Breakdown cover

Davedstone

Member
Can any member suggest a decent breakdown recovery company. I have just taken a quick look and most will not over any car older than 18 years. I am after driver cover which will not only cover my 72 P6, but also my van. (business)
Any suggestions / advice welcome.
Many thanks in advance.
Regards, Dave
 
I'm pretty sure the AA will help you out if you have a breakdown in your '72 P6. They've come and assisted me by the roadside a few times now, when my own '72 P6 has misbehaved. I don't know if they'll cover your work van too, but I dare say they might.
 
Contact GEM Motoring Assist on 01342 825676 and see what they can do. I’ve used them since 1981 and found coverage excellent for my vehicles over the years.
My Rover is insured on a Classic policy via Peter James, and rescue/recovery in U.K. and abroad is included.
 
Because the AA cover the member not the car classics aren't a problem, my daily driver is nearly 30 years old and they don't see a problem with that, they don't put any age restriction on, they just won't come out multiple times for the same fault. Otherwise I have classic motorcycle on risk with RH insurance and that comes with recovery, so I'd guess the car policies would be the same.
 
Contact GEM Motoring Assist on 01342 825676 and see what they can do. I’ve used them since 1981 and found coverage excellent for my vehicles over the years.
My Rover is insured on a Classic policy via Peter James, and rescue/recovery in U.K. and abroad is included.
Thanks for your reply. I will phone them in the morning and see what they can do.
 
Because the AA cover the member not the car classics aren't a problem, my daily driver is nearly 30 years old and they don't see a problem with that, they don't put any age restriction on, they just won't come out multiple times for the same fault. Otherwise I have classic motorcycle on risk with RH insurance and that comes with recovery, so I'd guess the car policies would be the same.
Thanks for the info. I also need insurance for my classic Aprilia which is 21 years old.
 
I'm pretty sure the AA will help you out if you have a breakdown in your '72 P6. They've come and assisted me by the roadside a few times now, when my own '72 P6 has misbehaved. I don't know if they'll cover your work van too, but I dare say they might.
Yes it would be nice to have breakdown to cover my van, 1972 P6 and 2000 Aprilia without breaking the bank....
 
In Vic in Oz the local RAC do a premium cover option - tow/flatbed home or garage, 1 night hotel if long way from home - have used it a couple of times. Best part is it covers any vehicle the insured driver is using, which makes it very useful IMHO.
 
In Vic in Oz the local RAC do a premium cover option - tow/flatbed home or garage, 1 night hotel if long way from home - have used it a couple of times. Best part is it covers any vehicle the insured driver is using, which makes it very useful IMHO.
Wow...you would be lucky to get anything like that here. Once I waited 4 hours for breakdown service and then they brought the wrong truck so they couldn't flatbed my van, so they took me home then I had to wait a further 2 hours for my van to arrive later after midnight. Not impressed, but that was exceptional as it was a bank holiday weekend. Two years ago before lockdown.
 
I've just renewed with The AA after being a member for 35 years. Never any problem with classics & attending mechanics are often into them too so do have a scooby with the old cars.
l find that the longterm membership can help in situations which are not normally covered by the policy, such as recovering you when you've run over a lump of 4"x2" on an unlit road & fractured two alloys (considered an RTA) or have just found out that your spare wheel doesn't fit the car it came with :) (l paid the roadside charge with that one but subsequently got it back after l said l'd terminate my membership at renewal).
I just paid £300 which covers me, the wife plus her son & daughter for roadside, homestart & countrywide recovery which l've used more than once including collection from Truro & Durham to home (the Durham one included an extra night in our hotel paid for by them). As Harvey said you're covered in any car whether a driver or passenger. You only need one callout & the cover is paid for.

They recovered my stepson's bike when a car pulled out in front of him a few weeks back which did carry a £400 RTA charge but that is being claimed back from the third party. I recall they didn't used to attend RTA's at all as l found out once.
 
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I believe nearly everyone will cover an old car but there might be a restriction clause. I need to pay for recovery after the 2nd recovery in any vehicle (I'm insured not the car) in any covered year. Presumably to avoid having to rescue any knackered death-traps each time they are taken out. So a fair compromise really.
 
Have you tried your insurance broker, they may be able to provide cover for you.

My local insurance broker provides classic (car and bikes) and modern breakdown cover, it's not that great, the recovery mileage is restricted to 20miles. I can pay the recovery firm extra and they take you further....

