VW Roadside Assistance

[altvic]

Today I received VW Roadside Assistance renewal prompt for UK and Europe (inc Relay, Relay+ and Home Start). VW have ceased two year cover and now offer only 1year at £120.
Do folks think this is a reasonable price?
Thanks

 

[WelshGas]

Today I received VW Roadside Assistance renewal prompt for UK and Europe (inc Relay, Relay+ and Home Start). VW have ceased two year cover and now offer only 1year at £120.
Do folks think this is a reasonable price?
Thanks

Yes.
These are the AA prices.

 

[KevH]

Caravan Guard charge me £46 as an insurance extra. Worth checking with your insurer.
AA are not known for being the best value for money.

 

[WelshGas]

Caravan Guard charge me £46 as an insurance extra. Worth checking with your insurer.
AA are not known for being the best value for money.

The AA run VW Assistance with their Grey vans. Can do a lot more for VW vehicles than the A A can.

 

[KevH]

The AA run VW Assistance with their Grey vans. Can do a lot more for VW vehicles than the A A can.

@WelshGas Sorry but I don’t get this. The AA can do a lot more than the AA can? Grey vans?
Are you suggesting that the AA operate a dedicated VW specialism at AA standard rates fro anonymous vans? That sounds counter intuitive to me. But as always, I could be wrong.

 

[WelshGas]

@WelshGas Sorry but I don’t get this. The AA can do a lot more than the AA can? Grey vans?
Are you suggesting that the AA operate a dedicated VW specialism at AA standard rates fro anonymous vans? That sounds counter intuitive to me. But as always, I could be wrong.

VW Assistance has a dedicated fleet of grey vans with VW trained technicians with full VW diagnostic software that will attend VW vehicles signed up for VW Assistance. It is managed by the AA. When you phone up VW Assistance you can request a VW technician, but may need to wait longer than a Generic AA technician. Your choice. VW technician also has priority access to the VW Dealerships, immediate appointments, or can carry out certain repairs/software updates themselves .

 

[KevH]

@WelshGas Very interesting,
and comprehensive as ever, thank you. If true, and I don’t doubt you, this makes little obvious sense for the AA but a good deal for the OP and the rest of us who want a dedicated AA breakdown service.
Provided we are happy to await that little grey van’s availability of course
Is it mirrored when driving on the European mainland?

 

[Ch1pbutty]

You might be able to bypass the queue for a slot at the dealership with VW assist. Other than that there is little difference.

If you have 4motion, choose a provider that carries dolly / freewheeling hub in the van, to allow a quicker recovery,

If outside of warranty would say that AA/RAC are a better option as can usually find a local garage that can the van repaired a lot quicker. This was our experience when our clutch pedal dropped to the floor (needed new master, slave, clutch, dmf). VW could not look at the van for 4/6 weeks. AA called some local garages, and was booked in & fixed by following weekend. Repair also worked out a lot cheaper as rates were cheaper than VW dealership. Obviously if your van is still under warranty then you are better waiting for VW.

 

[WelshGas]

@WelshGas Very interesting,
and comprehensive as ever, thank you. If true, and I don’t doubt you, this makes little obvious sense for the AA but a good deal for the OP and the rest of us who want a dedicated AA breakdown service.
Provided we are happy to await that little grey van’s availability of course
Is it mirrored when driving on the European mainland?

You can choose either and you get full European cover, not just EU.

At £120/yr or £10/month, significantly cheaper than just AA. Have you read the VW Assistance handbook ? Came in the vehicle handbook wallet.

 

[DaveB]

I've just had my renewal offer ... £190 an increase of £70!!!

Has anyone else renewed recently and had this uplift?

 

[acer]

I've just had my renewal offer ... £190 an increase of £70!!!

Has anyone else renewed recently and had this uplift?

In short, no. I’ve just bought a new Cali and so it’s now included for 5 years.
That is a horrendous increase. I do find the service excellent, but you have to weigh that against the almost free offerings / reduced prices when enjoyed alongside current accounts etc.

 

[Bellcrew]

I've just had my renewal offer ... £190 an increase of £70!!!

Has anyone else renewed recently and had this uplift?

Yes, identical increase, only ever used it once when the van was a few months old, AA could not find fault, Breeze correctly diagnosed faulty sensor, all good after that.
Probably go with personal policy with both van and car covered, best quote about £140 with all the useful additions. Shame about losing continental cover but we have had a good run touring Europe over the last 8 years.

 

[Meoncoast]

The AA run VW Assistance with their Grey vans. Can do a lot more for VW vehicles than the A A can.

Including priority booking into van centre should you need it.

 

[WelshGas]

In short, no. I’ve just bought a new Cali and so it’s now included for 5 years.
That is a horrendous increase. I do find the service excellent, but you have to weigh that against the almost free offerings / reduced prices when enjoyed alongside current accounts etc.

You normally only only get 3 yrs VW Assistance, even with the 5 yr extended warranty. So check.

 

[Meoncoast]

You normally only only get 3 yrs VW Assistance, even with the 5 yr extended warranty. So check.

The 5-star promise comes with 5 years of VW assist. We had the choice of 2 pre-registered vans, both the same price, one with the 5-star promise and the other without. So we got 5 years of warranty, 3 MOTs, and 5 years of VW assist.

 

[bigmac77]

I also received my VW Assistance renewal for £190, quite a hefty increase. I called in at the dealership to book an MOT and they offered me a two year extended warranty package which includes a minor plus major service, two MOT’s and two years VW assist for £752. Seemed reasonable value.