Classic Breakdown Cover
- Thread starter craig r
- Start date
colnerov
Well-Known Member
Hi, to be honest you need to decide whether you want it repaired or recovered. Most of
the mainstream suppliers will not be able or want to repair it at the side of the road, it
is very much down to how involved the recovery mechanic wants to get.
As a matter of interest if you say there is a problem with the brakes or steering they wont
attempt a repair they will just recover it.
Colin
the mainstream suppliers will not be able or want to repair it at the side of the road, it
is very much down to how involved the recovery mechanic wants to get.
As a matter of interest if you say there is a problem with the brakes or steering they wont
attempt a repair they will just recover it.
Colin
classicalgreen
Active Member
You need specialist cover as standard breakdown normally starts to become void after car gets to certain age.
Hence classic car breakdown needed. Most insurers will offer this fir extra fee but well worth it.
Not used mine ( footman James). But breakdown in London had me and car plus better half brought to doorstep from other side of London. Courtesy of my bank account benefit. Check you don't already have such an option?
Hence classic car breakdown needed. Most insurers will offer this fir extra fee but well worth it.
Not used mine ( footman James). But breakdown in London had me and car plus better half brought to doorstep from other side of London. Courtesy of my bank account benefit. Check you don't already have such an option?
1396midget
Well-Known Member
I've used Autoaid on two occasions. Both required a quick conversation to establish it was in need of recovery. One went:
him - Hi mate, are you sure it won't start?
me - yes, the coil is leaking oil and smells of fire
him - OK then I'll bring a lorry
second one went
him - what's the car
me- 1972 MG midget
him - what's wrong with it?
me - ECU relay has exploded and has taken the fuel pump one with it
him - errrr *pause* I'll bring a lorry
Both times I only had to wait about half an hour. The deal is that you pay your 37 quid for a year, and then pay recovery costs up front as and when required. You then get a little form off the internet and claim back the money. Saved (taking into account the yearly fee) nigh on 300 quid, so totally worth it. Also covers track days, and, perhaps more importantly, covers the driver not the car, so if you've got multiple rolling breakdowns then it's ideal.
him - Hi mate, are you sure it won't start?
me - yes, the coil is leaking oil and smells of fire
him - OK then I'll bring a lorry
second one went
him - what's the car
me- 1972 MG midget
him - what's wrong with it?
me - ECU relay has exploded and has taken the fuel pump one with it
him - errrr *pause* I'll bring a lorry
Both times I only had to wait about half an hour. The deal is that you pay your 37 quid for a year, and then pay recovery costs up front as and when required. You then get a little form off the internet and claim back the money. Saved (taking into account the yearly fee) nigh on 300 quid, so totally worth it. Also covers track days, and, perhaps more importantly, covers the driver not the car, so if you've got multiple rolling breakdowns then it's ideal.
chrisw
Well-Known Member
My latest renewal with the RAC came through the other day. £175 a year, gives me recovery cover for any car that I'm in, the same for my girlfriend, and legal protection as well.
I used it on average once or twice a year, but it saves so much messing around.
I certainly wouldn't drive a classic car without it..
I used it on average once or twice a year, but it saves so much messing around.
I certainly wouldn't drive a classic car without it..
Willy Eckerslyke
Well-Known Member
I've used mine three times (included in classic insurance from RH).
1. Front wheel bearing started screeching on my way to work. I phoned up, told them what was wrong and what time I finished work, flatbed arrived on time and took me home.
2. Flat battery (in the BMW E28 after all the stupid interior lights had stayed on all day at work). Bloke arrived in 20mins with a booster pack and got me on my way.
3. Suspension collapse on the way to work. Got a lift to work, phoned and arranged recovery for going home time, got a lift back to car just as flatbed arrived.
All required a signature, then I heard again apart from a "How satisfied are you" optional survey form through post. (Far easier than having to pay and claim it back.)
