MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: fridayman on March 10, 2013, 09:10:46 PM
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Which breakdown assistance do you use? I applied for RACV but got an email denying my application because I provided a Queensland address. RACQ want to charge me $280, which looks quite expensive considering they only provide towing up to 100km in rural areas, and I am about to set off around Australia.
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I'm with RACQ because I live in Qld. Each RAC is state specific for those residing in that state, but all RAC's provide YOU with assistance when you are in their state.
There are varying levels to each RAC ... I've chosen the one that best suits my needs currently, but there are levels above mine. HERE (http://www.racq.com.au/membership/compare_roadside_assistance_membership) are the levels and what you can expect from each.
Being that I used to work in the call centre, if you have any Q's ... I'm here to help you understand it all.
Kit_e
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We had similar issues trying to figure out how to get roadside assistance, I have a company supplied work ute that I get to take on holidays, so it is covered under it's vehicle lease but not the camper when we tow it.
What we ended up doing as buying the RACQ assistance package ( I think it is called a Silver member maybe) that is specific to a person no matter what vehicle that person is travelling in. Since I never go anywhere without SWMBO when the camper is attached, it is in her name and the camper is covered, Have already used it for our old one when one half of the A frame decided to shear off and RACQ got it onto a tow truck and towed it........no charge.
It also gives her more peace of mind when she might me in a friends car with the kids etc, no matter what vehicle they are in it is always covered by that roadside assistance.
Regards
Mark
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RACV "Total Care" package is extremely good value for $189 per year chech it out :cup: :cup:
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I know that NRMA have different cover to RACV, but I am not too sure on the differences.
I can tell you that I have used RACV for two major breakdowns and have been nothing but impressed with what they have done for me and my family. Mine covers me regardless of what and whose car I am driving or towing.
The first time that I used them I was driving my partners car back from Perth with her and my little one who was 6 months old at the time.
The transmission on the 4wd started blowing out fluid just out of Jerrmungup which is in the middle of nowhere. lol We rang RACV, they had the local mechanic check it over for a day (paid for a nights accommodation and dinner), when he couldn't work out what was wrong with it they organized to get us home. They booked the car on transport back to an auto specialist in wodonga (vic/nsw) border and booked flights to get us home. They paid the mechanic to drive us too the airport (200km away) as there were no taxis. When we got into Albany the flight to Perth was delayed by 12 hours, so rather than be stuck at an airport all day with an infant they organized a hire car for the day so we could drive around and explore Albany. ;D
After the flight into Perth we had another flight into Melbourne and then from there to Albury airport.
Waiting at Albury airport was a hire car for us to use until the 4wd was repaired.
Two weeks later the car arrived at the auto specialist and the new hire car was returned.
The second time we used them was when we were driving home from Brisbane with the new boat. Get to Kempsy and the trailer ended up grenading a wheel bearing and trashing the axle. NRMA realized that they couldn't fix it without replacing the axle so out comes a towie.
Long story short as the first tow truck ended up being to narrow, a larger truck was sent out and some days later it ended up at home.
Because of the delay with the tow trucks, RACV paid for a motel in Newcastle for us and all was well.
None of this cost me anything more than my $200 cover payment. It is not based on use and will only go up in price with everyone else's when they rise.
We did end up working out a rough cost for the Perth recovery and it ended up totaling around $6000 if we had had to pay for it.
One of the conversations I had with a lovely lady at the call center I made a joke about not being allowed to renew my membership after claiming so much. The first response I got was "don't be silly, its what it is there for", the second sentence was " Also you have an average of 5 more claims a year to catch up to the grey nomads" lol
I would make sure you read what your covered for and then make a decision based on that.
And yes I would obviously recommend RACV. :cup:
Cheers
Evo
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RACV were my first choice but denied my application because I am in Brisbane. RACQ want almost $100 more for a similar level of cover.
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Can you get a copy of the pdf for the roadside assistance for racv and racq to compare? Honestly it may be $100 dearer, but if it offers the same cover you would only need to use it once for it not to matter?
Cheers
Evo
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RACQ want to charge me $280, which looks quite expensive considering they only provide towing up to 100km in rural areas, and I am about to set off around Australia.
Mate that sounds expensive. Our RACQ cover is only around half that and it covers further than 100kms. Did you have a look at that link kit_e provided? It gives all the levels of cover. Also as evo says, make sure you are comparing like levels of cover. Read the fine print.
KB
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I did look at the link that Kit_e posted (thanks). Basically I want the best cover that I can get because we will be in some remote places all over Australia this year. The top RACQ package is $249 (about $50 more than the top RACV package) plus I have to pay a $33 joining fee (RACV waive this fee if you take their top package). But as Evo has said, the price difference becomes academic the first time that you use either of their services, so I'm just going to go ahead and get the RACQ top package. Turns out my brother works at RACQ and might be able to get me a staff discount, so I'm waiting to hear back from him before I hand over my hard earned.
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We had the RACQ Ultra Care package when we had a breakdown near Mt Isa a few years ago. Couldn't fix the car (the required part wasn't in stock in Australia!) so RACQ had the vehicle transported back to Brisbane for us and paid for bus fares for us to get back - we took the money and used it towards air fares!
BUT (and it's a big BUT) the Ultra Care package didn't cover bringing the trailer back - we had to arrange that ourselves, which cost us around $800. Since then we have had the Ultimate package which does cover bringing the camper trailer back as well. Not sure that all this is apparent from their website.
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Fridayman, I find it startling that you don't see how living in Queensland means you can't buy a service offered by the RACV fleet based in Victoria?! Or am I missing something?
Compared to the cost of a trek around Australia (with a maybe $100K rig and many thousands of dollars in fuel and food costs) I think $250-$300 for Roadside Assist is a good spend
But make sure you KNOW what level of service you are buying, including remote area and caravan/trailer cover
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RACV were my first choice but denied my application because I am in Brisbane. RACQ want almost $100 more for a similar level of cover.
sounds like a bargain when towing fees can be in the 1000's.. then add accomodation, and everything else. $300 is ****in cheap.
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"To attending RACQ Contractor's Premises*" ... this means the towy coming TO YOU and then BACK TO SITE ... so if you get 200K in the package ... then they include him driving OUT to GET YOU ... in the scheme of things that ain't much in the outback!
And the average Per Kilometre price for towing = $0.16 and upwards (a few years back so it's probably changed since then).
Special Towing = your caravan / camper / trailer ...
All prices and kilometres shown are per event OR per year up to a maximum where YOU pay the rest.
Just something more to think about. ;D
Kit_e
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"To attending RACQ Contractor's Premises*" ... this means the towy coming TO YOU and then BACK TO SITE ... so if you get 200K in the package ... then they include him driving OUT to GET YOU ... in the scheme of things that ain't much in the outback!
And the average Per Kilometre price for towing = $0.16 and upwards (a few years back so it's probably changed since then).
Special Towing = your caravan / camper / trailer ...
All prices and kilometres shown are per event OR per year up to a maximum where YOU pay the rest.
Just something more to think about. ;D
Kit_e
Let's hope I only have trouble near Toyota dealerships :)