I’ve been using the RAC for breakdown cover for a very long time (since 1988 it appears). We have a policy that covers myself and the mrs for our daily’s, it covers the Camper and my bikes/scoots... whatever I have at the time. I just like the assurance of having a service which is nationwide and I can contact any time of day or night etc. Rather than some of the cheap and cheerful add ones you get with some insurance policies which look a bit dubious! Effectively it’s not something I like to take a risk on. Last year I begrudgingly paid what I thought was a significant increase in premium and they are back again this year wanting to increase the cost by an extra 25 quid. Which takes it to 271. It wasn’t cheap to start with and given the very low mileage most people have done in the last year it’s a bit of a push. I also note on the documents it says I must have an MOT but I’m exempt on 2 vehicles so technically they wouldn’t be covered. So... I go on line and get quotes. RAC quote £80 with £40 excess but that’s just for the camper. When I get into the details it covers both of us for any vehicle we’re travelling in and states an MOT is required unless exempt. not sure where I’m going to get cover but it appears that if you stay loyal to your provider they take advantage of you (I know.. I shouldn't be surprised). I have asked the RAC before about this, in that I could get the same level of cover for quite a bit less and they basically stated that they wouldn’t insure me under the cheaper policy as that was for “new” customers and I was an existing customer even if I allowed my policy to lapse. I write as firstly it’s worthy of note but also to get some feedback and any tips for this. I appreciate that many will have their bus breakdown insurance with their insurers and seperate from their other vehicles. Feel free to comment and advise. thanks
At £271 That sounds very expensive. I had similar issues with them a while back and got onto the phone with them, in my case the lady on the other end was keen to keep my business and reduced/matched to the online quote. I don't know what else to suggest, good luck.
it actually quite difficult to work out what you are buying on line to be honest. One can assume that an 80 quid membership won’t buy you the same level of cover as a 270 quid membership but are the added benefits actually of any value to you. I think one of the reasons I actually stayed as a member was that I could buy add on European insurance at either a reduced rate or actually for a vehicle of such and age that they wouldn’t insure it as a one off if I didn’t have cover, or the expense would be prohibitive.
well you won't need the European cover for a while. I cant recall it being that difficult, always have the same issue when it comes to vehicle renewal when they start quoting with different excess amounts.
I was in the same boat with the AA , nearly 30 years and they put a bit on each year so i threatened to cancel to which they replied `off you go then `, seemed my loyalty was worth nothing to them despite only having to call them out 4 times - none with the camper i might add !! Half the money for the RAC who didn`t exactly cover themselves in glory on the one occasion last year when i locked the keys in the van . Waited for 2 1/2 hours not a sausage , it was starting to get dark so i just popped out a back window seal and was driving away 5 minutes later . Refitted it back at the campsite and was tucking into some food about 10pm when i got a call saying they were looking for us - nearly six hours later !! Mateys CA Bedford broke its gearbox near Salisbury and needed to get back to Bratford using AA Relay - 27 hours and SIX different low loaders later he walked into his house ... I don`t think there`s any offer outstanding service anymore , it`s all call centres and kids now
It's thrown in with my camper insurance. Pretty sure it was with the Golf as well. Is this an idiot tax?
We've been with the RAC for donkey's years too @Dicky and they have helped us out (mostly satisfactorily) on many an occasion - only last weekend in fact. Last year we paid £181 for the full bells and whistles service. The renewal quote for this year was higher, so as I do every year, I phone them up and talk to a human. The price I agreed to in the end was £167 for 15 months (for the full bells & whistles). It pays to be friendly and chatty .
I had similar with the AA. I phone them and told them I was looking elsewhere and they then gave me a good deal.
I've been with the RAC since the mid 80s and do the same as Mrs. VW. It's about 140 quid for a year for cover for any car for the two of us and anyone for the camper and one other car. That's Relay and At Home but UK only. It's a pain to have to ring up every year to get them to reduce their ridiculous renewal quote but that's the way things work.
Sounds familiar, I’ve been with RAC for years, as easily the best provider in my opinion- at 1 point I knew the ins/outs of all the polices as I was meant to try and sell Greenflag when I worked for Direct Lie/Privilege, but it’s an inferior service compared to RAC and AA with their relay cover if that’s still a thing...my sales conversions for breakdown cover were pretty poor When my renewal premium doubled compared to a ‘new’ customer I phoned to ask what they could do, and I settled on them knocking something like £50 off, but they extended the cover to 15 months I think....so now I’ve not got a clue when it expires...and they’ve probably opted me in for auto renewal to catch me next time. An option for you/wife though, would be to alternate who the policyholder is each year.. therefore always effectively a new customer
I just got sick of having to negotiate every year . Me an' her had Seperate policies with AA and RAC respectively which made no sense whatsoever - RAC covering both in any vehicle came to about 140 with everything apart from home start . To be honest it's over 200 quid to be towed off a motorway which would pay for itself should it be needed ... Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
I got so arsed off with the price increase with RAC, I binned it off, and now live life on the edge with no cover
I do the same with the AA every year - my renewal is always significantly higher than the year before, so I call them up and chat. I can normally get the cost down to an 'almost' introductory price. If for any reason they don't budge, it's off to the RAC for a few years until the same thing happens again, when I'll go back to the AA.
We are with the AA and every year have to phone and negotiate using the RAC introductory offers as leverage and the difference is significant. This is a bit of a pain but on the rare occasion we have need to use them, the service has been 1st class.
..same here..me and the wifey in any car..recovery to any chosen destination..used them once few years ago (not VW)..good and reliable service Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
