MMOC RAC Breakdown cover

[greendefender123]

Hello is the RAC breakdown cover any good? Iv been with the AA for 2 years, iv just received my renewal which is £232. Tho its a joint membership with my partner without home start. Iv got an online quote with the RAC for £111 and £118 with the man outside Asda. I need breakdown cover cause we have older cars. 6 in total.

Thanks for any advice. Steve

[ASL642]

Hi I've had RAC breakdown cover for more years than I care to remember! (25 +) Over the years I've had several break downs mostly in Minors (I too have a few) and they have always given a prompt and friendly service. When the master cylinder seized during a rally road run they put the Traveller on a flatbed and brought us home from Cardiff. Last time (different Morris) we managed to re start the car and the RAC man insisted that as I was only 5 miles from home he would "escort" me home. Heads do turn when you are in a Minor anyway but they certainly did when you are followed by a large orange can with all the lights going! Thoroughly recommend them.

[TFM150K]

Both are in the game to make money - and to do that, they need to provide a service which maintains a good reputation for them. It would appear that the AA want to provide that service at twice the price of the RAC. Both have a limit on the number of callouts you can have in a year - if you are anticipating using them a lot, check how much they charge for subsequent callouts - one hidden plus is if you join the RAC through the club, the club would probably assist if you had a legitimate complaint. Hopefully you will never need them!

[greendefender123]

Yeah the rac are sounding good. Iv only called breakdown out once. When my land rovers wheel bearing went. Thanks for the advice.

[simmitc]

I joined the RAC as an associate member when it was still the Royal Automobile Club. Even though the breakdown service was sold off as a separate business, I stayed with them and have always received excellent service. We (the wife and I) have joint personal membership which covers either of us to be in any vehicle. Years ago the AA had "relay" to get you home, where you might swap transporters as you went across the country. When the Minor blew a head gasket in the middle of Bodmin Moor in 1979, the RAC put the car on one transporter and brought it back to Essex in one go, which seemed a much better option.

I'm sure that all similar organisations (AA, RAC, Green Flag, etc) offer similar services and each will have its own enthusiasts, so it is very much personal choice. I can say only that after nearly 40 years of being with the RAC, I'm still happy.

[panky]

I too was with the RAC for over 20 years and called them out twice, but the price was always going up. My classic insurance premium with RH includes breakdown so cancelled the RAC, not used it myself yet (fingers crossed) but several others I know have without issues.

[Jefftav]

Ring the AA tell them what the RAC are quoting and chances are they will match it. If not transfer to the RAC as both provide a very similar service

[bmcecosse]

As above - any decent classic car insurance (eg RH...) INCLUDES Roadside and Recovery - so no need for any other cover. If it's for a modern -consider Green Flag!

[greendefender123]

Ha the AA have dropped the quote to £155 iv just asked them not to renew for the moment. Unfortunately breakdown cover on your insurance would only cover that car. We have 4 on the road at the moment. Newest car is 1998 so its nice to have breakdown cover. RAC looks the way. Cheers.

[panky]

When I did have a modern I got a quote off RH and they were very competitive - and the policy had breakdown/recovery too. That's when I ditched the RAC

[andy.pointeer]

Make sure the firm you use, covers cars of the age you have, as some firms have an age limit on the cars they will cover

[sid]

i'm with carole nash..breakdown cover included

[aupickup]

my bank covers me also footman james insurance comes with breakdown cover

[leafie]

If you have more than one car you could try AutoAid, it is an insurance type policy which covers the person not the car, cover for two of us £41.00 a year. If you breakdown you ring them, they send out a breakdown service who you pay direct using a credit card and claim it back,AutoAid pay you after 14 days. Always seems to win best buy on moneysaving expert.

[mike.perry]

I am with RAC at the moment. My gripe is that they insist on sending a mechanic out first inspite of being told that the problem was terminal and you just wanted recovery home. So after at least an hour the mechanic arrives and agrees that the problem is not repairable and orders the recovery truck which arrives two hours later.
Many years ago I was with Green Flag who just sent out a recovery truck and took the car home. Can't remember why I changed to RAC, I think that they took over G/F

[viewsonic1]

As above - any decent classic car insurance (eg RH...) INCLUDES Roadside and Recovery - so no need for any other cover. If it's for a modern, consider Green Flag!

Listen to the man! Been with Green Flag for years. They cover the modern car and caravan, my daughters VW Up and the Morris Minor. Never used them for the Minor but sorted the Volvos on a few occasions. Fell out with the AA many years ago, but that's another story!

[NOEL]

I am with Carol NashI but a number of the classic insurers will provide breakdown cover for your minor along with your insurance, for the modern I use Green flag , I dont think the are part of the RAC group, they do operate a discount scheme- with a no call out bonus, mine was about £132 including overseas cover at home the full works , if you have multiple cars RAC may be better as I think it covers the person even as a passenger .
Perhaps i was unlucky but I was with RAC 30 years ago,used them once only for a call out,took 3 hours to find me on a main road, Guy said my mini van was a major electric repair and he could not fix it in situ, got it home on a flat bed after another 2 hours- was only 10 miles from home so the wait was very annoying, on axle stands the next day i found the cable lead had dropped onto the exhaust, the heat had gone through the cable and caused a short, 1/2 a roll of insulation tape and a new clip sorted it out, took about 15 mins including jacking it up, thought if thats your standard I will try a different option, used Green Flag once in all the years i have been with them,came within an hour, spotted a faulty ECU, got family and car back home promptly. Important thing is to have some sort of cover otherwise tows and repairs are very expensive

[Trickydicky]

Also check that if you have a particular type of bank account it may include breakdown cover, our HSBC account does and it has no limit on the age of the car.
No point in paying twice.

[Monty-4]

I went with the RAC because there was a discount code for club members in Minor Matters, quote for a year came out below £100. I'd be hesistant to pay more than that now!

[Matt]

One of my friends is a recovery driver...

He recons Britannia rescue is the best. Basically they subcon to the nearest recovery agent so you don't wait for the RAC/AA to come and visit 1st.

I have been with the RAC for years (I don't pay for it!) And sometines they do send recovery out in the 1st instance. My favourite was my transit... which broke the cambelt on the M1 - I was holding the belt when I rang the RAC and they sent a man in a van and he said "What do you expect me to do with that?" He rang base and dissapeared... probably there less than 2 minutes then another 2 hour wait for recovery. Having said that 80% of the time they do send recovery out straight away when I tell them there is no way a man in a van will fix by the road...