Garage was a local - Maethlu Motors, Anglesey. Top marks for being efficient and friendly. Phone number was a call centre, but again very efficient - didn't even ask for policy number, just car's registration number.
1. Front wheel bearing started screeching on my way to work. I phoned up, told them what was wrong and what time I finished work, flatbed arrived on time and took me home.
2. Flat battery (in the BMW E28 after all the stupid interior lights had stayed on all day at work). Bloke arrived in 20mins with a booster pack and got me on my way.
3. Suspension collapse on the way to work. Got a lift to work, phoned and arranged recovery for going home time, got a lift back to car just as flatbed arrived.
All required a signature, then I heard again apart from a "How satisfied are you" optional survey form through post. (Far easier than having to pay and claim it back.)
Garage was a local - Maethlu Motors, Anglesey. Top marks for being efficient and friendly. Phone number was a call centre, but again very efficient - didn't even ask for policy number, just car's registration number.
testrider
Active Member
I've got cover through the insurance but on the last two occasions I've had to use it I'd not got the number so used the policy I have with my modern car through Britannia Rescue and they been fine although in both cases the car wasn't repairable at the roadside anyway.
I had a similar conversation with the operator after the crash I had in HOT early this year:-
operator - Is everyone safe and the car out of the way of traffic?
me - Yes.
Operator - Are the harzard lights on?
me - No, it doesn't have any, it was made in 1967.
operator - OK. Did the airbag go off?
me - No, it doesn't have any, it was made in 1967.
operator - OK. Did the seat belt pretensioners go off?
me - No, it doesn't have any, it was made in 1967.
I guess they have to ask those sort of things and at least it was something amusing to take my mind off being in shock.
1396midget said:
I had a similar conversation with the operator after the crash I had in HOT early this year:-
operator - Is everyone safe and the car out of the way of traffic?
me - Yes.
Operator - Are the harzard lights on?
me - No, it doesn't have any, it was made in 1967.
operator - OK. Did the airbag go off?
me - No, it doesn't have any, it was made in 1967.
operator - OK. Did the seat belt pretensioners go off?
me - No, it doesn't have any, it was made in 1967.
I guess they have to ask those sort of things and at least it was something amusing to take my mind off being in shock.
partviking
Member
My breakdown on the M25 conversation whilst trying to get to the National @ Blenheim went like this
"Have you listened to the recorded safety message regarding breakdowns on the motorway",
"No",
"Then I'll have to go through it with you",
"Whilst your going through it with me I am having to sit in the car as I cannot hear you outside behind the Armco because of the roar of traffic and moonsoon rain, this is putting me at far greater risk than skipping the safety info and getting someone out asap"
I'm sorry I still have to read it out to you"
"Fine, if you hear a loud crash whilst you're reading it then forget the engineer, send a hearse"
"................."
That was the AA, more worried about liability then safety and no I won't be re-joining though to be fair they are all owned by multinational corperations with little interest in cars or drivers only money.
For the record i got it started myself and drove off the motorway just as I got it started the year before on the way to the 50th Anniverssary National.......................wait a minute there's a pattern here, National attendance seems to mean my car breaks down.
"Have you listened to the recorded safety message regarding breakdowns on the motorway",
"No",
"Then I'll have to go through it with you",
"Whilst your going through it with me I am having to sit in the car as I cannot hear you outside behind the Armco because of the roar of traffic and moonsoon rain, this is putting me at far greater risk than skipping the safety info and getting someone out asap"
I'm sorry I still have to read it out to you"
"Fine, if you hear a loud crash whilst you're reading it then forget the engineer, send a hearse"
"................."
That was the AA, more worried about liability then safety and no I won't be re-joining though to be fair they are all owned by multinational corperations with little interest in cars or drivers only money.
For the record i got it started myself and drove off the motorway just as I got it started the year before on the way to the 50th Anniverssary National.......................wait a minute there's a pattern here, National attendance seems to mean my car breaks down.