So, had a letter in the post from Skoda UK to say my 3 years roadside assistance I got when I bought the car 3 years ago is due to run out in January, I can add another year for £89, but my question is, is what's best? Do I carry on using Roadside assistance or choose something else, Green Flag, RAC etc, what's peoples experience and such like, sorry if it's a lot of ask, but would like the best cover should the inevitable happen (and hopefully it's in the correct section, if not mods are free to move )

Depends, if you're driving in normal hours, I'd say RAC, but outside of office hours they'll just send a monkey with a spanner "approved contractor", who are mostly utterly ****ing clueless. I had one tell me my driveshaft making death noises was probably my speedo cable and it was safe to drive.

Strangely he couldn't show me where my speedo cable is... Mainly because my cars 20 years too new to have one.

The VAG contract is currently with the RAC iirc. Essentially all manufacturers will have a contract with one of the main ones. Usually it's either rebranded and retrained aa or rac (i used to work for the latter) Essentially, the rac and the aa are identical pretty much on service and price (offers notwithstanding) but they are the most expensive on average. If you want to stay with skoda (branded rac) it's a good price as if you went direct, it would probably be a fair bit more. It's essentially risk based pricing and as you have a newer car, the probability of breakdown is lower etc

Point to note is that the Skoda patrols will carry a solely vag spares so will likely have that coil pack you need when it's rush hour.

Try getting a price from green flag. I wouldn't be surprised if its about the same but you need to make sure you compare Apples with apples in regards to the level of cover.

Edited 10 December, 201510 yr by Mallettsmallett

Britannia Rescue, Cheaper than the RAC and have come top in lots of Which reports.

Got 3yr cover with the Accord which I've used once after leaving an interior light on before going on holiday.

 

Got the AA who turned up after about 45min and were very nice blokes.

 

Never used any other breakdown service in anger although I was a Green Flag member for a year.

 

Sister used Tesco which seemed to utilise random local garages but worked out ok for her on a couple of occasions.

Edited 10 December, 201510 yr by Aspman

RAC for me purchased with Tesco Boost Points for a few years now, Full Cover for 5 family members.

Had good use and service from this.

 

But there is this.

http://insurance.briskoda.net

Edited 10 December, 201510 yr by GoneOffskiroottoot

Hi,

Please feel free to check out our breakdown offering below.

https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/breakdown/

Regards,

Dan.

Bugger that, I've had your van insurance. I bet you've got even more ways of getting out of honouring a breakdown policy. 

Spill the beans then.

Full story is best, what happened and what did they do.  Fairer than leaving it hanging?

The VAG contract is currently with the RAC iirc.

I thought it was with the AA, not that it matters http://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/on-the-road/roadside-assistance

 

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/assistance

So, had a letter in the post from Skoda UK to say my 3 years roadside assistance I got when I bought the car 3 years ago is due to run out in January, I can add another year for £89, but my question is, is what's best? Do I carry on using Roadside assistance or choose something else, Green Flag, RAC etc, what's peoples experience and such like, sorry if it's a lot of ask, but would like the best cover should the inevitable happen (and hopefully it's in the correct section, if not mods are free to move )

Check the level of cover you have with Skoda Assistance, I think you'll find that for £89 you won't find better.

 

.......Malletsmallet, it has been the AA covering VAG for a few years now. It may be (or not) a VW Assist liveried van that attends, regardless he/she is employed by the AA.

Which ever you go for, sign up to quidco or similar to get the cashback! There are usually some excellent deals with breakdown cover.

I was with the AA for many years & only had to call them twice,once when my clutch cable snapped & they came out quickly & carried out a repair to get me home & another time when my battery terminal melted,this time they sent out a contractor as it was very early in the morning,he was crap,i ended up fixing my car myself using his tools....sadly they kept putting up their prices every year & when i questioned it a couple of years ago i got a very rude lady who said pay or leave...we dont care...so i left & joined the RAC,ive not had a issue to use them over the last few years but they reduce my premium every year if i havent called them out,i have the cover that covers me in any car.

Spill the beans then.

Full story is best, what happened and what did they do.  Fairer than leaving it hanging?

 

Think I've put it before, but - short version.....

 

1st time I was insured with Flux, was a kit car. They cancelled the policy after a month and kept all the money because I didn't tell them it was modified..... errrr..... of course it's modified, it used to be a Sierra.

 

2nd time I was insured with flux (10 years on), sent all my documents back in as requested and they said I didn't, so I sent them again, they said I didn't, so they cancelled the policy, called me a liar and tried to keep all the money.

