elsewhere, is it worth me calling them and haggling with them?
• Hi WorriedJim
  My partner has just had his renewal through exactly the same as yours with the RAC. He called them to cancel as I wanted him to take the AA deal through topcashback. They offered the cover eventually for Ј29.00 but he still cancelled.
  I have just taken the Ј30 AA cover for him and hopefully the Ј21.21 will track. If it doesnt then only Ј1 lost. They also offer 6 mths Home Emergency cover when you go to pay, just make sure you cancel it at the end of the 6mths. I did not take this though as I previously worked for a company who was a subcontractor for the likes of Homeserve etc and saw their workmanship first hand!!
  Hope this answers your questions.
  xx
• I have 3 cars to cover and pay for. 1 mine and the other 2 are my daughters cars. All due for Renewal at once. Autonational have quoted me Ј96.00 inc IPT.
  Does anyone know if this is the cheapest way to cover them ?
  At present I have the cars covered NOT the person driving.
  Thanks for your help.
  Rebecca
• My car is due for renewal next month and I am looking for decent deals. Not hoping for the car to break down but it's machine at the end of the day.
  I see https://www.greeninsurancecompany.co.uk offering the cheapest but are they reliable? Would rather have a cover with home start as well.
  cheers
• Hi, My autoaid is up for renewal, but am chaning car for a new 1, and letting daughter use mine.
  However, autoaid, only cover me/spouse not the car, so was looking for Firstcall, which used to be on here, and I used for 2 years prior to autoaid, and had them for home call twice, no probs, 45mins.
  I notice it,s no longer on here now, and I,ve never used cashback sites,always wary.
  aa sounds good, but cashback tends to make me look for other.
  I notice one on here got aa cashback, no probs, but read umpteen with agro. any advice would be grateful.
• Hello,
  What is the best way to get cover if your car has already broken down, my car seems to have no electrical power, went to start it last night and nothing, no lights on the instrument panel etc,
  I think it could be a fuse or relay, I have checked most of the fuses and they seem ok.
  Any ideas please
  Many thanks
• it sounds like your battery is dead
  Pop next door to your neighbours and ask if they will help you jump start your car. it's probably described in the owners manual for your car that might have been in the glove box.
  alternatively call you local garage and ask them how much it'll cost to come out and jump start your car, it'll probably be less than you think.
• will it bump start with no electrical power?
• I'm with Britannia Rescue it costs me Ј100 approx (get union discount), this is for the de luxe cover - includes everything and european and a hire car for 48 hours if I need it.
  They use local people - and near me it's CMG who are THE BEST OF THE BEST. I wish ALL breakdown operatives were like them.
  We've had some useless guys come out when we were away on holiday but the recovery agent was really good and got us home quickly.
  We have just the car covered with Britannia because we get the m'bikes covered (for free) through our m'bike insurance through Carole Nash.
  Although I STRONGLY recommend that everyone learns how to change a tyre and jump start their car because IMHO it's a bit daft waiting on the side of the road for 30 minutes for something that will take about 30 mins to do (i.e. changing a tyre). you can be on your way and SOME breakdown organisations give you a discount for not calling them out.
  HTH
  FA
  xx
• of course im thinking of a bump start,
• A bump start is worth a try. If it gets you going, then go and get your battery tested, if that's ok, move on to the alternator etc.
• all sorted, it was the battery, I had put it on charge overnight, put it back into the car, and all is well. many thanks for the ideas fannyadams
• another good idea to check, thanks quentin