AA membership - worth it?

Kila

Hi,

A pretty simple question - I've been considering taking out AA membership for myself. I previously had breakdown assist and warranty coverage for my car (from the dealer), but this has now elapsed. My car is in no immediate danger of falling to bits - it's pretty young, and I take decent care of it - but I feel like you can never be too careful. The last thing I want is to be stuck out on the side of the road somewhere, desperately calling around for a tow!

So, I'm wondering if you think that AA membership is worth it. Does anyone here have membership? Do you find it worthwhile? I've read the t&cs, and the info on their site, and looked into the costs. I've copied below for those who haven't.

Some info on the membership (from their site):
Roadside Rescue is E139 p.a.
Home start is an extra E48 p.a.
Rescue Plus is another E70 p.a.

Some notable t&cs:

The AA reserves the right to refuse service where it has been requested to deal with the same or similar fault or cause of breakdown to the same vehicle within the preceding 28 days.

Roadside Rescue is available to you if you are stranded on the highway, at least 500 metres (550 yards) from your home, following breakdown or accident.

(so if you break down closer to home, you need to have Home Start, or they won't help)

Roadside Rescue does not cover any additional transport or other costs that you might incur, whether as a result of your vehicle being towed or otherwise.

(so will I end up calling around and waiting for a tow anyway?!)

AA Fair Play Policy

34. Fair Play is designed to keep membership affordable by making sure that high use by members is avoided. We have therefore placed limits on the number of call-outs that can be made by any one member in a subscription year.

We will monitor call-outs on an individual basis to ensure fairness is applied at all times. Under this policy, we endeavour to keep all our members informed of their call-out usage. We will write to you and inform you of your usage before the contribution procedure is implemented thus allowing you the opportunity to take the necessary action.

Each level of AA membership is subject to a call-out limit in a membership year. Personal members will be entitled to a maximum of six call-outs in a subscription year. If you have subscribed to Rescue Plus, up to three of these call-outs may include Rescue Plus benefits. If your subscription includes associate member(s), you and your associates are entitled to a combined maximum total of 7 call-outs.

If the relevant permitted call-outs are exceeded, the AA may require the payment of an additional contribution to the subscription in such amount as may be determined by the AA before undertaking any additional call-outs.

(while I can't imagine being so unlucky as to break down that many times, I wonder how expensive it would be if I ever was that unlucky?)

biko

Who is your insurer?
I use Quinn and breakdown & homestart is already covered by them on my policy.

jon1981

well i had to use it once to get towed from the wicklow to Dublin...another time i had a flat battery again down the south of the country with no cars about...so i guess its paid for itself...check out your insurance though it might include rescue recovery..

Sesshoumaru

I've had to use them several times. I didn't have home start and they still came out to my home. They have some rules that aren't so strictly enforced. You'd have to be really pestering them everyday with breakdowns before they'd refuse to help you I think.

January

Roadside Rescue does not cover any additional transport or other costs that you might incur, whether as a result of your vehicle being towed or otherwise.

This just means that if you don't have Rescue Plus they won't transport you from the scene of the breakdown (although most of the guys are nice enough and will bring you home if they can)...

Kila

I'm insured with Axa, but to the best of my recollection my policy does not include their rescue plan. I will, of course, check again before buying AA membership, but I'm not certain that it does.

As a side note, I wonder if it would be worth investigating adding their motor rescue to my policy instead of AA - it may work out cheaper...

jor el

Rescue Plus is well worth it, had to get tows over long distance on a couple of occasions, which would have been very expensive otherwise.

I have insurance with the AA too, and I get a discount off the road assistance because of it. I also get a discount off the insurance because of the road assistance.

I've often wondered how good the breakdown assistance that insurance companies offer really is. Will they tow you from Cork to Donegal, if you needed it? Do they give you car hire, or will they pay hotel accommodation? Also, if you ring them on a Sunday, will there even be an answer?

Quint

I was thinking about joining before. Then thought that i've been driving 10 years and never needed it. Saving €2.5k! If you want the peace of mind it's worth it.
Do they do a european wide cover? I'd get it if I was doing a trip abroad. Don't worry about the fair play thing unless you drive a Renault:D

John Mason

check if you have breaddown cover with your insurance first

i know with my polices but AXA and Hibernian have breakdown cover included in their premiums and i have to say they are great.

The problem with the AA, is that you join on an introductory offer of €66.00 but when you go to renew it, it is €180.00. So you have to cancel your policy and then take up the new customer introductory offer again.

Its a joke, that is why i got rid of them

Cionád

Quint wrote: »

I was thinking about joining before. Then thought that i've been driving 10 years and never needed it. Saving €2.5k! If you want the peace of mind it's worth it.
Do they do a european wide cover? I'd get it if I was doing a trip abroad. Don't worry about the fair play thing unless you drive a Renault:D

I just got a quote for 3 weeks European cover, it was 215 euro! :eek:

Quint

Cionád wrote: »

I just got a quote for 3 weeks European cover, it was 215 euro! :eek:

That's pricey alright. My insurance for the year isn't much more than that!

Stevie Dakota

pink fluffy bunny wrote: »

The problem with the AA, is that you join on an introductory offer of €66.00 but when you go to renew it, it is €180.00. So you have to cancel your policy and then take up the new customer introductory offer again.

Any idea where I can avail of the introductory offer? AA website does not mention it.

McSpud

On the rare times I have used them I found the service very good. On the other hand I don't know if it is really worth 150+ a year given how often I have used. IMO the AA should offer a discount to people who use the service less like for insurance policies. No sure if I will continue to pay in the coming years.

ergonomics

I bought an AA membership a couple of months ago. I pay monthly so it works out at €11 per month. I also added my boyfriend for free so between the two of us we're paying practically nothing. Neither of us have used it yet but as I am female and driving up and down to Limerick twice a week at nighttime, I love having the peace of mind that if something goes wrong I can ring someone.

dsane1

Axa have "motor rescue " i've had it for years and used it a few times ,up north and in france ,no problems .It even covered recovery of car and caravan from france to ireland if needed (thankfully not ).They generally include it free at renewal if you bargain hard enough.It also includes anyone named on policy.I think the AA is for the member not the car which is a plus i suppose.

3ps

I have used the AA a good number of times with no issues. I have the full package.

I once had some issues with a classic and didn't want to drive it, even though it was actually driveable. My mechanic had no space so the AA brought it home for me and then brought it to the garage when he had space. No questions asked.

I also broke down in the UK in a classic and they managed to get it running again.

I had a wheel seized onto the hub and they got it off.

I ran out of petrol once and they help out with that and with a jumpstart after I let the battery go down with trying to start it/leaving the hazards on.

Ran out of fuel another time and he towed it home from the motorway and got it started again on the drive.

All in all it has been worth it but then again I like to drive older cars.

John Mason

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

Any idea where I can avail of the introductory offer? AA website does not mention it.

Dunnes, tesco, most shopping centres have a man and a stand

victor1

yep in december there was an offer of half price 66e for std package for year