Exposed: RAC's multi-car breakdown plan rip-off

Motoring and Travel

Updated on 07 October 2015 | 2 Comments

Multi-car customers on budget breakdown recovery plan hit with inexplicable premium.

If you want breakdown cover for a couple of vehicles you own, you might hope for a discount from your provider because of the extra business. You certainly wouldn’t expect to pay extra per car.

The RAC, however, is currently charging customers who sign up for its basic roadside recovery package an extra premium when they bring more than one vehicle under their membership cover.

Prices being driven up

‘Roadside’ is the basic breakdown service offered by the RAC and it costs £27.99 for single-vehicle cover.

This plan comes with 24/7 breakdown cover, including a ten-mile tow.

However, when you look at the cost of multi-vehicle cover, you’ll notice that the pricing isn’t just a simple multiplication of the cost of one car. You’re actually being charged extra for the privilege.

RAC prices

Number of vehicles covered

RAC

Extra cost

1

£27.99

n/a

2

£66.99

£11.01

3

£96.99

£13.02

Thankfully the other three roadside assistance options offered by the RAC do give large discounts for members with multiple vehicles.

The Roadside Recovery bundle, which the RAC says is its most popular choice, costs £67.99 for one vehicle, £114.99 for two, and £149.98 for three, saving £20.99 or £53.99 respectively for drivers who choose to bring multiple vehicles under the same cover.

The savings can be even greater for their Unlimited and Premier options, which offer much more comprehensive cover in the event of a breakdown.

So why were drivers on the cheapest package being penalised? We asked the RAC for an explanation as to why the product had been priced this way.

It responded to say that it was amending its vehicle-based pricing, so that cover for multiple vehicles would not add additional expense for drivers in the future. This should be brought in line towards the end of October.

Check out how the main breakdown policies compare in Cheap breakdown cover: RAC vs AA vs Green Flag.

 

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