Do you have Direct Line car breakdown cover?

I was recently surprised to discover that my insurance with the AA is cheaper if I add my girlfriend as a named driver.

Apparently single males are more likely to have accidents, and make claims.

quote:

Originally posted by hungryhalibut:
We have beakdown cover on Hilary's car for £55 per year. Now my car is over a year old, we need cover for this one as well. Expecting to pay another £55, I was very pleasantly surprised to find that we could turn Hilary's policy into a 'husband and wife' policy for only £9 extra. Now both our cars are covered, and any other car either of us is travelling in as a passenger. Brilliant!!

If any of you have Direct Line breakdown, and two cars, it's well worth doing this, if you have not done so already.

Nigel

I can't remember the last time I was in a car that broke down. You car is only just over a year old? Is this really cover that you "need". Put the cash towards new music. Or towards maintaining your car. Insurance is a poor bet when applied to things that aren't "catastrophic", IMHO.

Problem is, you don't need it until you need it. Then you REALLY need it.

I'm quite happy to pay £9 to cover my car for breakdown - in fact I think it's an amazing bargain! Especially as my car is a Citroen C1!!

Nigel

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:

quote:

Originally posted by hungryhalibut:
We have beakdown cover on Hilary's car for £55 per year. Now my car is over a year old, we need cover for this one as well. Expecting to pay another £55, I was very pleasantly surprised to find that we could turn Hilary's policy into a 'husband and wife' policy for only £9 extra. Now both our cars are covered, and any other car either of us is travelling in as a passenger. Brilliant!!

If any of you have Direct Line breakdown, and two cars, it's well worth doing this, if you have not done so already.

Nigel

I can't remember the last time I was in a car that broke down. You car is only just over a year old? Is this really cover that you "need". Put the cash towards new music. Or towards maintaining your car. Insurance is a poor bet when applied to things that aren't "catastrophic", IMHO.

Even the best maintained car could develop a fault, electrical faults are still the most popular. I see plenty of new cars on the hard shoulder.

Have you any idea how much a tow off the motorway costs?? Much more than one years breakdown cover. Besides if you get a puncture on the motorway in the rain would you really want to deal with it yourself?

Cheers
Steve

quote:

Besides if you get a puncture on the motorway in the rain would you really want to deal with it yourself?

Doubly so if it's an off-side puncture.

Not too sure if I'd want to change a wheel on the motorway even in the dry.

I'm not doubting that these things happen. All I'm saying is that they are now very rare. Yes, you see cars on the hard shoulder, but it is a tiny number compared to the number driving past reliably. Insurance is a financial arrangement (bet). It doesn't alter the odds or onconvenience of flat tyres, nor of breakdowns. Actually, one could argue that it does, as those who have insurance for bad events generally take less care to ensure that they don't happen. Try driving without any insurance at all - see how careful it makes you! Insurance is a net loss for society, but especially for those who need it.

Take the premiums and use them for something you enjoy. Suck it up if you break down and just pay. You'll be miles ahead financially (on average).

Insurance is a poverty trap. It sucks money from those who need insurance (those without financial reserves) and gives it to those who don't (shareholders and executives in insurance companies). It creates nothing except carelessness.

Just my two cents.

If your car has a direct ignition system ie a cartridge that fits across all the plug leads and replaces the plug leads - a good insurance policy is to carry a spare Direct Ignition Cartridge, if the cartridge fails you are dead in the water and dependent on the rescue service having one with them to sell to you.

I am an AA member with a ten year old car, I will go a couple of years without any need, and then a couple of times in a few months.

They have been invaluable, especially the time I was going to Wembley and my coolant impeller packed in. Advised to drive slowly the remaining 100miles, then on the way back had to be put on the back of a truck. A long night, but safely home in the early hours.

Without breakdown cover I would have wasted £160 worth of NFL tickets, missed the only game played in the UK each year, and been stranded over 100 miles from home.

Even when I buy a new car I will keep my cover, it also works for any car I am in, and they have helped with a friends car that packed in.

The AA, RAC and Direct Line all compete and all have a quality of service that is worth every penny when you need it. I can vouch that the AA also employ really helpful and friendly people.

Out of interest Winky - do you have insurance for your car, home contents and building etc?

I think the general point was that one should take out insurance only against losses one couldn't meet easily.

Thus you insure against your house burning down, but not against dropping a cup in the kitchen.

Fraser

Fair enough.

quote:

Originally posted by Lontano:
Out of interest Winky - do you have insurance for your car, home contents and building etc?

