Recommended roadside assistance

[Bertie Wooster]

So, after yesterday’s drama with a dodgy starter and the ensuing recovery waggon to my local indie, I’d be very interested to hear the forum’s opinions on roadside assistance.
Who’s everyone using, and have they had any experiences (good or bad!) in real world use? A membership card in the glovebox is one thing, but do they actually deliver?
For reference, I’d be looking at covering a W220 S320cdi and a W203 220cdi, both of which are long estranged from the Mobilo service!

Thanks in advance!

Best
Bertie

 

[BILL JONES]

Just grabbed one today funny enough, start rescue, top package, home start, relay , hire car, national, overnight accommodation etc etc was 55 quid a year but got a code for 15% off and topcashback of 12% brought it down to around 40 quid, that's on a 93 E220.

I used one of the comparison sites and on all 3 I checked Start Rescue came on top.

https://www.startrescue.co.uk/

15% off code MVC58481599A

Top Cash Back 12.6% off https://www.topcashback.co.uk/search/merchants/?s=start+rescue

 

[John Laidlaw]

Been a while but I found Green Flag to be very good

 

[Blobcat]

I change every year between AA & RACand go via topcashback - this year was the AA - used them in Dec M1 breakdown

I get the roadside and relay so I can get back to a garage of my choosing or back to my drive. Never that keen on being taken to the closest garage as the bills can get large quickly and the knowledge isn't always there (especially for Mercedes)

 

[Capra]

We get cover with one of out bank accounts, I'm always surprised by how many have this and still purchase one of the others out there.

 

[LostKiwi]

I have cover via a bank account and it's AA they use. Never had any issues. They even arranged recovery of my Sankey trailer on a second truck when my Defender threw a propshaft (it had a military hitch so couldn't be towed by them).

 

[brick10]

I use the AA, but not very often i'm glad to say.

 

[daibevan]

Be careful, some only cover cars under 10 years old. They will take your money and then probably refuse to help. I had green flag with a bank account, but they didn't cover my car.

 

[Blobcat]

Be careful, some only cover cars under 10 years old. They will take your money and then probably refuse to help. I had green flag with a bank account, but they didn't cover my car.

See my post above, ‘92 Landy covered no issues. It’s why I pay rather than relying on a “free” service from the bank etc.

 

[peternutkins]

I've been with the AA since 1958 and although not the cheapest I can't fault their service. A couple of years ago the price got ridiculous but I had a word or two and got quite a substantial reduction. I have used them a fair few times over the years and think I have had value for money.

 

[daibevan]

I also alternate between AA & RAC. By playing one off against the other I always get a significant reduction. On the rare occasions I've used them they have both been ok. Thinking about it it's only been once in the last 30 years and that was on my drive; and only a handful of times before that. Still, it's insurance really. I want to be able to continue my journey & have my car taken home if anything does happen.

 

[Blobcat]

I also alternate between AA & RAC. By playing one off against the other I always get a significant reduction. On the rare occasions I've used them they have both been ok. Thinking about it it's only been once in the last 30 years and that was on my drive; and only a handful of times before that. Still, it's insurance really. I want to be able to continue my journey & have my car taken home if anything does happen.

If you go via topcashback you get ~£40 - £60 back after a few months. I was sceptical as hell the first time but I’ve had over £400 off them over the years.

I’ve just got £70 for switching broadband from sky to plus net (and paying less per month as well )

 

[McDonald]

At over £300 per year, I feel I'm paying through the nose for cover, but the certainty that I won't be stuck somewhere is worth something. The cover also includes my wife's car and if her car broke down she'd declare a national emergency! AA with all the fruit.

 

[Blobcat]

At over £300 per year, I feel I'm paying through the nose for cover, but the certainty that I won't be stuck somewhere is worth something. The cover also includes my wife's car and if her car broke down she'd declare a national emergency! AA with all the fruit.

I Just did a quick check and with ticking all the options for 2 people covered in any vehicle is £250 with the AA - if you take off the parts and garage option it's £175. Topcashback are giving 40.4% back so you'd get £70 back after ~ 4 months on the £175 option or £101 with the £250 option.

 

[JBell]

RAC have a 25% off sale on plus if you go through Quidco you get up to £150 cashback

 

[LostKiwi]

Be careful, some only cover cars under 10 years old. They will take your money and then probably refuse to help. I had green flag with a bank account, but they didn't cover my car.

No problem with age with my Lloyds based cover. Defender was 20 years old when it threw the front propshaft.

 

[Capra]

No problem with age with my Lloyds based cover. Defender was 20 years old when it threw the front propshaft.

Same with the wife's 05' plate yaris.

 

[Cleck]

I have european cover with my Nationwide bank account. As it's a joint acount, it covers me and the wife, whatever car we happen to be in (covers the person, not the car). I've only had to use them once when the electronic parking brake on a Passat died on the drive and they used a local breakdown service. They arrived with 30 minutes and took me to the garage of my choice; no complaints at all.

It works out at £156/year but also provides insurance for all four of our smartphones (replaced a brand new Iphone 7 that the lad dropped within 48hrs for £50 excess) and worldwide travel insurance (covers my pre-existing conditions at no extra cost, but never had cause to use it).

 

[Wighty]

I have european cover with my Nationwide bank account. As it's a joint acount, it covers me and the wife, whatever car we happen to be in (covers the person, not the car). I've only had to use them once when the electronic parking brake on a Passat died on the drive and they used a local breakdown service. They arrived with 30 minutes and took me to the garage of my choice; no complaints at all.

It works out at £156/year but also provides insurance for all four of our smartphones (replaced a brand new Iphone 7 that the lad dropped within 48hrs for £50 excess) and worldwide travel insurance (covers my pre-existing conditions at no extra cost, but never had cause to use it).

Same here , been with Nationwide on a joint account covering both cars with European cover as well . Never used them though .

 

[sonic]

In 53 years motoring I have never called them out, only ever paid for cover when I lived in Germany in the 60's & 70's. Then the German police gave you half an hour to move off the hard shoulder. If not they would either push your car into the field at the side of the Autobahn, no crash barriers then. Or call their recovery which was really expensive.
My wife called Mercedes Mobilo one Friday night in Birmingham about 10 years ago, they were there in 30 minutes.
Last year a friends car I was traveling in wouldn't start at Manchester airport, AA were there in 45 minutes.
I like Wighty have Nationwide Flex Plus which I use for world medical & travel cover, additionally I have breakdown cover as well. Never used it but a friend of mine has no problems.