Breakdown cover. Worth it?

Yugguy

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So my new car will come with one year free breakdown cover.

My wife doesn't think it's worth paying to extend as it's so unlikely to breakdown it's better just sticking the money in the bank and paying a local recovery agent if needed.

I like to be covered just in case.

Who's right, or at least who's most likely to be right?
 

vtaylor78

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It’s like any insurance, it’s dead money but you have piece of mind .
50/50 I would say ;)
 

Blobcat

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I’d always recommend having some form of breakdown cover if only for tyres. Very few come with a spare these days and if your sidewall gets damaged then no amount of gloop will get you home.

I use topcashback and alternate between the AA and RAC each year. This covers me in both cars and my bike. For all the options except homestart it is ~£60 for the year for me.

The Mercedes one is good (if you want to be taken to a dealer) not so good if you have another car (or bike) or want to go home or to another garage (indie...)
 

dry run

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Seems to me, you're never going to braek down at a convenient time or in a convenient location. So, trying to find a resonably priced local recovery firm at 23:00hrs on a wet and cold November night doesn't appeal to me. I'd prefer to stay in the car and just dial one number and wait for assistance. I'd say extend the cover once it's expired.
 

umblecumbuz

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You're not buying breakdown cover really - you're investing in peace of mind.

Great to know that you can stay snug in the car on a filthy night while a guardian angel speeds towards you and does all that is necessary to get you home.
 

Nigel Hewitt

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I have flappy memories of an AA recovery man picking my motorbike up on the M23 after a totally brown trouser moment when I had the front tire go flat (a big nail) at maybe 'a bit' over the limit. To say I was shocked (at still being alive) was putting it mildly. Dialling the AA and then sitting on the grass gibbering to myself was about all I could manage. Having to locate a recovery service would not have been on my list of things to do. The AA just turned up and took me 50 miles plus home.

I vote get a recovery service on speed dial. That sort of problem never happens at a convenient moment.
 

Blobcat

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I have flappy memories of an AA recovery man picking my motorbike up on the M23 after a totally brown trouser moment when I had the front tire go flat (a big nail) at maybe 'a bit' over the limit. To say I was shocked (at still being alive) was putting it mildly. Dialling the AA and then sitting on the grass gibbering to myself was about all I could manage. Having to locate a recovery service would not have been on my list of things to do. The AA just turned up and took me 50 miles plus home.

I vote get a recovery service on speed dial. That sort of problem never happens at a convenient moment.
I had a nice 260 mile trip with the RAC when my 996 SPS ran out of electrickery in the Lake District - twas a very wet ride and the immobiliser got somewhat drowned. I couldn't diagnose at the roadside and neither could the RAC so they trailered it home for me.
 

flowrider

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A local recovery agent will only take you to their yard or a nearby garage. Not a lot of use in my opinion plus they will charge about £200 as well. I know because my son is a local recovery agent.
 

Droverunner

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>>>Great to know that you can stay snug in the car on a filthy night while a guardian angel speeds towards you and does all that is necessary to get you home.

Yep my view too. Pay RAC about £130 a year for self, Mrs D and at home mid 20s daughter for full roadside & recovery inc any car we are in.

Other living away daughter didn't bother with cover and it took loads of phone calls/waiting plus £230 to get her car 85mls back here when it suffered ECU failure at commuter time on a busy city roundabout.
 
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Tony Dyson

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So my new car will come with one year free breakdown cover.
My wife doesn't think it's worth paying to extend as it's so unlikely to breakdown it's better just sticking the money in the bank and paying a local recovery agent if needed.
I like to be covered just in case.
Who's right, or at least who's most likely to be right?

You are of course! :D Worst case, £150 will buy you a policy with all the bells and whistles you could ever need for 24/7 support, even if you just ran out of fuel, with a single telephone call or App activation. Setting funds aside for breakdown cover indicates you both believe it is certainly a possibility and you would need to separate substantially more than the £150 in order to underwrite a worst case breakdown.
 

keefysher

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Get 2 policies with 2 different organisations. Start on your holiday journey to the other end of the country, go 10 miles, breakdown with a dodgy component you swap at the roadside; get recovered to your holiday destination, enjoy holiday. Do with other co on way home. Job done.

Seen it done ;):D:coffee:
 

flowrider

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Get 2 policies with 2 different organisations. Start on your holiday journey to the other end of the country, go 10 miles, breakdown with a dodgy component you swap at the roadside; get recovered to your holiday destination, enjoy holiday. Do with other co on way home. Job done.

Seen it done ;):D:coffee:
As long as your holiday destination is less than 10 miles away! I wanted recovery for a car to go 7 miles and the cheapest quote was £110, when I bought my SL I thought about getting the car transported from Manchester to Hertfordshire, the quotes were approx £270.:eek:
 

Blobcat

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As long as your holiday destination is less than 10 miles away! I wanted recovery for a car to go 7 miles and the cheapest quote was £110, when I bought my SL I thought about getting the car transported from Manchester to Hertfordshire, the quotes were approx £270.:eek:
Which is why you tick the option to get you home or to a destination of your choice. Being recovered to the closest garage leaves you wind open to being fleeced badly
 
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noonboots

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I believe you can join RAC and ask for attendance all in the same phone call if you are already broken down.
I used the RAC at home service for my wife's non starting Ford yesterday. The guy came, diagnosed the cam sensor and wanted to change it for free at a cost of £51 for the part. I know from experience that £51 is too much for a cam sensor so I sent him on his way. I got one from a local factor for £18 and it took literally five minutes to fit. Moral of the story is to only let them fit parts if you have no other choice. They always overcharge you. I enjoyed giving feedback to them later on.
 
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flowrider

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Which is why you tick the option to get you home or to a destination of your choice. Being recovered to the closest garage leaves you wind open to being fleeced badly
No problem for me, I'm with RAC on full cover.
 

McDonald

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My AA membership paid for itself last week. Really good service from a courteous, competant man. He quickly found the cause of smoke and smells, located the part 11 miles away, and drove away to get it. On return he fitted an oil pressure sensor,and topped up the oil. Total cost, under £12.00.

I still have Mobilo too, but Mercedes Benz were never going to do it for £12.00.
 

DSK

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I have it independent to the stuff that comes with the insurance (Rac Member).

In 20 years of doing about 1,000 miles a week, I've probably used it a breakdown service less than 10 times. Only the BMWs left me stranded on a motorway and the other times it was a surprise dead battery, passenger in another car etc.

You never know when you may breakdown or how bad the problem is. However, its nice to rest assured you can just dial your phone and the help you need will be on its way.

If its a modern car, ha, don't be fooled into thinking it won't break down and get yourself covered. A modern car is even more reason to have break down cover.
 


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