RAC vs the AA. which is best?!

[humbucker]

ok, so 'best' is probably the wrong word to use... i've been a member of the AA for more or less 15 years now, basically ever since i passed my test. the cost of membership is very reasonable considering the sticky situations i've been able to use them for, which has mainly amounted to recovery over the years. i have no experience of the RAC, although Mrs Humbucker used to be a member and says they were excellent when she needed them. i'm sure planetc will be along to concur hahaha!

anyway, more importantly response times are amazing. i've never waited longer than 40 minutes for assistance no matter where i have been, and often the AA truck arrives well in advance of the estimated time slot.

so lets hear your experiences, good and bad, of the AA and RAC in an attempt to see which, if any, seem to be better?

[planetc]

[bigmitch]

I am AA can't fault them ,having cav tow mainy a time due the engine overheating
and coolant pipes blowing .
Also a AA membership card helps with 40% discount in places like national tyres
Never had dealings with RAC so don't what they are like,

[Robsey]

I had RAC for the first 5 years of car ownership..
Mixed results really
I dropped them like a sack of poo, when my 1985 Maestro developed an over-rich mixture...
The patrol-man told me that it was because my engine was knackered !!

Not good as I was about to go to wales for a week.

I sorted it myself... it was a faulty fuel enrichment valve, that had a perished internal diaphragm

Now the AA, I had been with them for 15 years and they were spot on... every time

I am back with the RAC, as a free part of my car insurance package... but have not had to call them out yet...
Although looking at the insurance documentation, I don't think the breakdown cover provides much help anyway...
I can only be towed upto 10 miles !! - not good as I often work 60 miles away

Thank goodness, that I know my car pretty well, so that I can fix it myself!!

[planetc]

I am back with the RAC, as a free part of my car insurance package... but have not had to call them out yet...
Although looking at the insurance documentation, I don't think the breakdown cover provides much help anyway...
I can only be towed upto 10 miles !! -

Thank goodness, that I know my car pretty well, so that I can fix it myself!!

Talk to your insurer, they can usually upgrade it

[planetc]

Things worth noting....

If you have an accident RAC will attend and either patch up the car for you if possible, or recover it if not as part of the cover. AA require a payment of £100 to just to attend in these circumstances.

If you lock your keys in your car, which you may never have done but believe me it is a common thing, RAC will attend and attempt to gain access (usually successfully) as part of your cover. AA do not offer this as an inclusive service, I believe it is the same charge as above.

I will obviously always be biased, but it is my opinion that situations and experiences can be wildly different dependant on the circumstances in which you break down, the location and the individual patrol or contractor that attends. I think the service that you would receive from either is likely to be very similar for any given breakdown, with the main variation being with the abilities and attitude of attendee.

[cav4x4]

Things worth noting....

If you have an accident RAC will attend and either patch up the car for you if possible, or recover it if not as part of the cover. AA require a payment of £100 to just to attend in these circumstances.

If you lock your keys in your car, which you may never have done but believe me it is a common thing, RAC will attend and attempt to gain access (usually successfully) as part of your cover. AA do not offer this as an inclusive service, I believe it is the same charge as above.

I will obviously always be biased, but it is my opinion that situations and experiences can be wildly different dependant on the circumstances in which you break down, the location and the individual patrol or contractor that attends. I think the service that you would receive from either is likely to be very similar for any given breakdown, with the main variation being with the abilities and attitude of attendee.

Couple of points-

1. AA will attend an accident free of charge but if vehicle requires specialist equipment or more than a local tow then you do need to pay. However, worth remembering that if you a fully comp or claiming from someone else these charges are recoverable.

2. They do not charge for keys being locked in or for losing your keys either.


Agree with the last comment tho- all very much depends on the compentency of the attending person.

Also worth mentioning I may be slightly biased as well!!

[bigmitch]

Things worth noting....

If you have an accident RAC will attend and either patch up the car for you if possible, or recover it if not as part of the cover. AA require a payment of £100 to just to attend in these circumstances.

If you lock your keys in your car, which you may never have done but believe me it is a common thing, RAC will attend and attempt to gain access (usually successfully) as part of your cover. AA do not offer this as an inclusive service, I believe it is the same charge as above.

