View Poll Results: Which car rescue service would you recommend?

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  • AA

    6 40.00%
  • RAC

    5 33.33%
  • Green Flag

    1 6.67%
  • Other - please post below

    3 20.00%
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Thread: Rescue Services

  1. #1
    Registered User Twirly's Avatar
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    Rescue Services

    I need to join one - do I chose the AA, the RAC or one of the other ones?

    What level of cover should I go for - all singing all dancing but expensive, basic, somewhere inbetween?

    I don't need the car to get to work, so apart from going on holiday/away for the weekend, it breaking down at home wouldn't be a total disaster most of the time (though the holiday in Cornwall would be caput without it).

    Any thoughts/experiences would be appreciated, and if you've got other breakdown companies that aren't in the poll, then please post about them and why the are good/bad.

  2. #2
    Registered User Lynn's Avatar
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    Re: Rescue Services

    I'm in the AA.

    Basic package, if it breaks down at home its no big deal, my local garage is in the village where I live. Its roadside cover I need.

    Cost wise it was the same as the RAC.

    I went for the AA as I had been out with a friend once when her car broke down in a shopping centre car park. They came out and took us to the holiday cottage where were staying to collect our stuff, took myself and another friend home and took my friend home (in the opposite direction). They made sure we all got home safely, even though that meant a detour and were friendly and helpful. That was enough of a recommendation for me.

    Never had to use them, but it does give me peace of mind if driving anywhere by myself, esp at night.

  3. #3
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    Re: Rescue Services

    we got cover with our insurance - and they have been fantastic

    1st time Motorway heading to Cambridgeshire and car just looses power - manage to get into emergency lane - they were out in about 30-40 minutes at most - they towed car to garage I think

    2nd time Motorway heading home from London - strange scrapping sound - get off flyover pull over and there is a dangling muffler - called them via the roadside emergency phone - (mobile was flat don't ask) - took about 45 minutes to get to me as they had to drive past me and basically into London and back to get to me.. they towed the car all the way to Reading and if I had been thinking clearly would have towed it straight to garage rather than the house.

    the insurance company is the one with the red phone as their sort of mascot - maybe check their website and see who they use?

    When I was in Scotland I had RAC cover - mid level - pretty much enough to get me back home if I broke down somewhere dark and dreary in the middle of the night

  4. #4
    Papa Smurf
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    Re: Rescue Services

    from what ive heard, choosing between AA and RAC is down to whether you like Orange or Yellow better as colours

    dunno about Green Flag.

  5. #5
    Registered User Rebecca's Avatar
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    Re: Rescue Services

    Check out what cover you have already without knowing it.

    At one point I was covered by the RAC, by a company linked in to my insurance company and with Honda as my car's in warranty! Shows I really should read the small-print.

  6. #6
    Ceroc N.I. Franchise Owner drathzel's Avatar
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    Re: Rescue Services

    I am covered by AA through the warrenty on my car and through Southern Rock partners through my insurance. One does one thing and one does another and i dont have to pay for either so its great.

  7. #7
    Registered User Keefy's Avatar
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    Re: Rescue Services

    I've been with the RAC for many, many years. Used them on several occasions with no problems whatsoever. One of the main differences is the car recovery service - RAC Recovery vs AA Relay. Relay can take you ages to get home, they take you a few hundred miles, dump you, wait for a few hours, another relay truck... Recovery is just that, on the back of the truck, straight home no problems.

    Besides - the AA is now part of the SAGA group : All AA vans will be limited to 47.5 MPH down the middle lane of empty motorways

  8. #8
    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
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    Re: Rescue Services

    Quote Originally Posted by Keefy View Post
    Besides - the AA is now part of the SAGA group : All AA vans will be limited to 47.5 MPH down the middle lane of empty motorways
    And, amazingly, they don't pay any corporation tax, despite making stonking profits, because they're paying interest on the massive debts they got lumbered with as soon as they were bought by a private equity company - said debts paying off the loans the equity company took out to buy the company in the first place. You've gotta admire the simplicity of it all...

    OK, OK, it's off-topic. Sorry

  9. #9
    Registered User Missy D's Avatar
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    Re: Rescue Services

    I have been with Green Flag, Rac and the AA

    Green Flag (the Income support of all breakdowns). They didnt show on 2 occasions that I called them up. On the Way to Newbury the other day I drove into the services and this poor woman was stranded. She had Green Flag recovery for her van but, they refused to touch it as she hadnt stated that is was a trade van.

    RAC I found they were good but they always took so long in getting to me.

    AA for me is the best by far. They helped me the other day in the services along with the lady stranded by Green Flag. Also if you read my 'locking nuts' thread you will see just how helpful they were to me. I didnt even have Home Start yet they did a courtesy visit and didnt even charge me. They were also with me within 10 minutes of my call

    Works out cheaper if you get your insurance with the AA or the RAC too. I think you save about £100.

  10. #10
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    Re: Rescue Services

    Whatever co you choose, don't go with Direct Line.

    I got stuck late at night on the A12 once in the pouring rain and my wipers packed up. I manged to get to a petrol station and phone them up. I was on hold for 20 mins, then my phone credit ran out. I had to drive home with my head out of the window so I could see where I was going. Luckily there were no other cars on the road.

    God knows how much longer I would have to have waited to be connected if I had not run out of credit. Imagine if i was stuck in the middle of nowhere and broken down. No phone credit left and no one coming to the rescue. Thats just not on. I cancelled with them the next day.

  11. #11
    Registered User Northants Girly's Avatar
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    Re: Rescue Services

    I've been with Britannia Rescue for years. They've always been quick to get to me and their prices are usually less then AA and RAC.

