Finding the Breakdown Cover That is Best for You
Posts tagged breakdown cover
Recommended break down cover for older cars?
Nov 19th
Have been on my parents policy for 5years with my mini as it was cheaper for them but as Im moving out soon thought I should get my own policy. My mini is 1979 but really reliable and just been restored so more like a newer car than a classic.
Was just wondering which is the best breakdown cover to go with, just in case. My dad knows quite a bit about cars so in the past have just rung him so wouldn’t need a mega covered one, just basics incase Im out somewhere.
Also I’m not sure what sort of cover to go for, the bacis ones or the added extra ones?
What is wrong with my car?
Oct 13th
I have a 1994 Vauxhall Astra 1.4ltr injection Automatic. It has had two lady owners before I purchased it and only had 63,000 miles in the clock. It had not done any motorway driving before I had it as the two previous owners never had need to drive on the motorway. However I do alot of motorway driving and this greatly increases the amount of fuel I go through as to get my car up to speed of 70mph I have to put it into sports mode which greatly increases the revs but it does get it to the speed I need otherwise my car would be quite happy to chug along at 50mph. When I am on the motorway I have to keep my foot pretty much to the floor to keep it at a constant speed of 70mph. I do not have kick back like most automatics have as I have noticed there is a restrictor under the gas peddle to stop you from flooring it. My car is not very efficient on speed or fuel I have replaced the spark plugs, put some special fluid into it that cleans the components as it runs, its similar to red ex but it is specifically for injection engines. I dont know what else I can do to try to fine tune it and get it to run as it should do.
When I am on the motorway or if I have had my foot pushed down on the peddle for a while I will suddenly get a scrapping noise of metal rubbing on something, easing off the gas does not help it sometimes makes it worse, to get it to stop I have to decrease my speed and let it cure itself. Which it always does but one day I am afraid it is going to break down on me, and I will be stuck in the middle of nowhere as I do not have breakdown cover. When this scrapping noise occurs I hear it first then I feel it in the gas peddle.
I hope this is nothing too serious as I really dont have the money to fix anything major. Was going to take it to a garage but would not have a clue what to say or what they would do for that matter? Also money is scarce so any useful advice you may be able to give me would be greatly appreciated.
I am in the United Kingdom by the way in case that helps. Thanks in advance
Can anyone give any advice on breakdown cover and people who try to rip you off?
Oct 5th
My car broke down 200 miles from home in Beds. on Sunday afternoon. I called my boyfriend who i’d just left who came down to help me and then we called Direct Line breakdown cover who sent a vehicle out within an hour, the guy looked at my car and diagnosed that I have a ruined head gaskett. He said that obviously there were no garages open in the area and it would cost near to £400 to tow me home but they could take it back to their depot which is a ‘police maintained safe storage facility’ and then said for me to ring up first thing Monday and they would give me numbers for local garages.
Sure enough they took the car away and I spent £52 to get the train home. Then I called up yesterday morning and they gave me the numbers for 2 local garages who I called amongst some others that I found online. I recieved quotes from £350 to £1200 ‘plus diagnostics’. My cousin who is a trained mechanic then got in touch and said he could fix it for £150 if I can get it home so I contacted some vehicle transport companies and was quoted £150 at the cheapest which was a pretty good improvement!
I spoke to the breakdown company again earlier and told them I have decided to get the car brought home and then fixed here (half of my belongings are still in the car and I want it home asap). the company said oh we can do that and quoted me £380 plus VAT so I told him that ive had quotes for £150 and all of a sudden he declares that i will have to pay a £92 storage charge (£80 + VAT!)
At NO POINT on Sunday or when ive spoken to them on the phone was a storage charge ever mentioned!! If it had have been then id have just arranged for it to be towed to my boyfriends (which wouldnt have been ideal as its an Army base therefore it would be tricky getting people on and off base but still preferable to paying that!)
I was absolutely fuming and called Direct Line straight away and explained this whole situation, and said that it is their job to pick my car up and take it to a garage where it can be fixed but it is not my fault that there were no garages open on the sunday. Also the fact that i am up north doesnt help as i could do is ring around garages on the monday to get quotes, and most of them took all day to get back to me. I couldnt just go and collect the car myself.
So then I was on hold for ages whilst the claims people contacted the recovery company who told direct line that id not contacted them at all (not true), they also told them that their charges were £20 a day plus VAT and that they would not release my car until it was paid.
Direct Line then pretty much washed their hands of me leaving me to deal with the recovery company (who was commissioned out by them). Also I cannpot understand how they can justify charging me £80 plus VAT if it is £20 plus VAT a day… the car hasnt even been there for 48 hours yet.
