Why Breakdown Cover is Necessary in Crtical Circumstances?

I have never had an accident while driving, I mean never.  Not that I am an excellent driver just a very cautious one. So when my mother gave me a loan to use to apply for car breakdown cover I did not easily agreed. I know she was worried, but I know I am safe when I drive. I have basic if not a broad knowledge of my automobile and I can change a flat tyre when I get one and call a garage to tow my lorry when I also need one. But to ease my mother’s worries, I agreed to buy my insurance come New Years, then on Christmas day my sister slipped on a patch of ice on the road and she was rescued by the breakdown cover guys. After that my mother was relentless in pursuing me to get that bloody car breakdown cover. So finally I relented and applied online, which is good because they gave me a discount. I still do not believe that I need it because my car is in great shape and I have it checked up and serviced regularly.  The cover is expensive and totally useless.  The services they offer can be found in other businesses where they are offered individually and I only have to pay for them when I use them.  My preferred approach would probably be cheaper, but even if I explained it to my mom she does not want to listen. My dad kind of agrees with me, but he has no power of persuasion when it comes to my mom. One good thing though is that the car breakdown cover I chose is only the basic one which means that it is not that expensive and my loan is not that big.  I cannot believe the number of add-ons they include in their packages to make the prices of their covers higher. If you make a breakdown cover comparison of prices you will be shocked at how expensive they are but still a lot of people believe them and make themselves spend money on something that is totally not needed.

Lots of breakdown cover reviews are great which makes me question the reliability of the sites where I read these articles from.  Any self respecting man will not avail himself of this service.  It is absurd and people are very gullible if they believe that they need this cover more than maintaining their cars. It will be less expensive if they just have their cars maintained in perfect working condition. The economy nowadays is tanking and it is not a good idea to spend even a dime on unnecessary covers. The money they can save when they do not have the cover can be used for other necessities like food and improving your current car.  

I have been driving for almost 20 years now and never met an accident and had never used the car breakdown cover.  So to say the least I think it was a waste of money.  It is better to maintain my car than to pay someone to come rescue me when something goes wrong with my car.  But if you have lots of money to throw away, then go ahead and invest yourself with this cover.  

Currently I am very happy that after that first year of breakdown cover I have not renewed it ever again. The roads are safer, thanks to constant renovation and improvement and the cars are better. Every year a new model comes out which is getting better and better for the cold season. So even without the cover almost everyone is equipped to handle roads without the cover.

TIPS TO AVOID CAR BREAKDOWN

TIPS TO AVOID CAR BREAKDOWN

Every driver considers a car breaking down in the middle of a travel a nightmare, in fact, this situation makes motorist’s feel stressed and agitated. And everybody knows that breaking down causes so much headache and even heartache. This is why below, you will see a guide on how to manage your car after it has stop working. 

The first things you have to do is avoid getting a breakdown or avoid making your car tired. 

1.     AVOID WEARING YOUR BATTERY OUT.

A car needs a battery – a working battery. In order for you to avoid experiencing a breakdown in the middle of the road, be kind to your battery. Avoid draining it by cautiously turning off the lights and the radio when your car is not in use. 

The battery gets looked always when you are having a service for your car –this is a common misapprehension. The batteries are mostly the most overlooked part of a car, so it is advised to check your batteries yourself. There are indicators in your batteries that will tell you if your car is in good shape or not. These indicators vary, with that; the battery should have some sort of a guide. 

The most common cause of breakdowns during the winter season is having a flat battery. So if you do not have plans of using your car in these cold days, intermittently start your car up so that you are assured that your battery is alive and kicking. Otherwise, your battery will be frosted and will become flat. 

2.     ALWAYS CHECK YOUR TIRES TOO

 Kerb collision while you are parking will cause damages to the sidewalls of the tires. Thus, this results to a punctured tire. With this reason, it is always a must to check your tires if it has any damage after any abrade

Make sure that your tires are blown up with the correct pressure. Exaggeratedly blown up tire can cause a blow out, on the other hand, a car filled with lesser air can affect the management and reduce the fuel savings. Your tires could have a perforation if they continue to lose pressure.
 
Always make sure that you have a spare tire that is correctly inflated. Additionally, have the right tools if in case you need to replace a tire.
 
Take care of your car if it’s cold
 
 After a cold night, make sure that your will let your car windows thaw out before going out.
 