I have never carried home contents insurance until just recently. Here in Canada, contents is typically "bundled" with the property insurance. As the property insurance is compulsory with our mortgage, we are now "fully covered". I hate it, though. I tried to negotiate a lower rate with a much larger deductible but didn't have much luck.

The outcome for me (to-date) is that I have, in 30 years, had one major event (break-in) that MIGHT have been covered by insurance. They came in an open second floor window - police at the time opined that the fact that window was unlocked would have rendered a claim invalid. I therefore MIGHT be $3000 out of pocket, assuming that the claim would have been paid had I had insurance (which I didn't). Much less than the insurance premia I have saved.

When I owned a car, I took out third-party insurance only. I have never had an accident in which having insurance would have gained me anything. I have a couple of minor prangs over the past 30 year, but each was the other party's fault. As I said, not being insured makes you drive carefully.

I have not had private health insurance for 25 years, other than that provided by my employer. I have had very minimal medical expenses and am way ahead on this.

The only insurance I have voluntarily bought is travel insurance when heading on holidays. Not a sound financial decision with hindsight. I've never had an insurable event. The risk of major medical costs is small in probability, but potentially high in consequence. The insurance perhaps buys me peace-of-mind so I can enjoy my holiday. "Friends" of mine have said to me on ocassion that they always claim one lost bag, just to cover the cost of insurance. Don't know if they were serious. Hmmm.

Buying insurance transfers value to insurance companies, but also to the lazy and fraudulent. Not where I want my money to go.

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:
I'm not doubting that these things happen. All I'm saying is that they are now very rare. Yes, you see cars on the hard shoulder, but it is a tiny number compared to the number driving past reliably. Insurance is a financial arrangement (bet). It doesn't alter the odds or onconvenience of flat tyres, nor of breakdowns. Actually, one could argue that it does, as those who have insurance for bad events generally take less care to ensure that they don't happen. Try driving without any insurance at all - see how careful it makes you! Insurance is a net loss for society, but especially for those who need it.

Take the premiums and use them for something you enjoy. Suck it up if you break down and just pay. You'll be miles ahead financially (on average).

Insurance is a poverty trap. It sucks money from those who need insurance (those without financial reserves) and gives it to those who don't (shareholders and executives in insurance companies). It creates nothing except carelessness.

Just my two cents.

It might not alter the odds but it does make breakdowns of any sort a lot less inconvenient and less costly. It's getting on for two hundred sheets to get you off the motorway and that's without any attempt to fix it!

It's also came in handy for the recovery of my motorbike following its theft. Thieves had left it hot-wired and had flattened the battery, the RAC sorted the wiring out and boosted the battery so I could ride it home. The RAC chappie then followed me home to make sure I got there OK.

Who would you ring in the event of a breakdown?

My RAC premium cost about £75 for my partner and I and covers us for any vehicle. Handy seeing as I have seven

All my vehicles are maintained be me alone no matter what needs doing.(I'll pass on bonded windscreens though). No shoddy main stealer maintenance at my house.

Third party insurance is fine if you have an easily replaced shed. Not everybody falls into this bracket though.

Cheers
Steve

quote:

Originally posted by Guinnless:

Who would you ring in the event of a breakdown?

Who would I ring? Tow-truck, friend and/or taxi. You're right, I would have to pay quite lot for these services, but seeing as I haven't had to do this in 25 years, I think I might even still be ahead.

Oh, and BTW that's 7 vehicles more than me . Getting rid of cars from my life has been one of the greatest lifestyle decisions I've ever made.

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:

quote:

Originally posted by Guinnless:

Who would you ring in the event of a breakdown?

Who would I ring? Tow-truck, friend and/or taxi. You're right, I would have to pay quite lot for these services, but seeing as I haven't had to do this in 25 years, I think I might even still be ahead.

Oh, and BTW that's 7 vehicles more than me . Getting rid of cars from my life has been one of the greatest lifestyle decisions I've ever made.

Taxi! And leave the car behind? No I'd rather sleep in the car overnight rather than leave it. It'd be stripped the next day if left on its own.

Cars are my lifestyle

Just got back from my mates and the 2001 Focus he's just had to change the clutch master cylinder on now won't start
We suspect an immobiliser problem. Modern cars eh?

Cheers
Steve

quote:

Originally posted by Guinnless:


Taxi! And leave the car behind? No I'd rather sleep in the car overnight rather than leave it. It'd be stripped the next day if left on its own.


Cheers
Steve

It's just a car. I'd have it towed to somewhere if I really thought it a risk. Sleeping in a bloody car isn't how I like to spend my life. Nor is being stuck in traffic.

No, I'll pass on the recommended strategy of betting that I'm going to break down. I'll just drive less. Or not at all. Everything I love about life is better without cars.

Winky