Green flag recovery ?

A completely no photography related subject, but hey it is the chat section.

I am looking at moving from the RAC to Green Flag as I need Euro cover this year and the RAC are extremely expensive.

The question is does any one have any experience with Green Flag? I was not overly impressed with the response times in answering the phone to get a quote, it took 2 attempts, both over 15mins on hold......

Or any other recommendations? I do need to retain yearly UK recovery as well.

Thanks

I have their basic UK service.

It is NOT their own recovery vehicles but local garages who may not be equipped to get you back on the road but may tow you to their workshop. The RAC & AA do carry spares in their vans.

However, the time I had to use them, the response time was fine and I was sorted out there which allowed me to get home and the problem finally sorted there.

I did not suffer more than a few seconds on hold.

It depends on where you are going in Europe really. If you are only going on holiday with the car then take out holiday insurance which includes car breakdown.
If you will be travelling more often then stick to the RAC or AA - they have a vast network of other rescue clubs in Europe to call upon to help you, plus their own European based call centres with local contacts.

Don't forget the travel insurance any way and get your EHIC too!

Well we are going through France, Belgium, Germany, Poland and stopping in Slovakia. Will be a 21 day trip and RAC are quoting £104.00 on top of my membership (also due at £84), whereas green flag are quoting £136 for annual UK and 90 day Euro cover.

As I said have a look at travel insurance as an alternative. You will need it anyway for such a trip so the price of the car breakdown cover will probably not be very high.

I forget how insular the services are in the UK - My ANWB membership covers me for unlimited Europe, breakdown in NL including at my house, and a replacement car for €118 pa. I've had my money's worth out of it already since I called them out the Sunday after we got back from holiday because my handbrake was stuck on (I forgot to leave the car in gear for the 4 weeks we were away .) He was here in 15 minutes and worked on it for over an hour.

You need to get your EHICs sorted too - very important for if you are taken ill (which of course I hope you won't be!).

I took wasleys advice and searched for brokers. Got the details below from the money saving expert and just saved over 50% on the RAC and upped my cover.........

RAC Breakdown through Broker Direct Assistance.

One product and one price - total simplicity.

For an annual payment of £70.00 per vehicle our policy will provide:

* Roadside assistance
* Roadside recovery
* At home
* Onward travel
* European assistance

Do you qualify? As long as you are not driving a taxi, you are not a courier or driving a vehicle over 3.5 tons.

Thomas Carroll (Brokers) Limited
Pendragon House
Crescent Road
Caerphilly
CF83 1XX

Telephone Number:

02920 88 77 33

Hooray! Sounds like a bargain, well done!

Thanks for your advice and input Gwyn.

Just waiting for the T&C's to be sent to check its not too good to be true.

While on the subject we always use a broker and had car/breakdown and household cover through NU for many years as they would match comparable quotes.

This year he told us NU premiums were no longer competitive and suggested:

KGM Motor Insurance for car
BD Assistance for breakdown
Zurich Home Solutions Advantage for household (also via Broker Direct it seems)

All of these are only available via an intermediary.

Savings were significant and cover at least as comprehensive as NU.

Sounds fantastic would you mind sending me the itineray if you have 1, sounds like an awsome trip

Itinerary!

Sounds like hard work that. Its a case of getting in the car and going. Must book a ferry I suppose

Thats the best way to do it, jump in the motor and go.

For anyone in the north I can recommend DFDS Seaways, Newcastle to Ijumuiden (Amsterdam). Upgarde to Commodore Class is well worth it.

Did it a couple of years ago. Managed a flying tour of Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy (for lunch:shock, Lichtenstein, Switzerland, France and Luxemborg in 6 days!

It does sound like a great trip Jon. As far as ferries goe the Hull Rotterdam/Zeebrugge routes are good, but expensive if there are a lot of you as you have to book a cabin too. Good fun though and you arrive refreshed on the other side of the North Sea.

We look forward to hearing all about it, and of course to seeing the photos!

Greynolds that was a flying tour! 8 countries in 6 days That's worse than the classic if it's Tuesday it must be Belgium bus tour