Make sure that the water supply of your engine is enough
 
Oil may thicken when it is cold, so check if your oil is of the right tackiness

 Fill your car up

Okay, this might seem to be the most obvious tip to avoid a breakdown, but do not go out on a trip without having enough gas in your car. It is a little bit embarrassing if you will explain to a mechanic that your car had stopped working because you did not fill it up with the gas or fuel.

If in case your car broke down in the middle of a trip and has left you stranded, do not panic.

·        If you feel that your car is about to stop working, get off the road and pull off to the side of the road as achievable.

·        Get out of the car but never leave your car and roam around

·        Get in touch with the AA breakdown cover office and ask for help

If you do not have a breakdown cover yet (like an AAbreakdown cover) it is time for you to get one, otherwise, if your car breaks down, you will be left high and dry in the middle of nowhere. With an AA breakdown cover, you are assured that there will be someone to help you in case your car stops cooperating and doing its function.

GETTING YOURSELF COVERED WITH RAC BREAKDOWN POLICY

Once the holidays are over, many people are now excited to go on a trip and bring their families and friends along. To make life easier and to make them escape riding buses and trains, people bring their trusted cars with them. Sometimes, if not all the time, cars breakdown in the middle of a happy travel, and that results to being stranded in the middle of the road or worse in the middle of nowhere.

And we all know that being in the middle of the road with your family, friends and kids, plus a vehicle that is not working is a scary thought to have especially when the place you are in is a place that you do not know. Now, wouldn’t be a great idea and a great thing to know that in case your car stops working while you are travelling, someone will respond to your help with just a call? Be covered with an RAC breakdown cover now.

BREAKDOWNS DO NOT ONLY HAPPEN WHILE HAVING A TRIP

Breakdowns don’t always happen when you are going to a far place; they may also happen while you are on your way to your favorite coffee shop or while you are bringing your kids to school. Regardless of what scenario you have, when a car covers and when you call RAC, they will be there for you in no time. Who does not like that kind of service, eh?

So now, think it over, why do you want to be stranded in the middle of the road or while you are on your way to attend an important meeting when you know that you can have a peace of mind thinking that someone will get you through if incidentally you car breaks down. The RAC breakdown policy will give you a no-sweat, no-stress driving and travelling experience.

WHY IS THERE A NEED TO BE COVERED BY RAC?

The RAC breakdown team has more watchers or patrols per member compared to other policy holders. Additionally, they also have strategically placed their road side assistance team anywhere in the United Kingdom, these roadside assistants are eager to give you the services that you deserve, 24 hours a day, 7 times a week and 365 a year.

Also, the RAC breakdown insurance has great deals and big, big discounts for their member. Moreover, you can also choose the membership and the insurance that best suit you. All you have to do is get in touch with them through their contact numbers.

The patrol of the RAC endeavors to be with you within 40 minutes or less, meaning, you do not have to wait for hours and hours just to have your car serviced by your breakdown policy providers.

The RAC breakdown insurance offers you nothing but the best services other breakdown providers do not. So what are the services that are offered by this RAC breakdown policy?

·        Towing of your car

·        In case your keys get locked inside your car, the RAC team will try its best to get the keys inside without destroying your car.

·        In case you ran out of gas, the gas will be delivered to your car in no time.

·        If in case you get caught and your car cannot move because of mud or any other factors, theRAC may winch your car to the nearest roadside possible.

·      If in case your tire gets flat or broken, a spare tire will be set up in place of your old and broken tire.

With RAC breakdown cover, you will have a peace of mind while you are driving, whether you are going to a place just around the corner of whether you are going to a distance place, you got yourself covered.

Start Rescue – Good value breakdown cover from £18.30 per year

Start Rescue provide affordable and flexible car breakdown products, with a wide range designed to meet the needs of any motorist and their budget. They competitively and conveniently rate and price their products on a star basis from 1 to 5 stars, providing some excellent benefits and no costly extras such as breakdown policy excesses. They pride themselves on having user friendly policy wording so that you understand.

No matter what level of policy you purchase, you can be confident that when Start Rescue need you, they are there and will meet or exceed your expectations every time.
Call Assist Ltd, which has been providing the service on behalf of many other insurance brands over the past 12 years, provides the assistance and administration on behalf of startrescue.co.uk
Call Assist Ltd provides the service through a network of over 1,100 approved Recovery Agents throughout the UK and an additional network in Europe, providing assistance in over 45 countries. The startrescue.co.uk insurance policy is underwritten by Groupama Insurances which is part of the European financial services giant, Groupama. Both Call Assist Ltd and Groupama Insurance Company Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
Visit a car breakdown comparison website to get the latest deals or read Start Rescue Reviews for the valued opinions of other customers.

