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Lifesure breakdown vs RAC
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 8:58 am
by Jillygumbo
I know there have been other posts about this subject but they are from a while ago. We have just received our renewal from the RAC - a whacking £190 for the next year. This is for roadside and recovery after 31 years with them! One benefit is that they cover any vehicle and they will cover an old bongo as long as you have more than the basic roadside cover.
I know one option is to ring them and insist on a new member rate or I'll walk, so I will try that ... thanks Dr Fingers.
My insurance is with Lifesure and they offer roadside, recovery and home start for £95! A bit of a difference and I am going to ring them to see if they'll do a discount for me as an existing customer. I know it only covers the bongo, that's not a problem.
aside from these options, anyone got any other thoughts? Anyone had to call them out? Who do they use for call out?
Re: Lifesure breakdown vs RAC
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 9:20 am
by Bob
Just had our RAC renewal, £122 for the 'Arrival' package.
That's the one where they will take the caravan on to your site (or home) then get the car off for repair then reunite you.
We were with GEM for a long time and very happy with them, only changed because RAC have the best cover for caravans.
The GEM deal slightly odd in that they send a breakdown truck and you pay him then reclaim the money. Worked very well the one time we used it.
RAC included a free year's membership of C& CC when we took it out but never used that. Off subject but their main sites are now very expensive and I don't like the variable pricing.
UK Campsites is now our main source to find new sites.
Re: Lifesure breakdown vs RAC
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 9:27 am
by Jillygumbo
GEM is one Terry found online. I'll get a quote thanks.
Re: Lifesure breakdown vs RAC
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 11:23 am
by Northern Bongolow
Re: Lifesure breakdown vs RAC
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 11:45 am
by Jillygumbo
Seems to me if you're loyal you pay through the nose! Gonna make a few calls
Re: Lifesure breakdown vs RAC
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 12:06 pm
by ade33
I can't fault Greenflag for recovering our van 4 times over the last year. That's 4 call-outs for a chap in a transit to go 'I can't fix that', then 4 flat-bed trucks to recover the Beastly Bus to a garage.
We have the personal cover option that covers my wife and I in any vehicle and pay about £12 a month.
Re: Lifesure breakdown vs RAC
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 1:03 pm
by Jillygumbo
ade33 wrote:I can't fault Greenflag for recovering our van 4 times over the last year. That's 4 call-outs for a chap in a transit to go 'I can't fix that', then 4 flat-bed trucks to recover the Beastly Bus to a garage.
We have the personal cover option that covers my wife and I in any vehicle and pay about £12 a month.
Thanks for that. At the moment I'm looking at GEM because I can recover to a bongo specialist in the area if necessary. Just gotta call Lifesure for comparison.
Re: Lifesure breakdown vs RAC
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 5:44 pm
by ade33
I'd not heard of GEM - I'll keep a note of them as I don't know if Greenflag will carry on supporting us for so little! If we broke down away from home, GF would recover us anywhere I believe - I had the van recovered to Bongo garages twice without argument. On the driveway though, and they'll only take you a short distance, to a local garage.
A really useful thread - thanks

Re: Lifesure breakdown vs RAC
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 5:53 pm
by Bob
I've never paid for Home Start/On the Drive cover, I figure 90% of stuff at home I can fix anyhow, or at least I'm not stuck out somewhere, and the only time I couldn't fix something at home I just paid for a flat bed to take Bongy to the local experts.
The fee was vrey reasonable I thought, certainly not 2 years Home Start fee.
Just a thought.
Re: Lifesure breakdown vs RAC
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2017 7:23 am
by Bongolia
Is this correct

Wot appened!!
Re: Lifesure breakdown vs RAC
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2017 2:44 pm
by nth
The AA just now is £129 for roadside, relay & home start and you are getting free hire car cover if your car cant be fixed at the roadside. Its personal cover for you as a driver or passenger in any car.
Re: Lifesure breakdown vs RAC
Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 4:37 pm
by Northern Bongolow
Bongolia wrote:
Is this correct

Wot appened!!
yes thats correct, my mrs bought a bmw motorbike to play with now the kids no longer wanna come camping.

.
mine was unconverted tintop and was just using it a van to and from work etc, so with the imminent (all big diesel owner will be shot on sight as gross polluters ) i thought i would pass mine on,
bought one of these, i can camp in it at a push.

.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=skoda ... mMtCNEz_8M:
Re: Lifesure breakdown vs RAC
Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 4:51 pm
by Bob
Looks like a good practical runabout.
I guess it will tow ok so job done.

Re: Lifesure breakdown vs RAC
Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 5:08 pm
by Northern Bongolow
just tried the first solo camp in it bob, went to dent this weekend with bongo fury lot, took the rear seats out and made a bed board slept like a baby,(after loads of beer). its quite good for a small van, full panorama glass roof, black rear windows. going to fit a tow bar and pull a little trailer tent or motorbike trailer tent type thing. its all i need really.

Re: Lifesure breakdown vs RAC
Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 6:53 pm
by Bob
Sounds perfect.
