How many of you travelers have RAC Roadside Assist?, my renewal is due and I'm wondering if it is worth it. To go Classic or Ultimate? What's your opinion.
You don't need it till you do.
A close friend has just used his full allocation for the year of $3000 with NRMA, with two events in one trip, first with the tug broke down needing to both tug and van towed to the nearest major centre and then a little later in the trip suffered a stroke and was taken to hospital, and the van was delivered back to his home.
In over 50 years he had never had to use NRMA services.
When something goes wrong in a big way it's a major benefit to all concerned to be able to call on a major organization for help and then leave everything in their hands.
That's what insurance is all about you hope you will never have to call on it but it's great to have it when things go wrong.
Cheers
David
Just about to set off on my first big trip, I just joined RACWA a few days ago. As a solo traveller I started to think "what if" and decided that as long as I'm travelling (and I hope to do that a lot), its a good investment. I just visualised myself by the side of the road, not having a number to ring for help and the decision was made. The salesperson actually told me the Classic would be ok for my needs rather than the Ultimate. I think it cost me $174 but I have heard that WA is the most expensive.
Was in RACQ Ultra and when we bought the van went straight to the Ultimate as it covers van towing. About two months ago I had my first flat tyre in 14 years and had to call them to change the tyre. Best ivestment you can have.
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Our Rig
VAN December 2019 Goldstar 21ft
TUG 2017 Ford Ranger Wildtrak
Life Was Ment To Be Easy If You Have The Ability To Adapt
Just about to set off on my first big trip, I just joined RACWA a few days ago. As a solo traveller I started to think "what if" and decided that as long as I'm travelling (and I hope to do that a lot), its a good investment. I just visualised myself by the side of the road, not having a number to ring for help and the decision was made. The salesperson actually told me the Classic would be ok for my needs rather than the Ultimate. I think it cost me $174 but I have heard that WA is the most expensive.
Two of us were towed by RACQ out of Long Hole at Winton couple of weeks ago, us with NRMA and the other bloke with RACWA. Ours was free, he had to pay for part of the recovery and we are both on ultimate.
Check your Classic Cover because with RACQ and NRMA it is only a very basic cover.
If you are doing extensive travel with a van you need the best cover you can get.
It has saved our b'sides more than once, well worth every cent.
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Kevin Kyle
On the road full time with Son and 21 year old cat and 3 year old Manx.
Toyota Landcruiser 100 series V8. Nextgen semi off-roader. 3 120 AH agm batteries, 1KW Solar
We belong to RACQ Ultimate care. The first year we up graded we were on extended caravan tour, the car had a automatic gearbox cooler hose let go 300 ks south of Sydney, we were travelling solo at the time, tilt tray back to their workshop and temp repair to the hose, subjested we have the hose replaced when we get home in about thousand ks. unfortunately the the temp fix worked but the hose had another idea and let go 100 ks latter, lucky we stopped for lunch when we notice oil stain near the front of the car, so a call was placed to RACQ, very quickly the service person on the job organised the tilt truck, towed the caravan and parked the caravan on the site at caravan park and as my wife was by herself went the extra yard put the pop top up, hooked the power up including the awning. Lucky he was 40 years her junior as I could of been jealous. We had use of a hire car for 5 days.
That year 2 of our other friends who started extended touring since retiring also made large calls on there Ultimate Car care. One needed towing from Cooma back to Canberra with gearbox problems, plus use of a hire car for 8 days, the other was having the car tilt trayed back to Brisbane from Mallacoota plus there air fares.
Like a lot of us who have road service in one form or another we go years with out using there service but in one hit 5 nights caravan park $200, 5 days car hire $300, plus tilt tray cost? Friendliness, service, peace of mind price less.
We all have our car serviced and checked at regular 10 000ks but this really caught us all out.
Wouldn't leave home without it,but....... Since you don't say what your setup is please be aware and check. The various organisations have different limits on height weight length etc. We have a motor home, 3.2 mt high 4.495 t at the time the only one that would cover us was NRMA., I know some of the others do now,but check your details coverage.