A few times I've got phone calls from 'friends' who need recovery, I tell them to phone around local recovery firms and we have been pleasantly surprised to how reasonable it is to transport you home, there and then. A couple of months ago, we payed £40 for a 20mile recovery. If you consider the recovery lorry had to drive 40miles, that's a fair price. So far, in 35years of driving, I've been transported twice, me and my friends have spent less than if paying out for annual cover.
Anyway; Life is an adventure, have an adventure.

G.
 
RAC certainly doesn't have a problem, even with low vehicles such as my old E-type that liked to break down a lot.

We're covered on any vehicle we happen to be in at the time, no matter the age.
 
I am with the RAC. It is not cheap but I think it is the best. It covers me and to a vehicle so I can get recovered even in someone else's car. I have my P6, two motor bikes, two modern cars and a VW camper van and the will take any of them. Over the years I have used them on a number of occasions and they are quick and reliable. I know you can get cover much cheaper but I suspect when it comes to the crunch, it is nowhere near as good.
 
agreed and to me the RAC and AA are very similar, I have been a member of each over the years, ended up in the AA for last few years and have found just like TheRoveringmember said Never any problem with classics & attending mechanics are often into them too yes I have found this, the last time AA got the bonnet up on my car the guy saw the dashpots and unscrewed them demanding an oil can, poured some oil in and the car started up just like magic, that was just the start, I would echo keysnham above, I know you can get cover much cheaper but I suspect when it comes to the crunch, it is nowhere near as good , well said
 
got cover with my classic. insurer but found out it is restricted to distance etc. my bike cover also with insurer for recovery. had considered RAC but friend used them other week when clutch went and it took 3 changes of drivers and 5 hours to cover a 2 hour straight drive ( just under in fact) so our off by that. will be considering AA but understand they are a bit pricey. Ideally w need all car clubs to chat to breakdown organisations and come up with a joint? policy .eg any classic car and option for normal car /bike. just imagine discount if all car clubs and owners can get a quote and service form say just one or 2 suppliers. hundreds of thousands of owners across Uk .ought to b like energy companies where 'group' discounts can be well worth having. they can of course always add clauses such as no more than 2 call outs in a year? I have been covered most years since driving from 1968 and have only ever used breakdown services twice( not including 2 issues in same day) in all decades. partly as I keep vehicles roadworthy and serviced and bit of luck. Green flag rescuing my my 2 cortina twice in one day! first to replace blow upper hose and refill coolant ..then 20 mins later for same overheating issue ..suspect stuck thermostat was removed ( when hose replaced) issues was water pump had decided to pack up! hence second relay home . 45 min journey but excellent service . so how about insurance companies if not clubs getting together to arrange a 'mass' insurance cover ? probably cost half a much as single sourcing maybe or even less.
 
Funnily enough l just renewed with Footman James who l've probably been with for thirty years too. I used to get free European breakdown cover which seemed to morph into general breakdown cover for the cars on the policy. Then un-noticed by me it morphed into chargeable breakdown cover. I noticed when l asked if they could do any better on the renewal price & was told that they could cancel the breakdown cover that l didn't need due to my AA membership. It chopped £115 off the quote taking me back down to the £400 mark which has generally been the price l've always paid, except for the past few years, for seven cars at the most, now five.
My 75 is still cheaper on it's own seperate policy.
 
funnily enough I was with Footman James for years which included breakdown cover. as every year prices went up I finally asked if they would do a better quote but was told it was already 'cheap'. so I looked round and swapped to a different company and saved about £90 . more than covering full breakdown cover. My bank also offers breakdown 'recovery' for anything I drive as part of it's travel plus pack. this too changed to not full recovery on basic pack. upgrading costs about a fiver a month more but one call out and recovery alone more than compensates.
 
I never really considered £400 pa for seven cars with agreed values & unlimited mileage worth trying to beat down, only when the price was rising did l bother to enquire. ;)
Two successful claims in the bag helped too, my written off Mk1a P5 & stolen Riley 4/72 though they were back when Footman James were an actual company rather than a badge used by another firm. Still, l take as l find & bar the un-needed (paid for) breakdown cover l've always been satisfied with the service & cost from them plus l think l'd struggle to find an unlimited mileage policy from any of the other classic insurers.
 
Because the AA cover the member not the car classics aren't a problem, my daily driver is nearly 30 years old and they don't see a problem with that, they don't put any age restriction on, they just won't come out multiple times for the same fault. Otherwise I have classic motorcycle on risk with RH insurance and that comes with recovery, so I'd guess the car policies would be the same.
Sorry I missed your reply. I have the van covered and bike, but most recovery do not cover anything older that 20 years, so I guess a specialist breakdown recovery. I will start my search next year as summer is just about over now. More things left to do on my car...
 
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