It seems like my only option is to pay this charge and get the car collected and out of there ASAP and then complain again to Direct Line. Ive been their customer for 9 years, car insurance and breakdown cover. I like how they are keen to take your money off you but im not quite sure what exactly ive paid for here apart from to be completely ripped off.
Has anyone ever had any dealings with this type of scenario before? Or does anyone know where I stand if I want to complain because I really cannot stand being ripped off like this. Is it legal for a company to charge you and keep hold of your property without telling you beforehand they are going to charge you for it, and how much they are going to charge you? I have a little slip they asked me to sign reporting the collection but absolutely nothing mentioned anywhere verbal or written about ‘storage charges’. The said charges were only brought up about an hour ago when I said i wanted to use another company to transport my car home!! Bit fishy…
And surely it is direct lines responsibilty as they are the ones I pay for my breakdown cover? I’ve spent the last 2 days at work not DOING any work cos im trying to get this sorted out ASAP. It drives me mad how so many people in this country are out to rip people off, its already happened to me once being ripped off by a car garage when it went in for its annual service, they carried out a load of work after they caused damage to my car and refused to give me even a rough idea how much it would cost until they had finished 9 days later and slapped me with a bill of nearly £900. then refused to even budge in dropping the price. im not prepared to get ripped off again!!!! My cars only worth £1000 at MOST.
Thanks in advance for any answers, sorry its long!
Thanks, good advice, its crap cos if theyd have told me about the charge then id have certainly sent it back to my boyfriends.. and they knew we had that option too but we just said it would be quite awkward. He could see me umming and ahhing to make a decision as i wasnt sure but not once said we can take it but we’ll charge. As for charging me for 4 days when its been 2… just stupid ![]()
Yep I think thats whats happened… if id have asked them to ship my car theyd have probably waived it.
its so unfair not to mention it though. Im currently waiting for a guy to get back to me who may be able to collect it ASAP… got my fingers crossed..!!
I DO have breakdown cover however its done absolutely NOTHING for me.
I do not have an attitude problem I just appreciate honesty.. not being ripped off with 4 days worth of charges when my cars been in 2 days, and charges that i was never told about.
Unfortunately times are hard for all of us but we dont all go around deceiving people who pay for a service they dont recieve.
Charges paid (funnily they have been reduced to what they should have been now…)
And i’ve found someone to collect AND deliver my car today for £145. Excellent ![]()
Black Panther – I think it is you that has the attitude problem. Or maybe ive just hiot s sore spot somehow. Im not blaming anyone NOR am i saying that the car breaking down is not my fault NOR am i saying that i shouldnt have to pay ANYTHING, i am saying that if i had been properly informed beforehand then i would have made totally different decisions as to what happened to my car and that i appreciate upfront honesty and fair service. not being ripped off.
they know they were trying it on as the charge has been reduced to the CORRECT daily amount after direct line spoke to them and ive found someone to bring the car home for £145 which just goes to show that £450 is a rip off.
thank you.
ive spoken to many people also in the same industry who have also agreed with me.
Should I sell my Corsa or not?
Sep 23rd
Hello all
Bought my first car a 1994 Corsa for £430 3 weeks ago, brokedown 3 times, I thought it was battery but turns out it was cam belt that had caused damage to engine pistons/valves that are now bent and need replacing at a cost of £350 as well as the cam belt at £125! Now, considering I am still paying £67 a month for insurance and breakdown cover, should I cut my losses and just sell it for cheap to a mechanic who may be interested, or should I fork out the money and hope the car is worth it??? Now, I know the car was dirt cheap, but it was all I could afford at the time and YES i should have taken a mechanic with me, but all these lessons I have learnt, so please no lectures or rude comments! I just dont know what to do? Ps, have been told these cars last a long time, although it 13 years old already.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Thanks guys
Car or Motorbike costs? I am considering the pros and cons.?
Sep 20th
Help me decide. I was considering using a bike to get to work instead of the car, but am unsure of the total costs? is it that much cheaper than a car? considering tires, fuel, insurance, tax, breakdown cover, and the like, any help on the subject would be gratefully received, although I would prefer answers from people that have done both please, I can contemplate too, and don’t care for stupid thoughts from people without a clue.
I Quick addition…
I sold my last bike last October, and was considering a CBR600 F, Triumph Sprint ST, VFR800 Vtec, or a Fazer1000 for the use of commuting to work. additional info would be cool
Ive just locked my blue Fiat key in the boot of my Punto.?
Sep 17th
Like an idiot! I just rang my breakdown cover and they told me because its happened outside my house they would have to charge a £90 call out charge.
Whats the cheapest option for me? Anybody know any tricks to get in a Y reg Punto boot. It is my only key.
Otherwise how much am I looking to spend?
Help!!
Its quite an old Punto. Y reg.
Are you with Quinn Direct? Need help!?
