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Joining AA Ireland

  • 25-08-2019 10:01am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 66 ✭✭


    HI. Just looking for some advice. I’m thinking of joining AA. It’s just not clear to me what benefits it would offer that my comprehensive insurance doesn’t. I already have road side rescue and temporary car replacement through the insurance. What added advantage would AA membership offer?


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,685 ✭✭✭✭wonski


    None in your case.

    No point paying for something that is already included in your policy.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,896 ✭✭✭✭machiavellianme


    4c off per litre at Circle K stations via the app.
    That's about it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 66 ✭✭Shane119


    That’s what I was thinking alright. So why do so many people join? I presume most people would have road side rescue etc on their insurance.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    Even the call out service when you really need it can be rubbish.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,685 ✭✭✭✭wonski


    I don't think that many join these days. They offer cover in UK and also cover any car you are passenger in. And Home Start which is not always included with insurance assistance.

    But for most those benefits are just not worth it.

    Used roadside assistance three times in 10 years, and I drive old bangers. And twice it was down to my own stupidity including running out of petrol and ignoring intermittent battery warning light for a day.

    Its not something you need that often. But good to have when things go wrong.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 66 ✭✭Shane119


    wonski wrote: »
    I don't think that many join these days. They offer cover in UK and also cover any car you are passenger in. And Home Start which is not always included with insurance assistance.

    But for most those benefits are just not worth it.

    Used roadside assistance three times in 10 years, and I drive old bangers. And twice it was down to my own stupidity including running out of petrol and ignoring intermittent battery warning light for a day.

    Its not something you need that often. But good to have when things go wrong.

    My own car is over 20 years old and let me down only once on the road in all that time. I was about half an hour from my own mechanic and he towed me. Didn’t need AA !


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    The price is also way to high in Ireland. UK price for better service is much cheaper.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,249 ✭✭✭pippip


    I've found the AA are more willing/able to try and get your car going than standard breakdown. They cover one or two extra bits. General breakdown cover can be a bit limiting when you read the small print. If you have AA insurance the breakdown is discounted with a bit of haggling.

    Also with AA your covered, not the car so you can be a passenger in someone else's car and they still come to you. Although this is worthless if others drive your car as they won't be covered if you're not there.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,267 ✭✭✭mikeecho


    pippip wrote: »
    I've found the AA are more willing/able to try and get your car going than standard breakdown. They cover one or two extra bits. General breakdown cover can be a bit limiting when you read the small print. If you have AA insurance the breakdown is discounted with a bit of haggling.

    Also with AA your covered, not the car so you can be a passenger in someone else's car and they still come to you. Although this is worthless if others drive your car as they won't be covered if you're not there.

    Unless they phone , and when the AA van arrives, they have had to leave due to an urgent doctors appointment ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,655 ✭✭✭Mad_Mike


    Probably the biggest thing over the standard insurance breakdown policies is the fact that the AA cover you, not just your car.

    No matter where you are, or whose car you are in, if you are a member, then you have breakdown cover

    "Personal Cover - We cover you in any car that breaks down
    AA Membership covers you, not your car. This means if you happen to be broken down in someone else’s car as a driver or a passenger, you are covered for us to come out and assist you.
    "

    [EDIT] Just saw the post above me has this mentioned!!! DUH! I need to read ALL the posts![/EDIT] :D


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 66 ✭✭Shane119


    Mad_Mike wrote: »
    Probably the biggest thing over the standard insurance breakdown policies is the fact that the AA cover you, not just your car.

    No matter where you are, or whose car you are in, if you are a member, then you have breakdown cover

    "Personal Cover - We cover you in any car that breaks down
    AA Membership covers you, not your car. This means if you happen to be broken down in someone else’s car as a driver or a passenger, you are covered for us to come out and assist you.
    "

    [EDIT] Just saw the post above me has this mentioned!!! DUH! I need to read ALL the posts![/EDIT] :D

    :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 66 ✭✭Shane119


    Would road side rescue under an insurance policy count as a claim and therefore affect one’s no claims discount?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,685 ✭✭✭✭wonski


    Shane119 wrote: »
    Would road side rescue under an insurance policy count as a claim and therefore affect one’s no claims discount?

    No.

    But some insurer may impose limits.
    Read the small print.

    As previously said, the odds of getting stranded on the side of the road are small enough for them to offer it pretty much free of charge.

    Unless you drive something extremely unreliable ;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,281 ✭✭✭CrankyHaus


    my3cents wrote: »
    Even the call out service when you really need it can be rubbish.

    That was my experience. The van came quickly, diagnosed the fault as a broken serpentine belt and then left. They said they couldn't fix my car (a compact saloon) and couldn't tow it.

