Alternatives to AA breakdown cover

BrianD3

Got a bill for 140 quid to renew my AA roadside rescue. As I'm trying to save money, does anyone know of any alternatives to this. AFAIK Aviva have taken over the RAC breakdown service and their website says it cost from 51 quid. But when I try to get an actual quote i get a server error
http://www.aviva.ie/online/driving/breakdown-cover/roadside-rescue/

Now I already have breakdown assist with my insurance (Axa) but does this cover breakdowns when driving any car like the AA one does. I have searched for documentation on the Axa service but can't find info on whether it covers driving any car.

Or maybe I should just gather up contact details of garages that do breakdown recovery and pay them in the event that something happens. I have had AA for years and have never needed to use it so I would have had saved a lot of money by not having it.

Your insurance breakdown only covers the insured vehicle and not other cars you drive. Tough one as you've been paying the AA for a while so hard to drop, I had it when I lived in Dublin as I was doing Cork to Dublin and back once a week at least. I really don't think it's worth the premium over the free insurance stuff for the average Joe. €150 is decent lash of cash.

BrianD3

Thanks for that, RJ. I think I'll drop the AA cover. The car that is covered by the Axa assist is the one I drive most often, has the highest mileage and is probably the most likely to let me down.

Also, I can change a wheel, charge/change a battery, read a fuel gauge and all the cars that I drive have spare keys. So I think that's a lot of potential scenarios that people use the AA for that I won't be needing them for.

BrianD3

BrianD3 wrote: »

So I think that's a lot of potential scenarios that people use the AA for that I won't be needing them for.

Just to contribute a little more, my 12 years of breakdowns are as follows
- 9/10 year old Rover 214 wouldn't start one morning at work in Dublin after a night shift, had AA and called them. Arrived very promptly and diagnosed it has a fouled fuel filter, cracked open the housing to allow her to prime and it started Root cause was fuel filter overdue a change, back then I used to go from brim to empty as I was doing a good lash of miles.
- Same car outside chipper in Cork, wouldn't start, don't think I had AA cover then, breakdown lad came out, diagnosed it as fuel pump. Towed it to his garage and then to my mechanics for repair following day.
- Same car, gearbox bearings ate themselves (R65 gearbox, get chocolately when old), AA towed it to garage for me.
- Diesel Rover, left lights on and battery drained, insurance breakdown lad booster started her for me
- Diesel Merc, ran out of fuel coming out of work in Galway. Insurance breakdown lad lifted me to a garage, I filled her with diesel, was air locked and wouldn't start so he towed me around the forecourt till she did

Normal insurance free stuff is fine imo

BrianD3

I've had a few non starts at the house due to old batteries, leaving interior lights on etc. The first couple of times it happened I got a mate with a battery charger, now I have my own. The AA would probably have been of no use to me as I've never paid extra for "home start".

I nearly used them twice though:

Megane parked in shopping centre miles from home wouldn't start, I phoned the AA but while waiting for them remembered the flywheel sensor. Cleaned it and it started. Cancelled the AA.

A mate lost the keys to his Kia in the middle of nowhere and had no spare. I was with him so we called my AA. Over the phone they said they could do nothing about getting the car started (not surprising with modern immobilisers etc.) and were of no help for towing either. Can't remember if it was the distance we wanted it towed or if they didn't want to do anything with it without the keys. Ended up getting another mate to put it on a trailer.

dr.fuzzenstein

Best thing to do is have jump leads, tyreweld, spare tyre, set of decent tools, tow rope and (very handy) a starter pack (got one in Maplins).
Also have a dummy key cut in case you get locked out.
It won't start the car, but will open the door.
Besides that good mates, a basic knowledge of cars and a mobile phone (who hasn't got one?) are handy.
Also, have the car in good repair to start with, keep it garaged and give it a weekly check of the basics.
I did need the AA on two occasions when I worked in the field, because sitting in your van for lunch with the radio, lights and laptop on for an hour will drain your battery.
And, just like hitch hiking, it seems much harder these days to get help from passing strangers, so don't rely on it.
In fact factor in that no matter how long you'll be standing there beside an obviously broken down vehicle, you will not get any offers of help.

unkel

RoverJames wrote: »

- 9/10 year old Rover 214 wouldn't start one morning at work in Dublin after a night shift, had AA and called them. Arrived very promptly and diagnosed it has a fouled fuel filter, cracked open the housing to allow her to prime and it started

That's typical of what the AA does for you over and above an insurance breakdown cover (who only tow and jump start really)

Did you ring the AA to try and negotiate the price down, BrianD3? Worked for me in getting an acceptable renewal quote last year

BrianD3

It didn't really occur to me to try to negotiate the price down.

I just checked the renewal letter there and it's 149 quid for the basic cover - that's too much. Even if they brought it down to 100 I'd still have doubts.

goalie2

Folks, looking at breakdown cover http://www.breakdowncover.ie/, 5 star is €84 for the year. Does this sound to good to be true? Anyone have any expeirence of this crowd?

101sean

I've kept up AA cover as I go to and from the UK a fair bit in different vehicles plus I certainly never want a vehicle just taken to the nearest garage when I have facilities at home.

Had my monies worth when the 101 ate it's a gearbox on the M4 near Reading. Calling them in the uk on an Irish policy is a touch weird as your call is dealt with in France!