 

You can just imagine what's going to happen when you're sat roadside in the rain with the bonnet up and they've got the choice of paying someone to come and mend your car, or finding an excuse to cancel the policy and keep all your money.

RAC in GB starter failure within 40 min and they were there (3 times) late at night. Same RAC cover in NI and they only send out wombles, -7Deg C coolant pipe split no coolant 100% stranded on a busy road in dark, no heat, no power and 7.5 hours after the first 2 of their contractors refused to go apparently.... No roadside assistance aspect carried out here only recovery also. For basic cover from them looking the other day which since I live close to the border with the Republic of Ireland they want to triple the price for an even vaguer service. 

 

This place seem to have some great prices, no idea how they are, but for me a random contractor in a death trap 25 year old beaver tail transit from RAC can't really be hard to beat. http://www.drive24-7.com/

Which ever you go for, sign up to quidco or similar to get the cashback! There are usually some excellent deals with breakdown cover.

 

That's a good call you can get some significant % back with breakdown.

RAC is cheaper if you go with Car cover rather than personal cover.

I was with the AA for many years & only had to call them twice,once when my clutch cable snapped & they came out quickly & carried out a repair to get me home & another time when my battery terminal melted,this time they sent out a contractor as it was very early in the morning,he was crap,i ended up fixing my car myself using his tools....sadly they kept putting up their prices every year & when i questioned it a couple of years ago i got a very rude lady who said pay or leave...we dont care...so i left & joined the RAC,ive not had a issue to use them over the last few years but they reduce my premium every year if i havent called them out,i have the cover that covers me in any car.

 

I have been with the AA for 25 years or so now and have threatened to leave a couple of times due to the price going up. I quote an equivilent service cover from say, the RAC and the AA have always matched the price to keep me as a member. So the AA are open to negotitian!!

 

We have used the AA 4 times over the past 10 years, 3 which involved recovery. A clutch failure and wheelbearing failure on my partners Ford Fusion. And a dual mass flywheel failure and turbo blown on my Octavia. Never any problems.

Think I've put it before, but - short version.....

 

 

2nd time I was insured with flux (10 years on), sent all my documents back in as requested and they said I didn't, so I sent them again, they said I didn't, so they cancelled the policy, called me a liar and tried to keep all the money.

 

 

Did you send them RMSD?

I use start rescue

Sent from my Galaxy S5

I have been with the AA for 25 years or so now and have threatened to leave a couple of times due to the price going up. I quote an equivilent service cover from say, the RAC and the AA have always matched the price to keep me as a member. So the AA are open to negotitian!!

 

We have used the AA 4 times over the past 10 years, 3 which involved recovery. A clutch failure and wheelbearing failure on my partners Ford Fusion. And a dual mass flywheel failure and turbo blown on my Octavia. Never any problems.

They tried the day after to get me to go back to them,offered me all sorts & a apology for their staff.....sadly there is no second chance with me....fek me over & thats it....over with. 

RAC is cheaper if you go with Car cover rather than personal cover.

Not for me it wasnt with 3 cars & the use of others which i wanted breakdown cover on. 

Did you send them RMSD?

 

Nope, but losing something once = unlucky, losing it twice smells of pure bull to me.

 

After the member of staff called me a liar, I did offer to send myself express delivery down there with the paperwork in hand, and strangely, they started to sort things out after that.

Edited 11 December, 201510 yr by StevesTruck

Have you looked at / considered AutoAid?

When I looked into new cover, (as the AA would not reduce my premiums upon renewal, as they had done the previous three years due to no call out's in five years) AutoAid looked to be very cost effective.

Iirc, you pay less than half of AA / RAC cost, but if you require recovery, they arrange it but you have to pay the Garage and then recover the costs back from AutoAid.

The reviews were very good iirc.

 

My problem was they do not cover trade, and I carry tools in my estate

You can view their claims form if you like, too, before committing. This was how I found out they do not cover trade as I wondered why they ask the reason for your journey on the claim form.

I've had RAC cover for a few years. Always been good when I needed them. 5 times in 10 yearsish. Had an air lock on an old Land Rover Discovery and they followed me home to make sure I had no issues. Clutch went in central London, recovered home. Top hose split on a V8 sorted a decent temporary repair. Once had a dud battery which always seemed to pass battery tests, but he tested it 3 times and failed on the last 2. Last Land Rover job I stood them.down because I fixed the issue with the starter motor not turning over. Only needed them once in the skoda, because some muppet managed to lock the keys in the boot.

Always been pleased with them to be honest