    A tow truck came about 2 hours later, driven by an angry man who roared constant curses, drove very aggressively and broke at least one red light while towing my car the few kilometres to the garage. To be fair I think this lad was a contractor rather than AA staff, and he said it was a very busy day.

    When I emailed them to point out that this wasn't quite what I thought I'd been paying for they just responded that the van was on the scene quickly, therefore they'd met their terms of service.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,685 ✭✭✭✭wonski


    I used 123 rescue twice and Allianz once.

    123 happened late at night on the weekend and took around 60-90 minutes, which I guess was fair. Very polite.

    When run out of petrol got a lift to the nearest one, which was outside of sensible walking distance. Got a loan of a petrol can, put the petrol in and on my way to the same petrol station.

    The other one was alternator fault so towed the car to my house 15 km away, no issues.

    Last one was recently with Allianz, who unlike 123 had to get me through the terms and conditions and explaining things through regarding limits etc. Middle of the day. 60 minutes as well, car was "fixed" on the spot - my aircon pipe felt down and was rubbing against the road. Hooked it up to the gearbox with cable ties and no tow was required.

    All very polite, I guess they just send whoever was around from their list of contractors. But all very nice people and no documents to sign or any paperwork at all. They just want you to get you out of trouble ASAP.

    Repairs these days don't really happen on the side of the road. Even the dealers need a day to fix your car these days. What can they do in minutes, or even an hour???

    It's a tow service these days. That's why their vans make no sense, apart from advertising on the road.


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 24,056 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sully


    A bit like your car insurance, read the small print as to what it boils down too. Both for AA and others. Plus, you then have manufacturer warranty car hire which is different again.

    If your car needs to be towed, then you'll get a replacement car. The AA usually offer like a Golf or Focus size for 48hrs. Other break down agents give a smaller car for 1 day. They all use local towing agents though, for the AA it's in addition to their own patrol vans so i guess that's why everyone has different level of experience.

    A bit like replacement car during an insurance claim, some insurers only give a small car for a few days- not like for like and not for duration of repairs.

    Well worth drilling down to the benefits included within breakdown policies. Just pick the one that suits. If you're not arsed about how long you'll have a car for and the size, or where the towing limit will be - than most insurance breakdown policies will do the trick.

    The AA van's have towing equipment, assuming a flat bed isn't needed btw


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,917 ✭✭✭✭Toyotafanboi


    wonski wrote: »
    It's a tow service these days. That's why their vans make no sense, apart from advertising on the road.

    While I agree, it's a towing service these days, afaik their entire Transit Custom fleet having towing gear on board for 2wd cars, it folds out of the rear door on hydraulics.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,515 ✭✭✭arleitiss


    I joined just because my insurance quote went down and worked out cheaper even after including yearly AA membership fee.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,908 ✭✭✭Alkers


    I've only had good experience in using them, apart from the app which is terrible.
    They also have no restrictions on the age of the vehicle etc, i have one aa policy which covers me on my car, bike or campervan


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,984 ✭✭✭Stovepipe


    My AA experience wasn't good.....I was insured with them and an AA member, which I thought would give me a better level of cover. So, one fine day, going into work (airport) on a Sunday morning, my car, a Peugeot 407SW breaks down. I ring the number and get told that a recovery vehicle (flatbed) will be along in about 30 minutes, which it duly did. The driver offers me the option of his yard or the nearest Peugeot garage. I elect for the garage, which was open and busy, despite it being early on a Sunday, so he brings me there, we drop off the car and he obliges me by dropping me at the airport. I contact the AA again to advise them of the situation and ask for clearance to get a car for the alleged 48hrs. I get told that I'm not entitled to one, under no circumstances. So, I'm left stuck, in work, 40 miles from home, with no car, despite the policy document stating that I can get a car. I have several arguments with various AA people on the phone but they stick fast and say that I'm not getting a car. Later, after my shift, I get a bus to my wife's homeplace, get a loan of her Mam's car and ask the AA to transfer cover onto it so I can use it for at least a week, having been contacted by the garage that the Peugeot needed an injector pipe and it would be at least three days off the road. The AA refuse the transfer to her Mam's car. After much phone calling, it turns out that because the car had a disabled person's disc (rotatable seat on passenger side) on it, they wouldn't transfer it. Her Mam was too infirm to drive by then and the car was not otherwise being used but was legal and roadworthy. I was hopping mad at this stage but the AA wouldnt budge on anything. My sister in law stepped in, gave me her car for a week, put my name on the insurance and I was mobile again........so, I got my own car back after a few days, returned SiL's car and decided to write to the AA, outlining what had happened. I got a testy letter (email) back from a senior executive, stating that I should have had the next higher level of policy, if I wanted a car for the supposed 48 hrs and it was my own fault for not selecting the supposed higher order!! When I pointed out to the senior executive that I had not been offered any higher grade of insurance when I took out the policy in the first place, that I had always had Fully Comp with every insurance company I had ever been with, that being a member of the AA was supposed to give me an advantage over being one of the merely insured, that I had not seen an AA technical van at all, that I had been refused transfer to another car, that when I had had breakdowns with cover provided by other firms, I had been given a car for 48 hrs without question,etc,etc....I got yet another snotty reply reinforcing the opinion that it was essentially all my own fault for not having picked the alleged higher grade of policy. Being an AA member was of no use to me whatsoever. So, I changed from them to AIG and have had no grief since. The AA will never get my business again. Ironically, I got several letters and calls later on, when it came to renewal time, which stopped when I sent them back a copy of the snotty letter from the high-yin.

