Green Flag or AA or RAC

Flutel
Flutel Forum Participant Posts: 113
edited July 2018 in Caravans #1

It's almost time to renew my breakdown insurance.  Before I renew again at £70 with Mayday Green Flag, can anyone recommend a cheaper but still efficient breakdown insurance for a car and (small) caravan?

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Comments

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
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    edited March 2017 #2

    I go with the other club which uses RAC and had one experience of using them and being rescued onwards.  I chose to go to my son's not home as my accident left me unable to drive and from home that would have been very complicated.  There was one hitch with the Call Centre but the rest of it was fine.  I have been seriously let down by the AA in the past so I wouldn't touch them personally but others must like them or they would go out of business.  Mayday seems to be very popular and efficient. 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited March 2017 #3

    Mayday(green flag) does what it says on the box,

  • KeefySher
    KeefySher Forum Participant Posts: 1,128
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    edited March 2017 #4

    Is that only the one day in a year? cool

  • triky auto
    triky auto Forum Participant Posts: 8,690
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    edited March 2017 #6

    undecided BUT   Only in the U.K   !!

    R.A.C  covers ALL my vehicles in the U.K and Europe wink.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited March 2017 #7

    I should hope you would only need them once at most unless your vehicle is in poor conditionwink

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited March 2017 #8

    None cover us on our trips abroadwink

  • dmiller555
    dmiller555 Forum Participant Posts: 717
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    edited March 2017 #9

    Greenflag offer European cover for an extra premium.

  • DianneT
    DianneT Forum Participant Posts: 521
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    edited March 2017 #10

    At a Cost for a limited period  We have for the last 11 years taken ADAC All Europe inc. UK for 1 year at around £96.according to exchange rate.  Includes some Medical Assistance and AirVac plus Home Start in the UK.  All Vehicles your drive or are passenger in.

    DianneT  

  • Greygit
    Greygit Forum Participant Posts: 167
    edited March 2017 #11

    Check out Saga, good for UK and Europe.

  • Heethers
    Heethers Forum Participant Posts: 641
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    edited March 2017 #12

    Had my monies worth out of Green flag to returns after breakdowns only waited 3/4 hour both occasions, three fixes at the side of the road, so Mayday all the time

  • ColBur
    ColBur Forum Participant Posts: 72
    edited March 2017 #13

    We have had to use Mayday and they were excellent at returning both our car (which had broken down) and also our 'van. We were returned in our car and our 'van followed separately another day, having been collected from the site where we were staying at when our car broke down 20 miles away. Good liaison between Green Flag and the site meant we did not have to wait around on site. Would not use anyone else and really good value as covers both our cars anywhere (in UK).

  • PITCHTOCLOSE
    PITCHTOCLOSE Forum Participant Posts: 658
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    edited March 2017 #14

    RAC / ADAC for Europe for get the rest, waste of money

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #15

    Mayday gives better cover than the standard from all other providers I have seen except the RAC scheme through the C&CC but that costs far more. Stick with Mayday unless you are going abroad when the RAC offering might be worth looking at.

  • Flutel
    Flutel Forum Participant Posts: 113
    edited March 2017 #16

    Thanks for the replies. I've used Mayday since the get go.  I was even persuaded to sign up for automatic renewal (for a £35 M&S voucher, which they never sent, in the end).  I just wondered if there was better value for money to be had than the £70 I will soon need to pay.

     

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited March 2017 #17

    I insist on having all my insurances on automatic renewal including Mayday. I can always review the renewal quote anyway but should I be in hospital at renewal or away in the caravan etc I know that I will be insured.

  • Chipping
    Chipping Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited March 2017 #18

    My renewal with RAC has just come up. Slightly shocked to discover that they define a caravan as not exceeding 7 metres overall, and as our is 7.2 seems an issue. Considering Green Flag, as the policy seems to have good terms, but then I googled reviews and frankly they're nothing short of horrendous, trust pilot scoring for example is only 4.7 out of ten. I know these review sites can be somewhat unreliable, but unless there's some sort of concerted campaign against Green Flag, it's to say the least very disconcerting. Don't know what to think now, and left slightly wondering about this being an approved club supplier...

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited March 2017 #19

    I am a Mayday member which has some bonuses for a caravanner especially over Green Flag

    In the last 8 years I have called out Green Flag as a Mayday member on 6 occasions I think. One was for an 8 hour recovery Journey. 

    Intercooler blowing - 8 years ago. Recovered from Fort William to Chester.

    Stone caused a pin hole leak in power steering cooling pipe. Car taken to local garage when part was in.

    Puncture.

    Needed them to check brakes as I cannot see close up too well. Chip out of disc Christmas eve. Their driver made a phone call and arranged for me to take the car to a local garage first day after boxing day.

    Flat battery as left lights on.

    Coil spring snapped and ripped tyre. Recovered home and then car picked up at my convenience and taken to local garage when I had organised a repair. 

