I'm with AA, RAC and Greenflag.

I used my AA cover for the first time on weds. I rang em up and told em that I was a contractor for em and had stuck it on diagnostics and it had low fuel pressure and they had it towed straight to my work. Cos I have parts/repair cover I have to get it patrolled in order to make a claim. The new HP injector pump should arrive on monday and the missus should have her chav box back by tuesday at the latest.....

The only real problems with the AA are that you can't get recovered after an accident unless you have the cover through your insurance co or are willing to pay the recovery bill.

Cirrus said:

There are plenty of companies out there. I use and independent and pay £39 a year and that is for nationwide recovery. I have separate policies for all my vehicles (2 cars a van and a bike) and they are all about £39 which for recovery is very cheap when the AA and RAC wanted over £100 for the same cover!

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so, is that,
2cars @ £78
1 van @ £39
1 bike @ £39

AA cover excludes motor sport events. It doesn’t directly say off roading is excluded. I’ve been at pay and plays days where peeps have called them for assistance and when they arrive in the car park, assistance was refused. I don’t think pushing it down the road whilst covered in mud would help their case. I’ve also seen occasions where the AA have recovered a vehicle from a pay and play event car park. So there could be some patrol discretion involved. I would assume all breakdown providers operate with similar rules.

Assistance on green lanes is available as said above. But if the assistance requires anything other than the normal service they provide, they will help by managing the recovery, and you’ll be asked for pay for the extra requirements. So don’t expect them to drive a transit/recovery truck up a rutted green lane. Specialist vehicles will probably cost you. I once put the works car on the grass verge to avoid a speeding car on a country road. Front wheel dropped into a drainage hole. Result was loss of drive. Could have driven it out with a few pushing, but few passers by would stop. Only 1 wanted to help but we had no rope. AA called and they took up the challenge, but warned about costs due to the nature of the task and put me on the list for a patrol vehicle to attend. A car would have pulled it out easily. Ended up with a local disco helping after 2 hours when his mrs sent out when he got home from work. Then cancelled the AA.

One thing to look out for is cover that takes you to your destination or home. Often peeps only have enough cover to allow them to be recovered from the motorway to the next services. Works hire van broke down on the motorway just as others were joining the motorway. Hard shoulder was starting to run out. Highway wombles and police turned up. Was glad to have the option of AA help, as opposed to no cover at all. Was recovered to the services as I was in a dangerous place. I would have been well ****ed off if the option to take me home wasn’t available, if required. Luckily a temporary fix sorted it.

AA terms ere: http://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/pdfs/breakdown-cover-policy-feb-2011.pdf

I use Green Flag on the works van and have used it twice (both times in Ratty's patch). Good service both times.
However I've got RAC on me (Rangie) and her (Focus) because through Tesco's clubcard scheme I got us both fully covered for £45.

dogsbody said:

I use Green Flag on the works van and have used it twice (both times in Ratty's patch). Good service both times.
However I've got RAC on me (Rangie) and her (Focus) because through Tesco's clubcard scheme I got us both fully covered for £45.

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I would check the small print - many of those that we recover find that where they are "covered" through bank accounts, clubcards, etc they do NOT have the same cover that they had when paying direct to the main organisations. Very often it is 10 miles or nearest dealer...not home. Expensive when 300 miles from base...lol

easye1 said:

so, is that,
2cars @ £78
1 van @ £39
1 bike @ £39

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It is but I cover the vehicle because I drive, the wife does and then business partner and I drive the van. I just ride the bike. Otherwise I would have just covered myself.

Mine came up for renewal recently, decided to shop around a bit after asking some of the blokes at work what they are paying. Went for Brittania Rescue and got the disco and personal cover (covers any vehicle) for two people for £88. Saved a packet compared to Green Flag who we were with before.

Beneagles said:

I would check the small print - many of those that we recover find that where they are "covered" through bank accounts, clubcards, etc they do NOT have the same cover that they had when paying direct to the main organisations. Very often it is 10 miles or nearest dealer...not home. Expensive when 300 miles from base...lol

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Not in this case. I bought the cover using Clubcard points. Full, national breakdown and recovery for the pair of us by name. This way even if we are only a passenger in the car we are covered. No questions about the cars also meant no discussions over whether they will cover a P38.

Cirrus said:

It is but I cover the vehicle because I drive, the wife does and then business partner and I drive the van. I just ride the bike. Otherwise I would have just covered myself.

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costings for the 5 of us in "any" vehicle comes to £180, but paid monthly @ £15..
Bless her, the wife pays....:clap2:

we dont have curtesy car no more due to costs,
but have roadside plus full recovery home if required..
(only use this as I mend `em most times at home)

at 64 years of age, do I "want" to mend cars by the side of the road anymore?
apart from the most basic of get ya home bodges that is!