Breakdown cover, worth it?

[Guy Heaton]

So my new car will come with one year free breakdown cover.  

 

My wife doesn't think it's worth paying to extend as it's so unlikely to breakdown it's better just sticking the money in the bank and paying a local recovery agent if needed.

 

I like to be covered just in case.

 

Who's right, or at least who's most likely to be right?

[HighHo]

I don't think either of you are wrong. It probably more depends on your requirements, if your car was to break down (new cars are not immune) on the way to work how critical is it you get on your way again quickly? If you do long distance drives and you broke down far from home then recovery on the day could be easily more than the cost of breakdown for a year or 2. 

Ultimately it's a lottery, and need to decide if it's better to have and not need, or better to potentially save some money, but may cost more if something goes wrong.

[YOG]

You can get 12 months UK and European Roadside Assistance free with each Ford Scheduled service, at participating Ford dealers:

UK and European Roadside Assistance is offered with a Ford Scheduled service at participating Ford dealers, valid from the date of service for 12 months, or until the next service is due, whichever comes first. If you do break down you'll get:

• Friendly, skilled roadside help in the UK and Europe
• Assistance if you break down at home
• Alternative transport, replacement vehicle or overnight accommodation if your car can’t be repaired on the spot
• Recovery including caravans and trailers
• Ford Roadside Assistance^* is available 24 hours a day, all year round with just one phone call

https://www.ford.co.uk/owner/service-and-maintenance/service-promotions/assistance

 

[pragmatix]

45 minutes ago, YOG said:

You can get 12 months UK and European Roadside Assistance free with each Ford Scheduled Service, at participating Ford dealers:

UK and European Roadside Assistance is offered with a Ford Scheduled Service at participating Ford dealers, valid from the date of service for 12 months, or until the next service is due, whichever comes first. If you do break down you'll get:

• Friendly, skilled roadside help in the UK and Europe
• Assistance if you break down at home
• Alternative transport, replacement vehicle or overnight accommodation if your car can’t be repaired on the spot
• Recovery including caravans and trailers
• Ford Roadside Assistance^* is available 24 hours a day, all year round with just one phone call

https://www.ford.co.uk/owner/service-and-maintenance/service-promotions/assistance

 

Beat me to it😀

[HighHo]

Is there some reward for posting that, or just really recommended?

[PLB]

51 minutes ago, HighHo said:

Is there some reward for posting that, or just really recommended?

I can also recommend this cover.

'You can get 12 months UK and European Roadside Assistance free with each Ford Scheduled service, at participating Ford dealers.'

I have taken my car over to France several times as it includes European Roadside Assistance.

[pragmatix]

7 hours ago, HighHo said:

Is there some reward for posting that, or just really recommended?

No reward just a good deal.

[Guy Heaton]

Yep I've been looking at service plans.

[isetta]

for breakdown/recovery in my mind it depends how far you venture from home.  Also years ago there were a lot of things I could have fixed at roadside and things were easier to diagnose (in the days of contact breaker ignition). Now it's all electronic and computerised.

So I have had breakdown cover for years now and twice had car recovered back to my home.

1st time was 35 miles.  Escort 1600. Cam follower had broken so making horrible noise from head area and running on 3 cylinders. Breakdown man said head gasket had gone, I did not believe him. I did not know what was wrong until I investigated once back home. Fixed it myself once home.

2nd time was 100 miles when alternator drive belt tensioner pulley broke on Focus 1.6,  the belt also drives water pump on that engine so was overheating. Older cars did not have tensioner pulleys on the belt, so another example of how a modern car has more to go wrong.

I have no idea how much a 100 mile recovery would cost - does anyone know?

[TomsFocus]

55 minutes ago, isetta said:

I have no idea how much a 100 mile recovery would cost - does anyone know?

Last time I bought a non-runner and had it transported 100 miles it cost around £150...  I'd suggest recovery companies probably take advantage of a breakdown situation and charge even more... 

 

I've had bad experiences with breakdown services but still buy them each year as an absolute last resort...  You'd like to hope a brand new car doesn't have any major mechanical faults but there are all sorts of things that can render a car unuseable.  Two tyres blown on a pothole, piece of scrap bounces out of a pickup and smashes the windscreen, hit a deer/badger/pheasant that takes out the radiator, etc...

If you're servicing with Ford anyway then go with their breakdown as others have suggested.  If not, you can get breakdown for under £30 from places like StartRescue.

[Ennvoqation]

I've got recovery, for what I pay for it over the year I do get member discounts for certain goods which offsets the fees. Over the years I've had to call them out to get my car towed after engine lost power, to move the car to a safe place to change the wheel (motorway) , windscreen breaking and replacing a faulty battery. It's also been useful for accidents as you'll end paying a small fortune to get the car recovered. I'm covered for any vehicle, including hire, so that's an added benefit to me.

