Roadside assistance - Recomendations?

Alex,

NRMA will only transport your vehicle UP TO 100kms.. you pay per KM for extra distance. (3.5 tonnes).

"Free towing in country areas back to the town of the attending NRMA Country Service Centre or 50km in any direction
100km of free towing in remote areas.
"
NRMA Premium package details.

Tony,
Thanks for highlighting those facts. Also at the link you provided, this is what I was offered. It's a very good service.

Major Breakdown Assistance
If you break down over 100km from home and your car is going to take more than 24 hours to fix, we will organise and cover up to $3,000 towards the cost of:

Accommodation,
Car rental,
Passenger transport,
Car transport.

Pleasure Alex,

I checked a few of the others (non state based like RACV - RACQ etc) and they do not stand up as well.

Just a thought, if you have the NRMA Premium package, and you are interstate, you must use the premium number on back of your card, (the call is then taken in NSW) or you may not receive premium service.

I had a friend discover this, much to his disappointment and cost...

Anybody know what the km price rate is once your distance is passed?

When we were in The Kimberley in September we broke the steering arm of the passenger side hub.

We fixed up enough to limp into Wyndham and found there was no mechanic there anymore.

We got on the phone and rang NRMA Premium care to call for help.
First thing we did was pay for our membership because it lapsed while we were mucking around at Kalumburu.
Next they put us onto RACWA because the car has to be assessed by a patrolman. Nearest patrol was Kunnunurra. I explained what was wrong with the lady at RACWA and they booked in a towie for the next day.

Towie turned up about 2:30 the next day and towed us back to Kunnunurra. Confirmed to NRMA the vehicle was broken and we needed to enact the Premium Care.

NRMA Premium Care booked our accomodation which we stayed at for two nights.

We needed a car to do some running around, so they organised a hire car (whatever type we wanted and was available), so we had a car for 24 hours.

We've used the service a few times now and wouldn't be without it.
You get up to $3000.00 worth of benefits per year and the people that organise it are really professional.

They do tow over 100 km because they have towed me over 100 km, no questions.

I would recommend it to anyone that travels over 100 km from home regularly.

Steve

• In Country Areas, the first 100km in any direction, from the point of breakdown is free of charge, or back to the attending Service Centre


Above is a copy from RACV Total Care. The key word is "or". So if you are 250km from service centre then that is where you will be towed to.

Kevin

With NRMA Premium I still get the free 100 km (or whatever theirs is) and then after that it starts coming out of the $3000.00 per annum benefit I can draw upon.

My options were,
- to get the vehicle towed to the most convenient mechanic for me
- get my vehicle transported to my home, or mechanic of choice, and land transport home for me, my wife and our dog

up to a value of $3000.

A few years ago we blew up the diesel engine in our 60 series, near Benalla.
NRMA Plus (it was called at the time, but essentially the same set up) had a tilt tray for the Landcruiser, plus another vehicle to transport 2 adults and 3 children to Benalla. Then 2 nights accomodation in Benalla, a hire car with a towbar for five days so we could finish our holiday, transport home by train for all of us beceause the repair wasn't finished before our holiday.
Then they paid for me to return to Benalla to pick up the vehicle.

I can't fault it.

Then there was the time at Lithgow....

Steve

Can you get NRMA if you're in Victoria?

Also with road-side assistance do I have to get two policies for my partner and me or can you get a family package?
I was thinking of getting the policy in my name under her car so both of us are covered

Not sure if you can get NRMA in Victoria. You can have a single policy and both cars listed. The membership is per car not par person, not sure if there's a discount for 2 cars.

Like Alex stated NRMA coverage is for each vehicle, not each person.

We have Premium Care for the Landcruiser and the little car just ordinary cover because it rarely goes over 100km from home.

You would have to check where the vehicle has to be registered for membership too.

Steve

All I expect is for them to tow it to a place of my choice, they used to do it and now stopped that.
If my engine drops a big-end I want it towed back to my house where I can fix it, I'm not paying someone who I don't know thousands to do something I can do myself.

And yes with the Pajero I wanted it towed back home where we had a second set of shockers. I think it's unreasonable for them to tow it to Moe and make us wait 2 days for a half hour job.

Good to know that. I'm only fussed about the tow home. What I break is my responsibility to fix/pay

Fred,

GIO is owned by Suncorp, I do not believe that any state owns a commercial insurance with the exceptance of Victoria's TAC which holds compulsory 3rd party for that state.


"Suncorp is the parent company of insurance company GIO.
Suncorp also owns the AAMI, Apia, Just Car Insurance, Shannons, InsureMyRide, Vero, Terri Scheer, Bingle, CIL, Asteron and Tyndall insurance brands in Australia."

Happy to be corrected...