Roadside Assistance ???

[davrac]

Good Evening All

As per usual I have returned to AULRO to conduct a little research, funny how once you have been here you will always come back, over and over:D.

I have been considering roadside assist having not had it for years and years. Wow the prices have really gone up for a decent package, $200.00 per year ++. Which would be fine if I was going to use it but I own a Landrover ;);).

I apart from all of the big players RACT, RACV, NRMA etc. I have found the AAC (Australian Automobile Club) www.aac.com.au (http://www.aac.com.au)

Has anyone had any experience with this organization or can they suggest any other co's that are reasonably priced for regional cover.

Would love to hear from anyone who has any contact with AAC as they are very reasonable to say the least ans there cover is quite good in comparison. Or is this the typical you get what you pay for?

Cheers

Dave

[phibbzy]

I have it through RACT with a bunch of family members.

Works out to $50 a year when you got 12 people in on it on a family plan. Unfortunately I don't know details exactly as my sister organises it but it works.

Dude even said he's towed push bikes before :D

[Tote]

A couple of years ago we upgraded the cover on my Disco 3 to premium with NRMA to take advantage of the extended recovery range when we did a Simpson Desert trip.
I went to downgrade it this year to save a few bucks and was told that the downgraded coverage did not cover a vehicle of the Disco's GVM and I may not get towed with the lower coverage.:censored:

Regards,
Tote

[stallie]

I'm in RACV total care. I had not claimed for many years, but they were pretty faultless in paying for accommodation and shipping my D2 from Coober Pedy to Melbourne last month. They cover up to $2400 for relocation and accommodation expenses, which admittedly from say Broome wouldn't cover a family of 5 and car getting home, and there are limits of $110 per night accommodation, so no living it up at the Langham.

Service was generally fine, and they called back when required - just don't ring between 1600-1900 AEST... :)

The only downside - I was mighty peeved when we arrived in Adelaide at 0600 after the overnight bus trip from Coober Pedy (no hire cars there) to find the Thrifty CBD not open until 0830. I was with my 4&6 boys and baggage on a winters day on a doorstep in central Adelaide. I rang RACV, gave them a (polite) earful and they then agreed to pay for a cab to a cafe and back when Thrifty opened. Seeing they arranged everything, I thought they should have thought of this - or arranged the hire car to be picked up from the airport.

I think my coverage is about $250 per year.

I'm covered anywhere in Oz for any car I drive
The Disco is covered in oz for full breakdown for anyone driving it
The Subaru is covered for local breakdown assist only (as it's the metro car)

[101RRS]

A couple of years ago we upgraded the cover on my Disco 3 to premium with NRMA to take advantage of the extended recovery range when we did a Simpson Desert trip.
I went to downgrade it this year to save a few bucks and was told that the downgraded coverage did not cover a vehicle of the Disco's GVM and I may not get towed with the lower coverage.:censored:

Regards,
Tote

Exactly - standard NRMA roadside cover is only for 2500kg so in reality if they worked to rule they would not tilt tray most larger 4wds. I have premium on my 101 but for my RRS switched to the roadside cover provided by my insurance company (free) which was a 3500kg limit. Other aspects of the basic cover are similar to the basic NRMA cover and it is free.

So if you drive a D3/D4/RRS and have basic NRMA roadside you might want to rethink your roadside provider. Yes they may still tow you but can deny you that aspect of your service.

Garry

[1950landy]

I have 5 cars coved with RACQ cost around $100 per year

[numpty]

I have 5 cars coved with RACQ cost around $100 per year

Yes, RACQ do this ie if you are the member, any car you drive is covered on their premium cover. I even had my sons car towed when he broke down in it by just saying I was the driver.

With NRMA however, only one car per membership is covered

[DiscoMick]

Quite happy with RACQ Premium after using it a couple of times.
Be aware though that if they arrange something such as a hire car with another company and that company has charges (e.g. hire car not return to base or long distance) they may pass them through. This can be a problem if you're in a remote area.

[goingbush]

In over 30 years of motoring I have never been in a roadside assist programme. Have broken down twice.

Before the days of mobile phones I got bogged in the snow once in my Hemi Series2 , got out to put wheelchains on and it would not start again, Walked 20 km to Warburton, got a Taxi , bought a new battery and he took me to the snow line - what a bugger it was to carry that battery the last 5 km .

The other time was on Cape Leveque Road, Blown engine in a 80 series Toyota, cost $300 to get towed into Broome and $30,000 to buy a 105 series.

In retrospect Total Care might have been cheaper.

I still don't have roadside assist coverage despite being on a solo round Aust trip, under the worst case scenario my plan is just to join up at the time if I need to make the call.

You are able to join RACV total assist at time of breakdown as long as you pay 2 years membership, so why waste years of coverage before you need it ???

[copba]

I still don't have roadside assist coverage despite being on a solo round Aust trip, under the worst case scenario my plan is just to join up at the time if I need to make the call.

You are able to join RACV total assist at time of breakdown as long as you pay 2 years membership, so why waste years of coverage before you need it ???

That's an interesting idea. :)

I've had the basic cover for over 20 years, used it a few times at the start with my old Datto 1200, but haven't called them for 10, or 15 years now.
I've just recently joined they're premium cover as it was cheaper for 2 cars.

But when you stop and add up how much you've spent over the years, I wonder if it was worth it.

It's like insurance though, diligently pay it every year and hope never to have to use it.

[1950landy]

Only got to be towed once & it has payed for its self:BigThumb:

[Homestar]

Exactly - standard NRMA roadside cover is only for 2500kg so in reality if they worked to rule they would not tilt tray most larger 4wds. I have premium on my 101 but for my RRS switched to the roadside cover provided by my insurance company (free) which was a 3500kg limit. Other aspects of the basic cover are similar to the basic NRMA cover and it is free.

So if you drive a D3/D4/RRS and have basic NRMA roadside you might want to rethink your roadside provider. Yes they may still tow you but can deny you that aspect of your service.

Garry

Yeah, the limits can be a bit of a trap. RACV's standard cover only gets you 2,000Kg and a 1.8 metre height limit or something close to that, so any 4WD is out - but they don't tell you that when you ring up...

If you own a 4wd then you need Extra Care at a minimum.

[1950landy]

When i was in business i had all my co vehicler 4WD's & 2T toyota trucks with RACQ except for the Hino . Never had a problem geting them towed.