There's no right or wrong answer, but I'd agree if you do a lot of traveling, especially long distance, then it's worth the cost. The cost of a tow for me to get the car back home was over £200 which was around 150-180 miles to a garage of my choice and a lift home. I used to do 30k+ a year in mileage so I've seen some of the weird and wonderful things that can happen on the road. 

[StephenFord]

A new car? Your wife is obviously a woman of wisdom and correct - save your money and pay for a breakdown service as and when needed. My car is 15 years old and I do have cover, but it only costs me £20/year, and that's an 'all Ireland' cover (I live in Northern Ireland).

[Guy Heaton]

I just don't fancy having to try and find a local recovery person somewhere I don't know, at midnight.

 

I reckon I'll extend the year through the service plan.

[StephenFord]

1 minute ago, Guy Heaton said:

I just don't fancy having to try and find a local recovery person somewhere I don't know, at midnight.

 

I reckon I'll extend the year through the service plan.

mmm... going against your wife, good luck with that LOL

[pcaouolte]

The free cover through the Ford scheduled service is excellent. When I used it the AA came out and, as they couldn't fix the car, they towed it to a destination of my choice (my preferred Ford dealer, not the nearest one). As it includes cover at home and throughout Europe it would cost a lot to buy from the AA. 

[Eric Bloodaxe]

Guess it all depends if you're content to continue with Ford service after one year. We've always been happy with our usual dealer so kept our Fords with them and got the cover. With other makes it depends. SEAT do a similar thing with breakdown but not thrilled with the service/prices there so moved the Mrs's Mii to the local garage when the warranty expired and added breakdown to her insurance. 

[PLB]

4 hours ago, Guy Heaton said:

I just don't fancy having to try and find a local recovery person somewhere I don't know, at midnight.

 

I reckon I'll extend the year through the service plan.

My car is 4 months old with a 3 year warrantee and I haven’t paid any extra for a service plan.

My first service is not due until 18 months or 2 years.

However, to retain my breakdown cover I have been advised that after 12 months to book it in for a basic check (not a service as such)

This will cost me a small amount but they will extend the free breakdown cover for a further 12 months.

From then on I will get the free cover annually after its service.

As I have said you do not need to pay for any service plan to take advantage of the free breakdown cover.

[PLB]

2 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Guess it all depends if you're content to continue with Ford service after one year. We've always been happy with our usual dealer so kept our Fords with them and got the cover. With other makes it depends. SEAT do a similar thing with breakdown but not thrilled with the service/prices there so moved the Mrs's Mii to the local garage when the warranty expired and added breakdown to her insurance. 

Same as you, I am happy with the Sales and Support of my dealer so I always get the servicing and therefore the free breakdown cover.

[PLB]

2 hours ago, pcaouolte said:

The free cover through the Ford scheduled service is excellent. When I used it the AA came out and, as they couldn't fix the car, they towed it to a destination of my choice (my preferred Ford dealer, not the nearest one). As it includes cover at home and throughout Europe it would cost a lot to buy from the AA. 

Yes agreed, I have taken my car over to France several times using the free cover. 

[Guy Heaton]

Plb thanks. I will check this with my dealer when I collect hopefully end June.  Who is your dealer?

[Eric Bloodaxe]

1 hour ago, PLB said:

However, to retain my breakdown cover I have been advised that after 12 months to book it in for a basic check (not a service as such)

This will cost me a small amount but they will extend the free breakdown cover for a further 12 months.

Only drawback is the convenience check at 12 months was quoted as £35 or so on Ford's website when I ordered my car (September 2017) but had risen to £99 when I needed to book it in. As I mentioned in another thread, some dealers are open to negotiation on this, and it's probably still not such bad value when you look at what AA/RAC charge for similar breakdown cover alone.

[Guy Heaton]

Yes, just checked on Ford and it is 99 quid.

 

I'd expect a full oil change for 99 quid theiving sods.

[PLB]

58 minutes ago, Guy Heaton said:

Plb thanks. I will check this with my dealer when I collect hopefully end June.  Who is your dealer?

Paynes of Hinckley.

Watling St.

[PLB]

56 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Only drawback is the convenience check at 12 months was quoted as £35 or so on Ford's website when I ordered my car (September 2017) but had risen to £99 when I needed to book it in. As I mentioned in another thread, some dealers are open to negotiation on this, and it's probably still not such bad value when you look at what AA/RAC charge for similar breakdown cover alone.

Yes, I think i was quoted about £35.00 by the salesman.

I think I may call my dealer and talk to the salesman rather than the service department.

 

[Eric Bloodaxe]

17 hours ago, Guy Heaton said:

 

I'd expect a full oil change for 99 quid theiving sods.

Some of us have.......😀 

Edited May 23, 2019 by Eric Bloodaxe