Green Flag breakdown cover review

Who is Green Flag?

Green Flag was formed in 1971 and provides a breakdown service through its network of independent garages and mechanics rather than employed patrolling mechanics as used by AA and RAC. In 1999 Green Flag became part of the Direct Line Group which includes insurance brands Direct Line and Churchill and is now one of the largest breakdown providers in the UK.

What types of breakdown cover does Green Flag offer?

Green Flag provides 5 levels of breakdown cover:

Rescue

Roadside Assistance - 24hrs a day, 365 days a year
Unlimited callouts
Labour covered for repairs
10-mile tow - if the car cannot be fixed at the roadside it will be towed to the nearest garage up to 10 miles distance
Next day collection - if the garage is closed you will be taken home and picked up the next day to be taken back to the garage at no extra cost

Rescue Plus

Roadside Assistance - 24hrs a day, 365 days a year
At-home Assistance
Unlimited callouts
Labour covered for repairs
10-mile tow - if the car cannot be fixed at the roadside it will be towed to the nearest garage up to 10 miles distance
Next day collection - if the garage is closed you will be taken home and picked up the next day to be taken back to the garage at no extra cost

Recovery

Roadside Assistance
Nationwide Recovery - transport for you, your passengers and your car to a place of your choice in the UK, a 10-mile tow limit will apply if the breakdown is due to a flat or damaged tyre
Unlimited callouts
Labour covered for repairs
Next day collection - if the garage is closed you will be taken home and picked up the next day to be taken back to the garage at no extra cost

Recovery Plus

Roadside Assistance
At-home Assistance - cover if your car breaks down at your home or within 1/4 mile of your home
Nationwide Recovery - transport for you, your passengers and your car to be taken to a place of your choice in the UK, a 10-mile tow limit will apply if the breakdown is due to a flat or damaged tyre
Unlimited callouts
Labour cover for repairs
Unlimited tow
Onward travel included - if your vehicle cannot be repaired locally that day you will be provided with a hire car, alternative transport or overnight accommodation

Euro Plus

Roadside Assistance - In the UK, 24 hours roadside assistance, 365 days a year, in Europe if your vehicle cannot be fixed roadside it will be taken to the nearest garage, up to a maximum cost of £250
At-home Assistance - cover if your car breaks down at your home or within 1/4 mile of your home
Unlimited callouts in UK
European Cover - no limit on the number of trips taken in Europe each year but the cover is limited to 90 days per policy year and only available for cars less than 16 years old
Long distance recovery in the UK - transport for you, your passengers and your car to a place of your choice, if you break down at home a 20-mile limit will apply and a 10-mile limit for breakdowns caused by a flat or damaged tyre
Long distance recovery in Europe - the cost will be covered up to £250 for roadside assistance and recovery to a suitable repairer
Onward travel (UK) - if your vehicle cannot be repaired locally that day you will be provided with a hire car, alternative transport or overnight accommodation, up to £100 for a hire car or £500 for hotel accommodation (max. £15 per person per day)
Onward travel (Europe) - if your vehicle cannot be repaired locally that day you will be provided with a hire car, alternative transport or overnight accommodation, up to £850 for a hire car and £500 for hotel accommodation (max. of £45 per person per day)
Next day collection (UK) - if a garage you have been towed to is closed you will be taken home and picked up the next day to be taken back to the garage at no extra cost
Collection after repair - cost of a single standard rail fare whether in the UK or Europe

Green Flag policy type comparison

	Rescue	Rescue Plus	Recovery	Recovery Plus	Euro Plus
Roadside Assistance
At-home Assistance
Nationwide Recovery (UK)	10-mile tow	10-mile tow
Unlimited callouts
Labour cover for repairs
Onward travel (UK)
Onward travel (Europe)
Long distance recovery (Europe)

What additional benefits does Green Flag offer?

Green Flag app

The Green Flag app will allow you to request help through the app and you will be able to track the technician on their journey to you.

Multi-vehicle breakdown cover

Multi-vehicle breakdown cover for up to four different vehicles regardless of who is driving them providing they are kept at your home.

Personal breakdown cover

Personal breakdown cover for when you are driving any vehicle or being carried as a passenger in any vehicle.

Family Cover

Up to 3 additional members of a household can be covered when driving or travelling in any car in the UK.

Business breakdown cover

We cover businesses with any number of vehicles and the more vehicles that are covered the lower the cost per vehicle.

Green Flag breakdown cover reviews

Green Flag breakdown scored an overall satisfaction rating of 63% in a consumer survery carried out by Which?. They were ranked 8th out of 12 for third party breakdown cover providers. Trustpilot reviews ranked Green Flag breakdown as 'Great' with a score of 4.2 out of 5.0. The friendly service was cited as a positive but the delay in arriving was considered a major negative. The use of mechanics from local independent garages rather employed patrolmen can result in a varied customer experience.

Summary

Green Flag breakdown cover is competitively priced and is a good option if cost is a major factor when selecting a breakdown provider. Additionally, Green Flag offers further discounts to NHS and School staff. Green Flag offers 5 different types of breakdown cover providing a wide range of options to cover most needs and budgets. An independent breakdown cover survey carried out by Which? shows that 20% of respondents were left waiting more than an hour for help to arrive and 7 out of 10 vehicles were successfully repaired at the roadside.