    regards
    Stovepipe


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,885 ✭✭✭Tzardine


    I have been with the AA for years and I would not be without it, even though i have breakdown on my car insurance. I have used it probably 7 or 8 times, and each time they were great.

    I had issues which they were able to sort out at the house and get me motoring, and others where they had to tow the car from the side of the road.

    I have the AA fuel card, and the fuel savings for both my own and my wifes car each month cover more than half of the AA cost.

    With the AA membership it is the policy holder that is covered, not the car. I have used my cover when in a friends car that broke down - no problems at all. They also covered me on my motorbike when I put diesel in the tank.

    The other big bonus with the AA is that they will tow your car anywhere in Ireland (depending on your cover level). Most policies will only tow you to the nearest garage. The AA brought my car from Blarney to Kildare one time.

    The only bug bear that i have is that each year at renewal they try to shaft you. The renewal price is always about €100 more that what you can get online, but I just call them and they give the online price.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,516 ✭✭✭Wheety


    I had it once, when my insurance was with AA and I realised they didn't include breakdown assist with it.

    Every other insurance I've had included breakdown assist and I have used it twice. Both times it was excellent service. So never bothered with AA again.

    Just had a look and to have me and my wife covered it would cost €14.25 a month or €171 a year. Not even a discount for paying a full year upfront. That's nearly half the price of my fully comp insurance and it's not even the higher level of coverage.

    I think there's a discount if you have AA car insurance but it's still crazy.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,757 ✭✭✭honda boi


    I've had them for years.
    Pay for me and the missus.
    I like them because they will tow you anywhere in the country.
    I'm covered on the bike and car.
    I used them a few times and everytime they were decent lads.
    Either got me running or towed me wherever I want.
    When I had a bad puncture on the bike they had to send a massive flatbed for it. Thought it was hiliarious because I doubt it was cheap to get something that big to tow something small like a bike.
    Fuel discount is an added bonus


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 66 ✭✭Shane119


    Thanks for all the replies. I just got a text from AA offering me cover for two people ‘starting’ from €10 per month.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,528 ✭✭✭Patrick2010


    I have had breakdown assist for years with my insurers so see no benefit with AA. Last time I needed to use it (left lights on so no battery) it was actually an AA man who turned up so they must be used as sub-contractors.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 66 ✭✭Shane119


    Yeah. I’m struggling to see the benefit of AA to be honest. Think I’ll pass.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,028 ✭✭✭H3llR4iser


    I've had AA membership since I started driving in Ireland - the price always worked out cheaper than including "road assist" in the insurance policy.

    I've only called them a coupe of times, they always solved the issue at the roadside - well in one case, it was a dead battery to be fair; Yet, it was NOT my car's battery - I was with friends, so I have found the "covering you" part of it particularly useful.

    I have no experience with the cover included in insurance policies, I've not heard anything good about them from colleagues - at least one of them was told he was "too far away from home" and they would only tow the car to the closest garage. Personally, for the peace of mind, they're worth the 100 odd quid / year.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,528 ✭✭✭Patrick2010


    I've never paid extra for road assist , its always included, no option not to take it. 100 euro just to cover you out with friends who have no cover seems a luxury but each to their own. To be honest I have no issue with breakdown towing to the nearest garage and not home. Would AA really tow you from Cork to say Dublin?
    One time I had an issue with the car cutting out the guy towed it to his own garage and sorted it out down the road in Tallaght. Excellent mechanic I've used since for all servicing.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 813 ✭✭✭Roycropper63


    One big difference I think but when you break down your insurance cover will get you to nearest garage whereby as will bring to your home or garage of your choice.
    At least that was the case a few years ago!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,757 ✭✭✭honda boi


    One big difference I think but when you break down your insurance cover will get you to nearest garage whereby as will bring to your home or garage of your choice.
    At least that was the case a few years ago!

    Yep that's the main reason I have it.
    If I break down far from home I don't want my car/bike left at some random garage , especially if it's a problem I know I could fix at home myself


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