  12. #12
    Registered User Mythical's Avatar
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    Re: Rescue Services

    There's a good and bad side to all of them, I guess....the only thing to choose between theim is whose membership card goes best with your wallet?

    I've had bad experiences with the AA, (left me alone on a dark road in the middle of nowhere for 4 hours/turned up expecting to fix the car, even after I told them the engine was dead) Known people who have had bad experiences with the RAC (dropped their car off the side of the flatbed whilst unloading!!), and Green flag (simple rudeness).

    I've learned, now, and my roadside rescue is in a red, tin box under the back seat of my car. My Mum always insists that I tick the box on the insurance form, but I never needed it. (Yes, the car IS off the road now - but that's more to do with me being broke than it being broke)

  13. #13
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    Re: Rescue Services

    The RAC are brilliant, since I joined I have not broken down once

  14. #14
    Registered User TurboTomato's Avatar
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    Re: Rescue Services

    Quote Originally Posted by Twirly View Post
    I need to join one - do I chose the AA, the RAC or one of the other ones?

    What level of cover should I go for - all singing all dancing but expensive, basic, somewhere inbetween?

    I don't need the car to get to work, so apart from going on holiday/away for the weekend, it breaking down at home wouldn't be a total disaster most of the time (though the holiday in Cornwall would be caput without it).

    Any thoughts/experiences would be appreciated, and if you've got other breakdown companies that aren't in the poll, then please post about them and why the are good/bad.
    Quote Originally Posted by Dreadful Scathe View Post
    from what ive heard, choosing between AA and RAC is down to whether you like Orange or Yellow better as colours

    dunno about Green Flag.


    I've always been with the RAC until recently and they were pretty good - unfortunately I had recourse to use them a few times . When my Lotus cracked a crankshaft at Bruntingthorpe I got a few miles down the road before deciding it was terminal and rang them and asked for a flatbed to be sent rather than a van as it wasn't going anywhere and it couldn't be towed on the axle and they obliged. At that point I didn't know where to put the car in to be fixed so they dropped it off at my home address and then when I'd found a local Lotus specialist (which was about 30 miles from home!) the next morning, they despatched another flat bed to come and collect the car and drop it off at the garage. I was impressed with that!

    When my friends turbo went on his car at another trackday we used my cover and although it took a while, they despatched another flat bed which took us from Castle Combe (near Bath) to London. Didn't cost either of us a penny. They came out and sorted a flat battery on another friends car, which was a bit borderline - but they still did it.

    In terms of cover it sounds like you need Roadside and Recovery - ok you could just make do with Roadside (the big 2 tend to offer this for about £40) but if your car breaks down they will just drop you at the nearest garage to have it fixed - not ideal if you're 200 miles from home and on your way back. Recovery will get you and your car back home, if that's where you need it.

  15. #15
    Registered User Lynn's Avatar
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    Re: Rescue Services

    Quote Originally Posted by TurboTomato View Post
    In terms of cover it sounds like you need Roadside and Recovery - ok you could just make do with Roadside (the big 2 tend to offer this for about £40) but if your car breaks down they will just drop you at the nearest garage to have it fixed - not ideal if you're 200 miles from home and on your way back. Recovery will get you and your car back home, if that's where you need it.
    I'll need to check what I have. I know I didn't opt for Homestart (or whatever its called) - though I think I may get one per year. Never had to use any cover, but I do think I have the one that takes me home too. (Not that I'm ever too far from home!)

  16. #16
    Registered User Mezzosoprano's Avatar
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    Re: Rescue Services

    Thunderbirds are Go!!!!!!

    Sorry, you said rescue services and all I could really think of was International Rescue - I reckon they'd send thunderbird 2 or may be just send Parker with Lady Penelope's Rolls, to give you a lift M'lady..

  17. #17
    Registered User Beowulf's Avatar
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    Re: Rescue Services

    not being a driver I can't really say. But green flag is the only one I have had experience with. On a camping holiday many years back our car boke down on the far side of loch ness in the middle of nowhere.

    They sent out a guy who looked at the car, determined the head gasket was gone and we'd filled the engine with water (neither of us mechanically minded) he then towed us to Granton upon spey, swapped with someone else who towed us all the way back to Aberdeen..

    I would probably pick AA though that said.. they're a much bigger organisation and I like the idea of several hundred singing AA guys appearing over the horizon everytime I break down!

    (what do you mean it's "just an advert"? )

  18. #18
    Registered User Twirly's Avatar
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    Re: Rescue Services

    Quote Originally Posted by Beowulf1970 View Post
    we'd filled the engine with water (neither of us mechanically minded)
    *makes a mental not NEVER to let Beo anywhere near the engine!*

  19. #19
    Registered User Mezzosoprano's Avatar
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    Re: Rescue Services

    You filled the engine with WATER?!?! Oh My!! Depending on how long ago that was... what was the back of beyond is probably now a suburb of the ever growing Inverness!

    However, to the issue in hand.... do you mean that I've paid my AA membership and several hundred hunky, mechanically minded, rescue men are NOT GOING TO COME AND RESCUE ME (whilst singing "I'll come running, to see you again!").... I'm gutted!

  20. #20
    Omnipotent Moderator Tiggerbabe's Avatar
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    Re: Rescue Services

    I've called the AA out twice in the last five years, one of the gentlemen who came to my aid was indeed hunky the other was......ehrm, how should I put this, less so.
    "If you rebel against high heels, take care to do so in a very smart hat.'' George Bernard Shaw

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