6 hours waiting for AA

elperello · 16-02-2026 12:17PM

If a flat battery is your problem one of these in the boot will get you going without any outside assistance.

Often available in Lidl middle aisle.

P.lane78 · 16-02-2026 02:55PM

Long time AA member here, paying 35 a month for my wife and myself, home start etc etc…this

years renewal they wanted 68 a month. I rang them up and they would not budge…would only offer 42 a month

for less service than i had. I have used them twice in 20 years. So i cancelled. its weird, its like they want to run the numbers down .

User1998 · 16-02-2026 03:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124240433#Comment_124240433

It's basic economics. By increasing their price they are making just as much profit while dealing with a lower volume of customers, which results in a better experience for the customers who stayed loyal.

MojoMaker · 16-02-2026 03:57PM

I pay E14 per month for everything on their menu.

Each year the AA try to renew me at anything from 25-30 per month. I let it lapse and the next day I take out a new membership again for for whatever the previous year's rate was.

Basic membership used to be E6.00 per month, I see that has now gone to E7.50pm.

csirl · 16-02-2026 04:35PM

Had same issue as OP about a year ago. Left on side of the road with AA not being able to say when or if they would respond at all. Rang and paid for a tow truck myself.

They gave me a years free cover when I complained - wouldnt have renewed if I had to pay and not sure I will next time.

RescueMeIrl · 26-04-2026 05:41AM

Mad seeing this, and it’s still happening all over the country.

That exact situation — stuck on the road, no hazards, long wait — is way more common than people think, even near cities.

Out of curiosity, if there was something where you could instantly see available recovery drivers near you and contact them directly (no memberships, no call centres), would that have helped in that moment?

Trying to get a feel for what would actually make breakdown situations easier for drivers 👍

Oscar_Madison · 26-04-2026 07:03AM

About 5 years ago I was waiting 3 hours again, just outside Galway - I thought that was bad. I didn’t have the overnight stay policy and had a car full of luggage as was going on a holiday etc but luckily they got me going again.
So I had visions of calling someone to drive 150kms to collect us 😀
But mobile phone was low towards the end of waiting - I didn’t have any charger or back up pack -and it struck me just how vulnerable you could be. Thankfully it’s not a regular occurrence but shows when it does happen that you do need to be somewhat prepared when on a longer journey outside your home town.

But was certainly pizzed off with the wait time.

After reading this story I was reminded of the above experience- I might actually take out an AA policy again as doing a lot more “down the country” driving and wouldn’t want to be stranded in the same way again - but I’d get the bells and whistles policy as when you need it, you really need it

User1998 · 26-04-2026 08:42AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124422465#Comment_124422465

I just find a local company on Google Maps and pay up. I was broken down twice in Kildare and was only left waiting 20 minutes or so.

dp22250 · 26-04-2026 08:53AM

When I lived in London it was in vogue to break down put it on instagram or Facebook and waiting for AA.

zg3409 · 26-04-2026 10:21AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124239846#Comment_124239846

Its electric. It does not have a stick as such.

In terms of AA they are a rip off and price increases every year unless you haggle. Many already have cover with their car insurance and many new cars come with free breakdown for say first 3 years.

If you are stuck you can ring a local tow truck and it's likely they will be faster as they are local. The AA themselves farm out some work to local tow trucks when they are busy. You can also agree for them to bring it anywhere you want unlike AA. Overall it will work out cheaper in the long term.

If you get yourself a spare wheel, compressor, jump pack and check over your car regularly you are unlikely to break down. If you do a recovery locally might only cost 200 euro once off. I despise the AA business model and scare tactics. Most insurers use the AA anyway and it might only cost you 20 euro per year to add it to insurance policy if you do not have it already included.

Most road side fixes are tyres, jump start and out of fuel, and if you can prevent these yourself you can solve the majority of problems.

MojoMaker · 26-04-2026 06:58PM

7.50 a month for full AA cover. Excellent value, considering it covers you in any vehicle you're in, and the service has been brilliant whenever I've needed it.

Dublin, so that might make a difference to availability and satisfaction potentially.

HorseSea · 26-04-2026 07:11PM

That €7.50 a month for the first year or some special offer. When the AA charges were more than my car insurance cost I thought it's time to go, plus their service has dropped so much over the 30 years I was with them, it was no longer worth a fraction of what they were charging.

MojoMaker · 26-04-2026 07:15PM

7.50 a month and when they try to double it on renewal you politely decline, and once you're off the phone you take out a new policy with the same details for the same 7.50 once again.

No drama at all and maybe 5 mins effort.

zg3409 · 05-05-2026 11:31AM

I just checked my existing car insurance policy. 16 euro 45 cent for annual breakdown cover. Not sure it's any use but compared to the price of AA. Also highly likely AA would show up if I rang my cheapo help number.

MojoMaker · 05-05-2026 11:38AM

Use it and report back. I virtually guarantee you'll be disappointed.

patrickc · 06-05-2026 09:37PM

I have aviva breakdown with my policy. The twice I've used them I've been impressed

07-05-2026 10:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124449172#Comment_124449172

Where are you based, town or country

patrickc · 08-05-2026 09:26AM

Both times I was within 30 minutes of a big town

ofcork · 08-05-2026 04:58PM

I'm with a company called ivernia through chill one time I had to use breakdown assist car wouldn't start was waiting les than half hour.

SCOOP 64 · 11-05-2026 09:25PM

I pay for AA breakdown service for me and my wife, my wife broke down to day she phoned AA and was told it would be one to two hours before someone will reach you, about a hour later got a phone call from th AA apologising and saying we won't be able to get to you until tomorrow morning she said that's not good enough, I am by myself , I managed to pull in but I am blocking someone's drive way, they then said we will call you back, they did and said we have a local garage coming out to you should be a hour, they did arrive and it was towed to a garage.

Unbelievable they would expect a women by herself to sort herself out as they can't come out to next day!

elperello · 11-05-2026 10:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124461520#Comment_124461520

Very poor response by AA.

I was with them but cancelled years ago.

I have breakdown cover with insurance on two cars. You might also if you check your policy.

I also have the number of a local towing service saved in the phone.

I reckon it'll be quicker if I get stuck near home.

SCOOP 64 · 11-05-2026 10:59PM

I took AA in case i am miles away when I break down, i am covered with car insurance but only will take you to the garage your closest to and then it's up to you how you get home, but with AA your covered no matters how far y you are from home to get you and your car home , also they use to send a AA van out who would actually try to get your car started but now they just send a tow truck out who just ask you were do you want to go, but after today don't think I will renew with th AA.

rino87 · 12-05-2026 11:15PM

Anyone ever needed to use AA European breakdown cover, and are the delays etc as bad?

Im bringing a 19 year old XC90 for the space, and because my kiddies will be safer in it, but AA want over 200 quid for 10 days cover...

The car itself has less than 200k km on the clock and I haven't skimped on maintainence so id trust it no end if it was just myself and my wife going, adding 3 kids in to the mix changes things a little 🤣

That said, if they leave you waiting hours upon hours for a tow, with 3 small kids, its not really worth it, is it?

SCOOP 64 · 13-05-2026 01:28PM

I would not like to have no cover at all in Europe ,even if I did have to wait for recovery ,you can end up with a big bill without it, I used it in London but that was years ago , AA patrol van came out turned out to be ignition coil , he then went and brought one came back i fitted it, 2 hour waiting time but didn't care he got back on the one again, as I say this was years so might not be the same service today.

6 hours waiting for AA

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