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You can't get lost, if you don't care where you are going.
Also a big yes from us. RACV on all of our cars + the 4x4 + total care + extra care as our caravan and 4x4 is over 12 Meters. Have never used it while we have been away with the caravan. But very cheap insurance, well worth the cost for the piece of mind.
We have all of our insurance with RACV. House,contents,2x cars + the 4X4 and the caravan, so a total of 6 policies. Discount for multi policies and we also pay by the month. Never had a problem with the RACV and have been with them for years.
When they mention "Tow" in the policy, is it an actual tow, or is it a pick up on the back of a truck. And if its a tow, how do they manage both the vehicle and van? the wording in the policy is a bit ambiguous. (now that's a big word for me, and it looks like I spelt it right!)
My understanding is a flat tray truck will be used, Ian. One for car if needed and one for van. That's what I was told by RACV. I have what they call Total Cover with the extra van cover.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
One of the rare post where all agree , But to get the best you must go Ultimate cover , And for being over 50 year member they give a great discount , But without the discount still a great deal .
RAC are the most expensive of all the motoring organizations and their various packages are not as good either.
I live in WA and don't use them for that reason. My new tow vehicle gives me the same cover and also includes a tow vehicle (which can be a caravan) of any size - and it costs me nothing. After that I will see if I can join another state one like NRMA or RACV
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
Thanks for the advice. I went online and checked. It seems that Classic is ok so long as there is only one driver and one car. They will tow the car and caravan up to 100kms but only the once. I'm not sure if that means once "ever" or once a year. I need to give them a ring and clarify that. I had in mind to get Ultimate when I rang but the salesperson talked me out of it. I guess I can upgrade it if necessary. The online booklet did say that there are weight limits but mine is just a small poptop so should be ok. Wish I'd done it earlier so I can get the paperwork and read all the fine print.
I have NRMA Premium for the tow tug and Classic for our Megane together $270 per annum
In 40 years as a member I have used the service many times for different breakdowns.
Best mechanic card in the wallet wouldn't be without it.
RACQ Ultimate allows me as the nominated driver and insurer allows me to be at what ever vehicle is broken down at the time they will come to my rescue. My new friends car or mine.
Previously we had 2 cars, 2 standard policys but now for few dollars more then the 2 policys, we have the best they offer. Wife is covered in my nominated car, at $239.
I have a new car towing our caravan but reading there policy for roadside assist it short on the real things that a travelling person needs.
-- Edited by Radar on Sunday 31st of July 2016 04:14:30 PM
Currently broken down in Kununurra. Been here 3 weeks waiting for a reco transmission. Road side assist has paid for a rental car and our site fees for the entire time. Just ran out of love today. Also paid for the 200km tow. Probably would have cost me about $3K. Top cover was the best investment I ever made.
We've been with RACQ for about 14 years and the last 7 years having Ultimate cover. This year RACQ changed the rules to max vehicle weight of 3500 Kg and max lenght 7.0mt so our motorhome is no longer covered. We'll now be saying goodbye to RACQ and hello to NRMA who will cover any vehicle up to 10,000 Kg Australia Wide.
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Steve, Di & Ziggy We named our Motorhome "Roadworx" because on the road works "On The Road Again" Ford Transit with 302 Windsor V8 conversion, C4 Auto, 9 Inch Ford Diff All Lighting L.E.D., 260 Amp/h AGM, 530 Watt Solar + Kipor Backup Gen.
Just looking outside the square you may find that there are options to the RACQ/NRMA etc motoring organisations that have held a monopoly for many years. I've been a RACQ Ultimate member for many years but of late I feel they are more interested in making money and expanding their horizons, but that's just my opinion.
Whether they provide a better or worse service is open to debate, but they do exist and appear to be a cheaper option.
If you Google "roadside assistance" you will find a few.
Depends on your memberships years I am over 50 years RACQ just received renewal notice $172 for a year Ultimate cover , Has far has them making money I think that great the service is still great and if they privatise it will be some money in there for me like what happened when NRMA went private
