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Breakdown Cover
http://international2cvfriends.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=780		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  KT Adams [ August 25th, 2009, 1:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Breakdown Cover
Hey guys,

Could anyone recommend a good breakdown cover company....? As I was a bit of a numpty when sorting out my insurance and A) Didn't go with footman James and B)forget to get something like that included (Duh!) :oops:

As I'm soon driving down to Cardiff in it and the rents refuse to let me drive without any cover.. I've looked at a couple of companies but they didn't have an option for cars over 14 years old, or when they did it was something silly like £200 for the year?

I'm not really sure how much breakdown cover should cost.. but 200squids seems a big chunk out of my student loan for it... however I'm not sure if I'm just being stingy and that's about right...? :?


Anyways any recommendations on alright companies or how much I should expect to pay would be appreciated...

Thanks Guys!
KTx
Author:  DubDefector [ August 25th, 2009, 2:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Breakdown Cover
With the fun of owning such old cars, I've found it's worth paying for a service that gives you relay and unlimited callouts and the like. The AA are clearly the best as they're the only ones with a fleet of their own flatbeds.

They tend to be about £50 for the year, or a bit under £100 with all the extras. £200 sounds pretty steep...

The age of the car shouldn't matter - the AA it's the "you're the member, not the car" policy.

Gawd I sound like an AA salesman... Then again, when we were with the RAC they tried to sell us batteries on two occasions, when it was the alternator at fault! Cowboys!
Author:  zanne602 [ August 25th, 2009, 2:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Breakdown Cover
I have AA breakdown cover for both of my cars, its not expensive and they are great if you do have any problems.
Author:  Joe [ August 25th, 2009, 2:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Breakdown Cover
My parents use Rac, they have a family recovery policy. and it was free for my car to be added onto it regardless of which insurance company i use. i think it costs them £50 a year, through NHS discount. and they have been members since '84.
Author:  toomany2cvs [ August 25th, 2009, 5:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Breakdown Cover
KT Adams wrote:
As I was a bit of a numpty when sorting out my insurance and A) Didn't go with footman James


Not necessarily numpty - I've never once had a remotely tempting quote from FJ. They just don't seem to like me.

Quote:
As I'm soon driving down to Cardiff in it and the rents refuse to let me drive without any cover..


Whilst I can certainly appreciate the wisdom of what they're saying, there's nothing that'll bring home the accuracy of it to you half as much as waiting to have your wallet emptied at 3am in the lobbing rain.

Quote:
I've looked at a couple of companies but they didn't have an option for cars over 14 years old, or when they did it was something silly like £200 for the year?

I'm not really sure how much breakdown cover should cost.. but 200squids seems a big chunk out of my student loan for it... however I'm not sure if I'm just being stingy and that's about right...? :?


No, it's not even close.

I've got the full-fat RAC cover. Two people, personal cover (so covered in any car), home-start, take-you-home, AND hire-car - and it's a big chunk less than that.

You probably don't need all that. Only you know whether the home-start is of use to you. If you're happy getting dirty, don't live in the boonies, and don't need the car NOW, then the internet can probably get you going.

Personal cover is invaluable. No mucking about with changing the registration if you change cars. You're in a mate's car, it dies and he's got no cover? No problem - you're covered on yours.

National recovery is useful, too, on something "odd". You break down miles from the nearest 2cv garage, you're saved the hassle of having some chimp making it worse.

OTOH, I've got the hire-car option because if mine spits the dummy whilst I'm on the way to a customer's site, I can still get there whilst the car goes home in disgrace. You almost certainly don't need that.

By my reckoning, that's £71 for the year.
http://www.rac.co.uk/uk-breakdown/

AA/RAC - much of a muchness. I seem to recall the AA _really_ getting on my wick at some point in the dim and distant past, but can't remember why. I've been with the RAC for a few years, and had no problem at all with them.

The AA seem to want £82 for the same level of cover - http://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/uk ... options.do
Author:  toomany2cvs [ August 25th, 2009, 5:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Breakdown Cover
toomany2cvs wrote:
I've been with the RAC for a few years, and had no problem at all with them.


<thinks>
Not _quite_ true. When we were on the way to the Dutch WM, the AK350 spat a plug. The RAC patrol guy tried a bodge-fix (squished a plug so it was oval - it bit, but blew-by badly and spat out in a couple of miles). However, after we got badly let down by a 2cv specialist, they sent a recovery wagon, the driver of which went about a mile above-and-beyond the call of duty. Without him, we wouldn't have got there.
Author:  DubDefector [ August 25th, 2009, 6:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Breakdown Cover
Yep, I must reiterate that not only did RAC try and fraudulently sell me a battery, they tried it AGAIN. This was AFTER it was reported on Watchdog and they admitted it!

Plus – RAC subcontract their flatbeds to local garages, which can be a lot less reliable than the designated fleet of the AA. I think the little extra cash is worth it at 3am in the rain…
Author:  toomany2cvs [ August 25th, 2009, 6:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Breakdown Cover
DubDefector wrote:
Plus – RAC subcontract their flatbeds to local garages, which can be a lot less reliable than the designated fleet of the AA. I think the little extra cash is worth it at 3am in the rain…


The RAC have their own liveried fleet - and the AA also use contractors.

Image
Author:  Russell [ August 25th, 2009, 7:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Breakdown Cover
I go with fiootman james every time, they still havent got bored of carrying my cars home even after about 3 years of being with them. I know most of the people in thier callcentre now too. It pays to save the recovery number into your phone, and make sure it's charged too.

Ask everybody stored in my mobile contacts list :lol:

toomany2cvs wrote:

Whilst I can certainly appreciate the wisdom of what they're saying, there's nothing that'll bring home the accuracy of it to you half as much as waiting to have your wallet emptied at 3am in the lobbing rain.


I can vouch for that, the night I broke down on the way home from the Ace cafe cost me the best part of £200, and i didn't get home until about 6am, having initially broken down at about 1am. That wasn't fun.
Author:  KT Adams [ August 25th, 2009, 8:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Breakdown Cover
Hey guys,

thanks for suggestions... I can't believe I forgot/didn't think of looking at the AA or the RAC... (I swear as i get older my brain is shrinking) :oops: .. I've been looking at smaller companies like green flag.. which is were I got the 200 figure..

Anyways roadside cover, relay and home start for £12squids a month - cant complain with that!



Image[/quote]

Made me chuckle :)!haha

Russ/Toomany2cv's - In general the early hours of any morning are reserved for bed or stumbling home from the pub.... *fingers crossed*
KT
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