I will obviously always be biased, but it is my opinion that situations and experiences can be wildly different dependant on the circumstances in which you break down, the location and the individual patrol or contractor that attends. I think the service that you would receive from either is likely to be very similar for any given breakdown, with the main variation being with the abilities and attitude of attendee.

Couple of points-

1. AA will attend an accident free of charge but if vehicle requires specialist equipment or more than a local tow then you do need to pay. However, worth remembering that if you a fully comp or claiming from someone else these charges are recoverable.

2. They do not charge for keys being locked in or for losing your keys either.


Agree with the last comment tho- all very much depends on the compentency of the attending person.

Also worth mentioning I may be slightly biased as well!!

I have never been charge 100 quid to be towed and never heard of AA charging anyone ?

[marksmith]

I have been lucky enough never yet to have had to call on the RAC which I am with, but Maria, my partner, needed to call them just last sunday when the front wheel on my Dads Mondeo sheared off on the busy A404 Amersham to Wycombe road.

It happened on a duel lane road that had no hard shoulder, just after a very harsh bend. Maria was alone ( she had borrowed the car, and it was getting dark.

I was really upset when she called me ( I was away in Milton Keynes ) and told me the RAC said they would not be there foe around an hour. 2 hours later, at least, they finally arrived. I was not happy it took them so long to get there even though she was a single girl, alone, it was getting dark and the car was in a very dangerous place.

While she was waiting she even had the AA stop to make sure she was ok and even though we are not with the AA, he still refitted the wheel ( just well enough to move it ) and he towed it further down the road to a much safer place !

[planetc]

I have never been charge 100 quid to be towed and never heard of AA charging anyone ?

I have, or I wouldn't have said it

[planetc]

1. AA will attend an accident free of charge but if vehicle requires specialist equipment or more than a local tow then you do need to pay. However, worth remembering that if you a fully comp or claiming from someone else these charges are recoverable.

2. They do not charge for keys being locked in or for losing your keys either.


Agree with the last comment tho- all very much depends on the compentency of the attending person.

Also worth mentioning I may be slightly biased as well!!

Dude, someone needs to tell your call takers then! I have met people that have turned to us when they have been told you guys won't help without payment. Would be interesting to see if it's in the T&Cs?

[Greig Sri]

Never been a member of both. Never broken down, except on my drive. So ive saved lots of cash not joining them over the years. Mabe ive been lucky tho . Also Ive never had a punchure when out in a car and had to get the jack out.

Greig

[TurboSteven77]

Never been a member of both. Never broken down, except on my drive. So ive saved lots of cash not joining them over the years. Mabe ive been lucky tho . Also Ive never had a punchure when out in a car and had to get the jack out.

Greig

snap or i call my mate thats mobile machinc with van or othere mate with flat bed

tbh heard to many scary storys about both

1 that i rember mate broke down in his auto carlton they tried to tow it up motor way over recomend speed to tow a auto this was be4 interweb thou so unsure why my mate went nuts thou

[VauxhallGirl]

I haven't been a member of either for a good 10 years, so don't know what they are like now.

When I first started driving I joined the RAC. Was sorted out OK on the odd occasion that an actual RAC van came to help me out, but when it was local garages sent out to me, I was not well served. Broke my key off in the ignition in the middle of London very late at night. Waited two hours, and a local garage came out. I had the Recovery policy which meant they would take me home if they couldn't fix it. I lived in Southampton. Garage bloke said "I'm not going all the way to Southampton", so he hot wired the car (luckily the key wasn't far enough in the engage the steering lock) and sent me on my way. I was so tired, and was falling asleep at the wheel for my hour drive home, but had to keep going because I had no idea how to get car started again, and didn't fancy being stuck in a cold lonely lay-by on the A3.

Had a similar situation when I was in Cambridge once, and my starter packed up, or solenoid, can't remember which. Same thing, late at night, and a contractor came out and refused to take me home.

Both with the same car, actually.... an "L" reg Talbot Alpine.

[Gaz]

I pretty much only use them to get me home so i can fix it myself, if it can be lashed together i can do that myself (i once stripped out 3 snapped wheel bolts in some random carpak one morning when i sheared them).

