Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

I have Green Flag included in my car insurance premium but I wondered if it would be better to drop it when my next renewal is due and go for the full AA relay. I have never had to use the recovery service but I dont think Green Flag have a get you home. What do you think would be my best option.?
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The Clan Chieftain

kevin2306 · Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2015 10:22 pm Post subject:

I find the ones included ara basic service.
I've gone with RAC as they have a good recovery to home service, got a great family deal so me, my wife and daughter are covered in any car regardless if we are driving or not

Kevin

Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire

I'm with Britannia Rescue, have been since I first bought breakdown cover. This might help you decide:
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/driver-power/88194/best-breakdown-cover-2014-2015
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7215 Location: Edinburgh

For most of my 50 years of motoring I drove without any breakdown cover (except when abroad) and I only once had to abandon my car. Now that I'm driving much better moderns and the SS is pretty well sorted I pay for the added breakdown services attached to my insurance renewals.

Silly eh!

Peter Rolling Eyes

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1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

peppiB · Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 10:58 am Post subject:

My insurance (and bank account for that matter) both offer basic AA recovery to nearest garage

However, as I am in a wheelchair I have the full RAC disabled persons service - everything their different packages offer. When a car breaks down, if they can't repair it at the scene (with the younger patrol men I often have to say what the problem is - some have never seen points before and have no idea what they do) they bring the vehicle home where it stands until I have a good day and can repair it myself

emmerson · Joined: 30 Sep 2008 Posts: 1268 Location: South East Wales

Because we use our Range Rover and classic caravan in Europe for a large part of the year, we use the German company ADAC. We've used them three times now, and find them excellent, and about half the price of the major British companies.
We also have RAC cover through my personal bank account, and find them pretty good for UK cover.

ka · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 600 Location: Orkney.

We were with the Green Insurance Co, based in Glasgow, but swopped recently to Kwik-Fit, European cover, get you home all the tricks around half the RAC price.
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KA

Better three than four.

JP · Joined: 03 Jul 2015 Posts: 30 Location: Norfolk UK

My wife and I have personal cover with the AA.

I have noticed that there is sometimes an age limit for vehicles in the cover offered by others. One in particular (can't remember which) only covers cars up to 10 years old.

All our cars are older than 10 years!

Might be worth checking.......... Wink

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John '53 MG TD

Phil - Nottingham · Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 1252 Location: Nottingham

AA would not cover us for our classics (as over 10 years old) in RoI so we went for the RAC who had no limit for classic car club members in the scheme) and paid the Europe cover premiums £50 approx + annual sub for years without any claims. Last year we needed them because I miss-fueled with Derv on the way back home to the UK to catch the ferry.

They told me it was not covered, which I knew, but were totally unhelpful in sorting it out and more or less said its your problem. A passing Dublin Taxi driver helped us out and contacted AA Ireland and their mobile Fuel Assist van was with us within the hour to pump out 10 gallons of Derv and although we missed the ferry we had time to re-book the next one.

In the UK I have been a member of GEM and they get you a breakdown firm and you pay them and reclaim the cost from GEM. No hassle in the 3 times I have used it in the last 15 years (2 because of failure of the aftermarket expensive electronic ignition so I have gone back to points)

In no circumstances will we ever use the RAC again or recommend them and have not renewed our subs but GEM and AA Ireland are first class
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Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22786 Location: UK

Last time I used the AA was to bring home the Austin Devon, when its timing chain let go while queueing to leave a Tatton Park show Confused

RJ
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JohnDale · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2015 10:53 am Post subject:

7th June on the way to Thirlestane Castle for a show. 10 miles from home,the electric fuel pump failed. Phoned my recently joined breakdown service, 2gether insurance for the first time. Told them what the problem was & that parts would not be available on a Sunday morning,so would need uplifting to home. I was advised it was busy so would be 60 to 90 mins for the truck. 75 mins later truck was there & away we went. At home, the truck driver reversed into my difficult access drive & deposited my car into the carport.
Very impressed with the service & the cost is a fraction of RAC. Highly recommended on the strength of one breakdown. When I went to change the failed pump I found a kit in the boot I had made up with a spare MG pump & fittings which would fit into the fuel line under the bonnet as a 'get you home'
I'd forgotten all about making it!!! OK, it's old age. Spare pump is now mounted under the bonnet so I can't forget I have it.Cheers,JD.
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1958 Ford Zephyr Mk2 Convertible
1976 Ford Granada Ghia.

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

Thanks for all the advice lads, but I am still undecided Confused

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The Clan Chieftain

emmerson · Joined: 30 Sep 2008 Posts: 1268 Location: South East Wales

Someone mentioned vehicles over ten years not being covered. This usually only applies to foreign travel, but ADAC provide cover for older cars, as do Arrival with the RAC, (but only through the Caravan and Camping Club).
However, the get-out clause on this is that it is based on the car's value, if its over ten years old.
I found this out this year when my Range Rover wanted a rest in France. ADAC were concerned that it was "an old Range Rover", and therefore repatriation would cost more than the RR was worth.
They changed their mind when I pointed out that it was a rare LSE model, and agreed that it was probably worth £5 - 8,000, and did the recovery with no further problems.
As Classic owners, most of us would probably not have any problems with value, but many of us run "moderns" too, some of which may well be over ten years old, but with little value. Travelers beware!!!

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4236 Location: South Cheshire

So in the case of recovery costs being greater than the vehicles value, would the recovery firm compensate the owner for the vehicle loss?

Dave

emmerson · Joined: 30 Sep 2008 Posts: 1268 Location: South East Wales

Dave, I doubt that very much! It's very much a case of caveat emptor, I'm afraid.