    All were there within 30 mins except flat battery when it was an hour and I received a refund. I was not too worried as I was 100 yards away in a pub with a coffee whilst waiting. These happened, Fort William area Scotland, Flintshire in Wales, Southport, Wirral and on site at Sandringham.

    When we were recovered with intercooler problem enginner took 20 mins to arrive and had to wait 30 mins for recovery vehicle.

    Oh, forgot, welded bracket failed on exhaust. Greenflag chap re affixed dropped pipe and wired up to replace failed bracket using some wire I purchased from a garden centre so that I could complete journey rather than be recovered and taken later, if needed, to my local exhaust centre. Again response time was good.

    OK, I have had my moneys worth but have also got no complaints

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #20

    Sorry but for the cover you get the £70 is a bargain. Trying to save on what is probably the best break down service for caravans could easily be false and I for one would not go anywhere except the clubs Mayday. The C&CC, RAC cover is basically the same but far more expensive.

  • Eribanaut
    Eribanaut Forum Participant Posts: 26
    edited July 2018 #21

    I have had two annual bad experiences with Mayday/Green Flag, both resulting in apologies and compensation, but not enough for a ruined holiday.

    I have issues with The Club's endorsement, as I believe that Mayday does not give the full peace of mind that their Mayday service should provide for the average member.

    I am also surprised to find that some members only pay £70, my renewal is £103.50.

     

  • johndailey
    johndailey Forum Participant Posts: 520
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    edited July 2018 #22

    I have also used Green Flag and have not a bad word to say about them. Could somebody educate me and tell me if there is a difference between Mayday Green Flag and Green Flag, or are they one and the same thing?

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,671 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2018 #23

    There is a difference. 

    Mayday is a policy with the Caravan And Motorhome Club.  The CAMC use the Green Flag network to carry out the terms of their policy.  If you take out your policy with the Green Flag direct, your policy is different and so your cover will be different.  The cover supplied by MayDay is specifically designed for the caravanner.  It includes things like 'double cover': if you break down while towing, on the way to a pre-booked site the policy entitles you to be taken to the site, and if your car cannot be repaired, they will tow you back home again at the e d of your holiday.  Also, if your Caravan breaks down that will be attended to and recovered if it can't be repaired etc.

    Always check the details of all cover as there are different levels of cover with both May day and Green Flag.

    David

  • Sandgroper
    Sandgroper Forum Participant Posts: 210
    edited July 2018 #24

    Stick with Mayday would be my advice. Only used it a couple of times in twenty years or so, but they were effective and very reassuring! 

    Petrol in my diesel (my fault!). Called them out mid afternoon on a Saturday. Picked up car, van and occupants. Driven to garage (5.30pm). Fuel pumped out and refilled, filter changed, back on the road.

    Would the garage have been 'open' in UK? 

  • Eribanaut
    Eribanaut Forum Participant Posts: 26
    edited July 2018 #25

    Do any of you Mayday enthusiasts caravan with your dog(s)...and have you looked up the T&C's regarding their recovery?.....

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2018 #26

    Yes, it’s been discussed before and is, I think, pretty general across the various recovery companies.

  • Eribanaut
    Eribanaut Forum Participant Posts: 26
    edited July 2018 #27

    Except that the RAC will give you a hire car without question if you don't want to put your dog n the back of a truck, in 30+ degrees for hours on end.

    That is not the case with Mayday.

  •  viatorem
    viatorem Forum Participant Posts: 645
    edited July 2018 #28

    I got caught out on club insurance auto renewal, new for old clicked over - nothing highlighted in renewal docs. Van was nicked and written off 2 weeks into new policy, even though I was covered for the value of new van price - nothing doing. Expensive lesson learned. -

  •  viatorem
    viatorem Forum Participant Posts: 645
    edited July 2018 #29

    has anybody tried this insurer? I think they have an ad in one or other of the club mags

    https://www.driverguardian.co.uk/breakdowncover

    They also do motor legal protection as a personal policy which is interesting if you have multiple vehicles, I could save £70 by deleting my 3 individual vehicle legal cover and taking out a personal one for £15 and adding a partner brings it to £20.

     

  • Eribanaut
    Eribanaut Forum Participant Posts: 26
    edited July 2018 #30

    Here's a heads-up for anyone considering switching to the RAC , as I am (was),...I was quoted £151 for their top level of Arrival in the UK,...not too bad, I thought.

    The person on the other end of the phone dropped out very quietly,.."which includes discount",...When I pulled him up on it, he eventually admitted that there was a £100 introductory discount applied.

    When asked if the discount would be applied on renewal, he said that he couldn't guarantee it, I then asked what would the price be WITHOUT discount and he eventually admitted that it was about £260.

    Back to the drawing-board, I think.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2018 #31

    I ring the RAC every year and haggle down the premium. This year it dropped by about 50%. 

    I know we shouldn’t need to do that but it’s worth a phone call to keep the cover I want at a sensible cost.