The aa have always done what i needed them to do and never waited more than an hour and a bit, plus they listen to me on the phone when i say it cant be fixed they send a low loader without pissing about sending a patrol first.

[planetc]

they listen to me on the phone when i say it cant be fixed they send a low loader without pissing about sending a patrol first.

That's one thing I have to confess RAC are very bad with these days. Recovery costs have gone through the roof in recent years so they will send a patrol to pretty much everything in the hope they can avoid recovery.

[humbucker]

I pretty much only use them to get me home so i can fix it myself

yeah same here. they've also been useful for taking me from A to B when i needed the car trailering somewhere. they won't touch your motor if it's not taxed though, i guess this is the same for the RAC?

[Squig]

I use neither, to add fuel to this rapidly burning building, I use insurance choice and other than the occasional muppet not listening to me on the phone and doing the usual recovery van first route, not really had any issues (insurance choice breakdown cover btw) and for the price I paid I won't argue... now however the price structure has changed so it'll cost £19 per year for recovery home from anywhere in uk (assuming a local garage couldn't fix it same day, which with my luck generally doesn't happen... it's serious or I fix it), plus a few other benefits...
Similar cover from AA and RAC costs over £60 with RAC and over £75 with AA... bear in mind I'm working off the website details.

[cav4x4]

they listen to me on the phone when i say it cant be fixed they send a low loader without pissing about sending a patrol first.

That's one thing I have to confess RAC are very bad with these days. Recovery costs have gone through the roof in recent years so they will send a patrol to pretty much everything in the hope they can avoid recovery.

Not just RAC on that, we're just as bad! Been very lucky to get low loader sent straight out although if the call handler does the job right that's how it should be.

Had quick look at T&Cs members should not be charged unless it is an rta and needs recovery or a locksmith is required. Doesn't stop call handlers trying to charge tho, especially if the request is misunderstood.

[marcia]

I get free AA membership through the bank and as I posted here last July was glad to have it as one of the pipes that connects between the automatic gearbox and the radiator decided to part company.
This happened on the A1 near Scotch Corner. the AA were with me within 45 minutes and I was back on the road within 10 minutes.
William

[vauxtillidie]

Been with RAC since started driving 10 years ago not something i pay for so cant comment on the costs (parents have the cover and added us all onto it) but i know it covers us for pretty much anything including recovery from anywhere etc etc

However i do agree even when you tell them that theres no way they will fix it they still send a patrol, imagine an RAC patrol trying to fix a throttle position sensor on a 2007 GSXR 600 bike at newport pagnel services... i did tell him it needed recovering. They did get it back home to manchester a couple of days later and did offer me a courtesey car just didnt need it as mate was following.

In the early days when i had my golf they did come and fix it a few times but im sure it was just stuff like points/condesor etc

[carlos_canter]

Interesting question, and as a contractor for both, id have to say neither, but that is my own opinion.

With out naming names, certain promises are made that cannot be kept, and contractors get the brunt of it.

Neither the AA or the RAC would cover my car, they wanted me to have personal cover only.
Shopped around and got nation wide cover for "the older vehicle" for around £60.

[Envoy CDX]

That's one thing I have to confess RAC are very bad with these days. Recovery costs have gone through the roof in recent years so they will send a patrol to pretty much everything in the hope they can avoid recovery.

Yeah, that annoyed me last time... alternator packed up, and the patrol man wanted me to drive back 127miles with dimming lights, I somehow think not..

Then when they sent the recovery truck (external contractor), it was like being chucked into some weird hick movie, those were the most uncomfortable 3 hours of my life.

[iancav6]

I'm with the AA, have been for the last 6 years or so,only used them once, the missus had a flat and could get the wheel nuts undone.So let me think, 6years, about £150 average a year.Bargain,£900 to change one wheel.

Thats the crap thing with this insurance lark whether its breakdown,house or life, if you never need to claim or use it, its money down the drain,but if you don't have it and need it,you could end up massively out of pocket.

We have got family cover, cos my missus and both my daughters are driving and it gives me piece of mind that if they are ever stuck,the"4th emergency service" will be there.

[cavagsi]

im with the RAC on the cav and flux rescue on the van,touch wood ive not had to use them, i do think if you do not use them for a period of time then you should get something back from them, same with your car insurance!?