Breakdown cover - AA/RAC etc

[pegasus]

devitt insurance, with the option of breakdown cover by green flag

I get breakdown cover with my bike insurance and they've been really good when I've used them. I was with the AA but got sick of waiting 90mins+ every time I had the misfortune to have to use them.

lol, I had green flag free with a car a few years ago, would never rely on them again. At 11pm my car broke down and Green Flag couldn't find me when I was no more than 2 miles from junction 15 of the M4 along the A419. I gave up after 4 hours and called out someone else.

I'm with the RAC, they're not very good as they send a silly van first to tell you that obviously they don't have the parts you need, and then they have to call up head office and request a tow-van, rather than the stupid bint in the call centre actually listening to the mechanically aware motorbiker about what the problem is in the first place...

Rant over.

ER6 covered by free RAC breakdown
Honda - Honda Assistance, bennet breakdown option
Suzuki - Bennetts break down option
Plus all covered by personal breakdown cover by Britannia rescue (cover all bikes and cars!)

Slight over kill me thinks

I'm with the AA by Suzuki Assist.

My directline car insurance includes breakdown recovery for all named drivers, regardless of vehicle, but I've only ever used it on the car.

My bank (Smile) cover me for breakdowns anywhere in Europe regardless of vehicle, but I've not used them to date.

I think we're still paying for GreenFlag on the car as well, which I believe is another policy that covers the driver not the vehicle.

So I think that should I break down, I'm covered.

Originally Posted by Bluesteel

I'm with the RAC, they're not very good as they send a silly van first to tell you that obviously they don't have the parts you need, and then they have to call up head office and request a tow-van, rather than the stupid bint in the call centre actually listening to the mechanically aware motorbiker about what the problem is in the first place...

Rant over.

Same happened with me. I specifically told them that it was a motorcycle and that roadside repair was not possible. (fuel pump). Even so they still sent a van without trailer and the guy did not have a clue about motorcycles. What the hell point was that? This was also the same time that the eventually got me home and then dropped my bike off the side of the trailer.

Originally Posted by Lissa

Lookee.....................

http://www.devittinsurance.com/motor...ssistance.html

£70 for breakdown cover inc europe can anyone better this?

i can get uk cover for £35 then an extra £30+ on each europe trip im hoping to go at least twice so lissa's link is a better deal........... AFAIK

[JediGoat]

Originally Posted by BigApe

AA cover the person and not the vehicle which is very good. But you do need to have a specific vehicle listed for cover of parts and things. They will only cover one specific vehicle which is fair enough.

Really?

I've been with the AA for a number of years, changed cars, changed bikes, and they've still never asked for any detaills of my vehicles (other than for a call out).

Jo

Originally Posted by Bluesteel

I'm with the RAC, they're not very good as they send a silly van first to tell you that obviously they don't have the parts you need, and then they have to call up head office and request a tow-van, rather than the stupid bint in the call centre actually listening to the mechanically aware motorbiker about what the problem is in the first place...

Rant over.

Originally Posted by BigApe

Same happened with me. I specifically told them that it was a motorcycle and that roadside repair was not possible. (fuel pump). Even so they still sent a van without trailer and the guy did not have a clue about motorcycles. What the hell point was that? This was also the same time that the eventually got me home and then dropped my bike off the side of the trailer.

+1 to that ... that was with eBike insurance.
Came off and told them that my gear-change lever had snapped off ... yet they still sent a van out 1st "just in case he could have repaired it at the roadside" - well if it had been any of the knowledgable and fairly adept org'ers who have carried out this repair at the roadside then I could see their point, but they send out "car mechanics" who don't have a clue about bikes and don't carry bike spares and so they THEN call back to HQ for a tow-truck ... so in my case, I've now been sat at the side of the road for 40 minutes (with a throbbing ankle and "looking rather pale" according to the very nice RAC man) ... and now I have to wait a further 1.5 hours for the tow-truck to arrive (because he's stuck in traffic on the M6!)!

I spent the 1.5 hours talking to the RAC guy about classic cars - he was a nice bloke, and said he would wait with me because I didn't look well enough for him to leave me at the roadside. Anyway that's when he told me WHY the RAC do this ... it's all down to cost. It costs them something like £500 to send out a recovery truck. It only costs them £50 to send out a man in a van. So if the details passed on from yourself to the RAC control centre, to the call-out guy are in any way "unclear/uncertain", then they will ALWAYS send out the van first.

I've used Green Flag before now (in the car) and they took 58 mins to arrive one freezing cold February night a few years back ... 3 minutes longer I'd have had a few bob (think it was something like £15 - 20) compensation for having to wait more than an hour ... not that it would have been much consolation on a freezing night with no engine (and therefore no heat)!! Luckily, I always carry a blanket with me! Had heavy overcoat on, wooly hat, gloves, and my blanket wrapped around my legs and I was still bloody freezing!!