I use autoaid £59, they use whoever are the contractors for the particular area where the breakdown occurs.
Used them once when the Peugeot diesel died on me. Only had to wait about 20 mins, car was transported back home…then when I had diagnosed the issue a few days later they picked it up from home and took it to the diesel specialist…brilliant service
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Mine’s with ‘LV’ (discounted due to ‘CSMA’ membership) at a cost of £70 per year for Personal Cover, which covers you and your spouse/partner in any vehicle. I went for that as I want cover for the m’bike as well as the MX-5.
That doesn’t include Home Start, European Cover, Hire Car, Alternative Transport or Overnight Accommodation. However, they are all available at additional cost.
Even without the discount, I very much doubt the cost would be anywhere near £251.63 
!!!
Pretty sure ‘LV’ figure well in ‘Which?’ reviews.
Another recommendation for LV=. The MX5 and two “classics” are all covered as well as any vehicle in which I or the wife are travelling. The additional cost on the policy is a pittance.
I use flex plus nationwide bank account. I think 13/month provides travel insurance for family, phone insurance for family, breakdown -roadside and home cover. No increase in premiums for call outs. I’ve used a couple of times. Seems great value.
John.
Probably just as important as the cost is to check for what you are getting & read the small print. Some for example won’t cover cars over a certain age & have a limit on how far they will tow you.
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Well I’ve finally done some searching, read the small print etc, I think I’ll go with Rescue my car.
It will be for their personal cover, that covers me for any car I’m in as driver or passenger. So national recovery gets me cover for just under £50, I don’t need cover for outside of the UK.
If you use the service there’s a £40 excess charge. Working on the last time I used a breakdown service, I’ll have to think back (many years ago) I’ll take my chances.
Well timed this thread, today we have our renewal from green flag (part of direct line) this years cost £90.72, which is for ‘recovery plus’.too many features to list, you can go online to check out the features of this cover.
Try Autoaid, cheaper and ab excellent service.
Be wary of the breakdown cover offered on some bank accounts. Friends car broke down on holiday in Cornwall recently, phoned the cover he had and to his shock the car couldn’t be repaired roadside and the cover wouldn’t get his car back home to the Midlands. Had to leave his car down there at a garage to await a sensor and get a friend to do a 400 mile round trip to pick them up.
I’m also with Nationwide, this is the terms of coverage:
What it covers
Main content of page below
FlexPlus includes UK & European breakdown and recovery assistance. You’re covered in any eligible UK registered vehicle. If you breakdown and the vehicle you’re in can’t be repaired at the roadside, we’ll get you to your destination.
What’s included
- UK and European breakdown assistance for account holder(s) in any vehicle whether a driver or passenger, registered in the UK, that they are travelling in
- Cover for anyone driving one UK registered vehicle registered to the account holder and which is being used with his/her permission. Where the account is in joint names then up to two vehicles can be covered
- Assistance provided at home and at the roadside with national recovery and onward travel
- No call out limit *
- No excess to pay
Please read the full terms in the policy document (PDF) This will open a PDF document which may open in a new window (depending on how your browser is set up).
- Vehicles must be serviced and maintained in line with manufacturer guidelines and we will ask to see evidence of servicing, maintenance and repair if we believe the service is being used excessively
What’s not included
- The cost of replacement parts and associated labour to repair the vehicle
- Vehicles not registered to the account holder(s) unless the account holder(s) are in the vehicle at the time of breakdown and when the breakdown professional arrives
- Vehicles being used for hire and reward purposes (such as taxis)
- Vehicles that do not have a valid MOT, any applicable vehicle tax, or are not serviced or maintained in line with manufacturer guidelines
- Vehicles must not exceed any of the following dimensions when fully loaded:
- Caravans and trailers – 8 metres in length (including A-frame)
- Motorhomes – 8 metres in length or 7.5 tonnes in weight
- All other vehicles – 7 metres in length, 2.3 metres in width, 3 metres in height or 3.5 tonnes in weight
(Please see Sections 2 and 3 B of the policy document for further details on vehicle eligibility)* Vehicles not registered in the UK
- Vehicles using trade plates or where the vehicle is under the control of a motor trader for the purpose of its sale
Please read the full terms in the policy document (PDF) This will open a PDF document which may open in a new window (depending on how your browser is set up).
Who is covered?
- The FlexPlus account holder travelling in any UK registered vehicle
- Anyone travelling in a vehicle registered to the FlexPlus account holder, being used with their permission.
What I’ve noticed now with some companies they want to give you a “personal” quote. One headline on a companies page, Breakdown cover from £16. Now I tried finding what you get for £16 and failed, they wanted to give you a personal quote, so I guess it’s done on vehicle age/make/model etc.
Anyways it’s s bit of s minefield, I’ve changed my mind so many times on which company to go with, like insurance suck it and see, you only know what they are like when you need them.
That is so true, you pay your money and then hope that you never have to use them.
Currently looking at breakdown cover and seriously considering Start Rescue. Gets Which recommendation. Well worth a looking online at start rescue the 3star cover in particular. It even includes £100k Legal protection and all at a very reasonable price.
Doesn’t your car insurance have Motor Legal Expenses cover?
I am also about to insure my car at the same time as taking up a new breakdown policy.
Just intend to drop the legal protection add on in the car Insurance and take out a Breakdown cover separate from that offered by the car insurer. So no doubling up of Legal protection Cover.
So good point Countryboy, when considering Start Rescue so as not to risk unneccessary doubling up of Legal protection Cover.
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I’m looking at this since cover for cars older than 10 or 15 years is becoming increasingly awkward, and it looks good but there are two exclusions which bother me a bit.
Repeat breakdowns within 28 days, that is where service is requested to deal with the same
or similar cause of breakdown (including running out of fuel or charge) to that which the AA
attended within the preceding 28 days.
So if a repair isn’t successful or was misdiagnosed wtihin the previous month you may be stranded? StartRescue have a similar clause but as long as a garage had declared the repair completed, they won’t refuse to come again.
And for European:
Vehicle recovery to the territory or onward to original destination: Recovery where your vehicle only needs minor or inexpensive repairs, costing £500 or less, inclusive of VAT. (We may agree collection or an alternative means for you to return home with your vehicle in these circumstances if repairs cannot be completed by your booked return date).
Surely a lot of mechanical issues would cost less than £500 to repair? I understand why they wouldn’t want to carry you across Europe for the sake of less than £500 but that seems like an easy hurdle to fall at.
Refusing to rescue if it costs more than your vehicle is worth is interesting, I wonder how many old bangers wouldn’t qualify for that.