How to choose car breakdown cover

Imagine a day full to brimming, you’ve got to get to work, important meetings or appointments,  get the kids to school and home again via no doubt a club or two and the car won’t start, or even worse you’ve been involved in an accident and your stuck on the hard shoulder somewhere too far from home….alone…

With car breakdown cover you have the reassurance that help is only a phone call away. You are never alone or truly stranded.  There are a variety of packages to choose from, with some companies like the AA and RAC you become a member of a club which then entitles you to certain services, the level of the services being dependent on your membership level. With Green Flag for example you just join on a “per claim” basis.

How to choose the best roadside recover service for you

The key to good car breakdown cover is buy a policy with features that you will get the most benefit from and no more.  There are many breakdown insurance companies, specialists like the AA, the RAC, Green Flag and those offering wider services Tesco, Sainsbury’s for example.  They key for all of them is to follow a few simple steps before joining.  These are as follows:

Step 1 – Decide if you want car breakdown cover for the car or for you

If you choose cover for the car then anyone who drives the named vehicle can use the policy if they breakdown.  With personal cover you are covered personally regardless of the vehicle you are in, so you can use your policy with any vehicle whether you are the driver or even the passenger.
Personal cover can usually be for you, you plus one or you plus up to four other people. You all need to live at the same address though which makes it a good option for families or flatmates.

Personal cover is usually more expensive but may be useful if you travel in many different vehicles. Also, if you want to take out European cover some companies like the RAC insist you have personal breakdown cover.

Step 2 – Decide on the level of car breakdown cover you want

Decide on the level of cover, you will need to balance probability of use with the cost charged for each additional feature.  The three best known providers, AA, RAC and Green Flag all offer a basic package with add-ons so you can create the policy that best suits your needs.

Basic Roadside Rescue Package

The basic breakdown cover packages are each called different names by each of the providers, the idea being to make it as difficult as possible for you to make a comparison.  However, in general each of the packages are very similar and offer near identical cover.  The basic package  is called Roadside assistance by the RAC, Roadside by the AA, Rescue by Green Flag.  The basic cover provides:

• Roadside assistance
• Transfer to local garage if roadside assistance unsuccessful

To this basic package there are then three optional common add ons which are as follows:

(i)   Breakdown cover from your home

This is known as Homestart by the AA,  At Home by the RAC and Rescue Plus by Green Flag and provides assistance within one quarter of a mile of the registered address of the policy holder.

(ii)   UK wide transfer

Known as Relay by the AA, Recovery by the RAC and Recovery by Green Flag.  This add on will transfer a vehicle plus 7 passengers to anywhere in the UK in the event of a breakdown which cannot be fixed at the roadside.

(iii)   Support whilst your vehicle is repaired

Known as Stay Mobile by the AA, Onward Travel by the RAC and Recovery Plus by Green Flag this add on provide a few options, being either

Visit a breakdown cover comparison site, or read Start Rescue Reviews.

