What's your breakdown contingency plan?

[Gazz]

I'm currently stuck with a dilemma for how to organise some sort of breakdown insurance.

In years gone by I've had, small lightweight bikes picked up in vans once they've broken down.

Been a member of the AA who sent a third part recovery firm to take my bike home.

And also owned a bike trailer for a short while but never actually had to use it when I had it.

Going by the fact that I buy old and usually less maintained cars and bikes, another breakdown is enviable.

I called the AA looking for a quote the other day and they tried to charge me over the odds in my opinion to rejoin them.

So I'm just wonder what everyone else does in the event that they have a breakdown?

[Kentol750]

Bank accounts give cover that covers the vehicle you're in/on. Got recovered to a garage by mine a few years back.
____________________
Some bikes.

[Fisty]

I use the AA. Roadside relay service with onward travel.
The bring me and the vehicle home. Used them twice last year for the car and bike with no issues at all.

Always been great. I paid £129 and got £17 cash back.

Even if you only use it for one breakdown I consider that a bargain.
____________________
Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[-]

Autoaid. £60 A year and covers you and a spouse, in a car, car derived van, motorcycle over 150cc, campervan etc.

https://autoaidbreakdown.co.uk/

I've used them for years and been recovered on 3 long journeys towing caravans over the years.
____________________
TZR250 2MA road, TZR250 1KT road, TZR250 2MA race, TDR250, YZF-750R Boost colours.
Jaguar S Type 3.0 V6 Sport R, VW Transporter T5 GP LWB Shuttle 140ps DSG.

[1198]

Nationwide cover via my current account. Europe wide, age of vehicle irrelevant.

[droog]

I got breakdown callouts bundled up with my fully comp MCE insurance - I think I get 2 call outs max with it - any more and there is a charge.

[xX-Alex-Xx]

[stinkwheel]

I got one through my insurance, the only way I could get euro cover on a bike over 20 years old without a second mortgage.

Carole Nashes recovery has always worked well for me in the past. The combination of insurance and recovery is generally quite competative. They can't cover my current stable fo bikes though.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Freddyfruitba...]

[hellkat]

I usually start by sitting by the side of the road and having a good old cry.

If that doesn't work, I tell myself to "pull yourself together, woman!" and call the RAC* who jump to it because "lone woman", and I always make sure they know I am lone older woman.




*I don't actually know if its the RAC or not actually. I know I paid for breakdown cover but no idea who at the moment. For the first time in YEARS I let the policy auto-renew this year (last week) - and I haven't even had the motivation to inspect the documents yet.
____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[pepperami]

I get RAC recovery with my bank account .
Used it a couple of times in the past with no issues.
____________________
I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[xX-Alex-Xx]

[Bhud]

Start Rescue - I switched to this because their charges are competitive. I've had it for a couple of years but never had to use it, so I don't know if they're any good. In the past I used RAC. RAC was OK. From what I remember, if you need your bike transported, they send a flatbed and it takes them a few hours to do it, because they call around to find a subcontractor in the area. On the other hand, if it's just a tyre or battery problem, they can send an RAC van to you quickly.

Start Rescue has an app, so you don't have to call them and make your way through a menu system or try to fiddle with your phone to tell them where you are. I think this could be useful, because if you break down you could be on your phone a lot, draining the battery while passing the time and making calls asking for updates. However, I'm sure other breakdown companies have similar apps by now.

[Old Git Racing]

I make sure I have enough fags and a lighter when I set off on a journey. Not got any cover.

OGR
____________________
2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[Boxing]

I'm covered in my car by the RAC, the bike is only local and I happen to have a handful of friends with vans, I'm more than happy to chuck them some ££ or ring a local independent recovery firm. Although if my bike breaks down it'll probably be from binning it and most recovery firms such as AA won't tow it.

The cage I do 20K+ miles a year, but it's a Honda diesel. No issues and I'm mechanically savvy and do routine checks regular. But in the event of a puncture or break down the RAC are towing me home. Worth its weight in gold when I actually need to use it.

[Polarbear]

I've got family RAC, any vehicle.

Before I had family cover I always had cover from one of the major companies.

TBH, nowadays with the reliability of bikes and the fact I can repair punctures at the side of the road I probably wouldn't bother.

Going abroard though, oh yes, full cover including accident.
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[-]

[davebike]

I always carry tools punture kit and cable repair but also have AA including recovery
____________________
Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
davebike1@gmail.com

[Skudd]

RAC enough said.
____________________
Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[chris-red]

I don't bother with any I'll pay if I have to be recovered anywhere. I have tool kits in my vehicles if I can't fix it I'll get a tow if local if not local I'll just pay outright. It's cheaper in the long run imo.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[TravisBickle]

Used to use RAC for years for the business fleet, always price compared them against AA every year but every year they done just slightly better so stayed with. Only ever felt comfortable using a company which has it's own fleet instead of sub contracting everything as I've dealt with these companies before and they're quite happy to let you sit there for 4 hours plus for their preferred (cheaper) provider to become available rather than just bite the bulletband pay slightly more for someone who can get there quicker. To the best of my knowledge the only firms that have their own fleets are AA, RAC and Green Flag but Green Flag wouldn't cover our business fleet.

However, as you touched on earlier all it is at the end of the day is an insurance policy! And I have a policy in life nowadays to only ever insure the things I have to by law or that I can't afford to pay for at any given moment. That limits me pretty much to building, contents and motor insurance. That's it. I won't insure anything else, phones, white goods etc. if anything breaks I'll buy a new one. At the end of the day these insurance companies make money out of us. In the long run they'll get their money back out of us and some. No business aims to run at a loss.

Same for breakdown cover these days, on my business fleet, private cars and bikes. If I ever have a breakdown I get my phone out, load up yell.com and start ringing round the local firms and put my hand in my pocket and pay cash usually. It's definitely the cheapest way in the long run and NO insurance policy is good value for money in the long run unless your house burns down or your car gets written off or something they'll always have more money out of you in the long run than they pay out.

If you have a particularly old or unreliable bike and keep having breakdowns you may feel you're getting your money's worth but I'm sure they're monitoring the level at which you use it and I'm sure most will have a maximum callout per year policy in place, usually 2 or 3.

If you can get recovery thrown in for nothing on an existing insurance policy or a premium bank account package that you would have had in place anyway, then great, it's something for nothing, but I certainly wouldn't let it be a deal breaker for me when choosing an insurance policy or deciding whether to pay the £12.99 per month for my natwest gold account
____________________
2024 BMW M1000XR
2021 Honda CMX500 Rebel S
2016 Triumph Tiger 1050 Sport

[t121anf]

[Freddyfruitba...]

[-]

[xX-Alex-Xx]