Breakdown Cover Versus No Cover At All?
Author: Les Shaw
As traffic on our roads seems to be getting worse, year on
year, is having breakdown cover really an option? Well, yes it's
still a matter of choice but, if you think about it, to decide
against having cover is not a very sensible option.
The increase in traffic congestion makes it a very unpleasant
experience to break down with no cover.
Imagine being in a town or city center, on a busy roundabout
with traffic passing by you on each side, when you find yourself
in a vehicle breakdown situation. It probably wouldn't be safe
to get out and push the car off the roundabout and, unlike a few
years ago, not many people would be willing to stop and offer
help.
So, what would you do?
How about breaking down on a fast motorway? If you don't have
breakdown cover and you're miles away from home, you'll probably
need to call a local recovery company to come and rescue you.
When you eventually contact one, they'll be more than happy to
get your car onto the recovery vehicle and get you off the
motorway.
However, be prepared for a shock when you have to pay! A recent
conversation with one such recovery agent revealed that the
typical cost was around £140 (inc.vat). This is just to get you
off the motorway, however, and then the real fun begins!
It'll cost extra to take you to a garage or to take you home.
Here's the cruncher though; if you can't pay there and then,
you'll be asked to step off the recovery vehicle while your car
stays on! Your car will be taken to a storage compound and
you'll be left to make your own way home. This by itself would
cause inconvenience for most people, but this is what happens
when people get caught out by not having breakdown cover.
And as if that's not enough, to get your car back you'll have
to pay the recovery fee plus the transport costs to the
compound. Plus, there's the compound fees; around £100 release
fee plus daily costs of around £12 to £15.
Of course, you then need to pay recovery charges to get your
car home or to a garage and then get the car repaired. Phew!
So, if in the unfortunate situation you do break down, be sure
to prevent a disaster like this! If you don't have breakdown
cover and you haven't got the means to pay on the day, you would
normally be looking at a bill of around £300 just to get your
vehicle off the motorway.
Is it really worth all that hassle when, for much less than a
tow off the motorway, you could get 5-star treatment and in most
cases your car would be repaired. If it couldn't be repaired,
you would be recovered back to your home (from anywhere in the
UK). This would apply to your vehicle and up to seven
passengers.
This is not just the once, by the way, but for up to five times
each year that you are a member.
Joining RAC is much easier and much more affordable, wouldn't
you agree?
About The Author: Les Shaw operates in the UK as a `Face to
Face' agent representing RAC Motoring Services, providing
Breakdown Cover to the UK public at
http://www.simplybreakdowncove