The History of the RAC

The RAC (or Royal Automobile Club as it was known then) was founded in 1897 by car enthusiasts Charles Harrington Moore, and Richard Simms. When founded, the RAC were known as 'The Automobile Club of Great Britain". When setting out the clubs regulations, the pair followed the constitution laid out by the Automobile Club de France.
Within 4 years the RAC had started employing their first uniformed patrolmen in the UK. In 1907 they gain royal approval and adopted their current name - the RAC.
In 1926, the RAC began the British Grand Prix, which was held at Brooklands, and within 6 years they had sponsored their first ever Rally. Their first rally covered a geographic distance of more than 1,000 miles. In a unique race, unlike modern day rally's, all drivers started from different locations, and all headed to the same finish line in Torquay, on the south coast of England. 367 drivers from accross the world started the race, while 259 drivers completed the 1,000 miles, with an average speed of less than 25 mph.
In 1960, Blackpool became the starting point of the RAC Rally. The race ended at Brands Hatch and covered more than 2,000 miles. The following year the forestry stages were added to the RAC rally which allowed for greater speeds.
In 1978 the group was incorporated with the name RAC Motoring Services Ltd.
In 1999 the company was sold to Lex Services plc, who sold it on to Aviva in 2005. In 2006 the RAC joined West Surrey Racing to create Team RAC, which competed in the British Touring Car Championships.
Today the RAC has over 2,000 UK patrols, they respond to 2.8 million breakdowns, from a customer base of over 7 million, this is made up of approximately 4.5 million corporate clients and 2.5 million individuals. The RAC operates from several car breakdown call centres which operate 24 hours, 7 days per week. The RAC have won the distinguished  JD Power award for three consecutive years for offering the UK's best roadside patrols.
In an ever increasingly competitive market where the customers needs are complex, the RAC has branched out into various products and services not related to car breakdown cover, some of them don't even relate to cars. The main services which they offer are;
RAC Breakdown - This is the main service that we all know and love the RAC for, attending, then repairing or towing our broken down car from the roadside. Visit a car breakdown cover comparison site such as WhyBreakdown.co.uk to compare the latest deals.
RAC Europe - provides breakdown cover for RAC customers on the continent, which includes 47 countries. They are headquartered in Villeurbanne, France where English speaking staff are available to assist motorists who have broken down 24 hours per day.
RAC Direct Insurance - offers UK consumers a car, can, motorbike, travel, and home insurance service.
RAC Legal Services - provides advice and assistance to members who are involved in a personal injury claim.
RAC Vehicle Checks - checks vehicles to determine if the car has been either written off, stolen, has previous plates, or outstanding finance agreements. This service is primarily used by people looking to buy a car and check that the car is legal. The serice is ran by HBI who also authenticate the car's documents.
RAC Examinations - conduct physical checks on vehicles to ensure the car is sound.
The RAC also provide a variety of smaller services.

View the latest RAC breakdown reviews or read Start Rescue Reviews.

The History of GEM

The story has it that on his way to meet friends at the Warnes Hotel in Worthing in 1932, our founder was involved in a 'near miss' with a young man in a sports car. In response, that group of friends formed a club to encourage Care, Courtesy and Concentration on the roads to reduce the growing accident toll...and so the Company of Veteran Motorists was born.

Pioneers of the Road

There have been many motoring changes in our 80 years and we have played our part. We have also moved with the times, but our aim is still the same: to give our members good service, sound advice and keep them safe on the road. In 1983 we reflected these ambitions by changing our name to the Guild of Experienced Motorists... or GEM, for short. We launched our breakdown recovery service in 1978 and have been a trusted provider ever since.

Keeping you Moving

We are a UK based organisation that holds true to our society-of-friends origins. We provide a friendly, reliable and responsive service just when you need us the most. One phone call to our 24 hour GEM Rescue Control Centre, and a trained operator quickly arranges assistance from one of our nationwide network of 6,000 recovery vehicles. We look after you.
We've been one of Auto Express's top three providers for the last three years.

Keeping you Safe

While most people know us for personal breakdown cover, we do so much more. GEM has championed a wide variety of Road Safety activities, including conferences, award schemes and research. We support national and local Road Safety campaigns; donate equipment for training, assessment and vision screening; and produce free motoring advice and road safety leaflets. Today, GEM Motoring Assist has around 75,000 members.
Our president is dedicated Road Safety campaigner, Viscount Simon. He's also a Trustee of the GEM Road Safety Charity.
GEM is a member of:

• The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS)
• The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)

GEM Motoring Assist Annual Reports

A summary of the major activities and performance of GEM during recent years are provided in the Chairman’s Annual reports which are approved at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting held in May of each year.

GEM Membership

You're not just a Customer: you're a Member!

GEM started in 1932 as a motorists' safety association. Association membership is included when you take out our breakdown cover. Membership is also open to motorists who do not want breakdown cover, but want the member benefits.

So what are the benefits of membership?

All members enjoy the support and advice that comes from GEM's 80 years of experience.

• You can access the exclusive My GEM area of our website, which has a wealth of useful motoring information and includes our Route Planner
• You can claim discounts on other services such as insurance, vehicle inspections, airport parking... and lots more.
• You'll receive our lively quarterly magazine 'Good Motoring' and regular e-mail newsletters
• You also benefit from a free Accident Management Service, which helps you deal with any claims or legal process following a traffic accident. Even if you never have to use it, being covered by us means you can decline the expensive legal-cover options offered with your motor insurance policy. So it saves you money.
• There are regular special-offers and promotions for members... keep an eye on the website!

 Read the latest GEM Breakdown Reviews or read Start Rescue Reviews.