Sep 14th
I’m 20 years old + bought my first car today. It’s a little 1.4 Rover Metro.. I’m on Confused.com + Moneysupermarket.com trying to get the best insurance quote.. Both come up with Quinn Direct as the cheapest by over £100. However it doesn’t give you details as to what the breakdown cover entails! There phone lines closed an hour ago + I’m eager to know.
For anyone who’s with Quinn, what does the breakdown cover actually offer? If it’s not great, I have no problem getting seperate cover with the AA as it’s only £12 a month.. But I don’t want to pay out with them, if Quinn offer a good enough breakdown package.
Basically my Dad said some companies he’s seen, have such crap cover, they’ll liturally come out, stay for 30 mins, if they can’t fix it, they’ll leave you. I don’t want anything snazzy, but need to know I’ll be towed to a garage if it’s not fixable, or home.
I’ve also opted in for windscreen cover.. The website isn’t very informative!!
Someone please help
)
I just had a look at what other people asked about Quinn + someone who claims to work for them, said that they’ll only give you break down cover if the car is 15 years old or younger.. Mine is 14 years old.. Does this mean next year I wont be able to go with them?? Is this even true?
Thanks guys.. Going to go with Quinn for 1 year (as next year my car will be 15 years old) + get AA cover as well
)
My Corsa has just broken down, was driving along, engine light came on and it conked out, whats wrong with it?
Aug 30th
Managed to get it started but it still conked out/seemed like it has stalled 5 times getting it to the car park just up the road.
Anyway, whats likely to be wrong with it? I’m so annoyed! I’ll have to get it towed with my break down cover home, but how much will it be to tow it to a garage?
Also the actual cost of repair of what you think it might be?
If this is any help, it has been a bit weird today, sounding like it’s going out of gear, stupidly I still drove it, being the daft cow that I am! (Only had it for a month, it’s my first car!)
I pulled over as soon as it came on, but just after it came up, the car stalled.
We’re with Green Flag, being a Sunday, I’ll have to get it towed home, and then to a garage. (Very annoying)
I don’t know what light it is, it’s the one with the little thunder sign, haha…that’s the only way I can describe it.
Is this going to be expensive? I’m just about to sell the car so it might not be worth doing.
Yes, there is oil. Got it topped up in the morning, actually.
There was a problem with my breakdown cover coming out, they said I wasn’t covered (I am) Luckily I was in a car park that will call out the RAC for you for free and tow you home. The guy said my car was damp, got it started and off I went.
Only problem now is the almost popping out of gear. Hopefully it will be ok and won’t break down again? Selling it within two weeks to move abroad to a better place. ![]()
Car Breakdown Cover?
Aug 28th
Is it better to have vehicle cover or personal cover? Never had any breakdown cover before so not really sure which one to go for. As far as I can see personal cover seems better because if my boyfriends car were to break down they would come out to fix that too. any help appreciated thanks!
Has anyone heard of ‘AutoAid Breakdown Recovery Insurance’? And if so, what do you think?
Aug 27th
It appears to be a breakdown service with a difference, in that you pay the costs yourself and then recover them from the insurance company (Boncaster).
The premium seems to be a lot cheaper than the usual breakdown cover. I’ve been quoted £37 for the year.
I will be grateful to hear of anyones experiences. Thanks
Europ Assistance Break Down Cover?
Aug 22nd
Hiya
Just bought my first car and am looking for breakdown cover. I have already ruled out some companies but am hopefully going to go with Europ Assistance. Does anyone else have breakdown cover with them and if so, how good are they?
Motorcycle breakdown cover in Europe?
Aug 18th
Currenty looking for breakdown cover in Europe when I take my BMW K100 over in september for 10 days, Any suggestions?
Cheapest European Breakdown Cover?
Aug 18th
Do you know which is the cheapest breakdown cover for europe? I only really need a single trip (if they do those)
Should I sell my Corsa or not?
Oct 2nd
Posted by admin in Compare Breakdown Cover
11 comments
Hello all
Bought my first car a 1994 Corsa for £430 3 weeks ago, brokedown 3 times, I thought it was battery but turns out it was cam belt that had caused damage to engine pistons/valves that are now bent and need replacing at a cost of £350 as well as the cam belt at £125! Now, considering I am still paying £67 a month for insurance and breakdown cover, should I cut my losses and just sell it for cheap to a mechanic who may be interested, or should I fork out the money and hope the car is worth it??? Now, I know the car was dirt cheap, but it was all I could afford at the time and YES i should have taken a mechanic with me, but all these lessons I have learnt, so please no lectures or rude comments! I just dont know what to do? Ps, have been told these cars last a long time, although it 13 years old already.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Thanks for your responses but even now the responses are about 50/50!!!!!!! Might just pull it out of a hat.