NRMA Premium care changes

[Wortho]

Just received the renewal for our NRMA premium cover. It seemed like a reasonable increase at first glance from $177 last year to $182 this year. However on closer inspection it now seems that the Premium cover is no longer "premium cover" and if you want towing above 50kms, car hire and accommodation you now have to take a Premium plus option at an additional $122 so the total price is actually $304 for the same cover we had last year 
Are there any other options in NSW for roadside assistance and breakdown recovery?

Cheers
Mark

[BrindiCruiser]

hmm.  suspect that I will be in the same boat. Interested to hear what other options are out there.

[Fivid]

Having had to use the premium care once we thought it was way underpriced for what it offered so not surprised that prices are going up.  Even at the new price for the top cover I reckon we are still a good 10 + years in front.


Dave

[Barry G]

How many levels did they have before?

RACV has had 3 levels for at least 15 years.
Basic, includes 25km towing, I think - might be just 10km.
Intermediate:  100km towing, from memory; and
Total Care - That will bring me home from any government road in the country ... FREE!   

If NRMA is now 3 levels it is similar to RACV.
If more than 3 it is definitely playing 'slice and dice'.

Rour rates are certainly higher than ours, but then probably a greater chance of 'locals' needing longer tows in NSW than Vic.

I have a mate who was hauled back from the middle of the Nullabor to Melb. for just the cost of his total care membership.

That one trip puts him ahead for life. 

[SteveandViv]

So we p;aid for the extra care before leaving Broome for Cape York last year. we have never had a need fpr this but thought, why not, we were on a 2 Month trip across some harsh stuff along with the Cape

We had the tensioner pulley fail just out of Coen on the way back down for the Cape. While we waited for the part to arrive from Brisbane they paid for the accommodation and food and would have paid for a car (yea, there really wasn't much we could have done with the Berina in Coen :-)

We then decided to do the CREB on the way home after running into another friends at the Lions Den. Once back in Cairns we found we had shattered a wheel bearing. They then paid for our lodging at the caravan park ( A Cabin) for 5 days along with car hire. They also paid for the tow truck to get the car to the service station. It was free, why not. Better than a grinding a wheel bearing all the way there....

What we could never repay was the hospitality of Teabag and his family by putting up with us for those five days (:-) hmmm, not sure about my Liver :-)

Anyway, seems a small price to pay on the big trips if you ask me

[Hairs]

hmm.  suspect that I will be in the same boat. Interested to hear what other options are out there.

Yep same here.

I've been a member for over 28 years and have only called them once.
This seems to be the trend with everything atm, fees go up and services get pulled back.

[LB]

I might be mistaken but I just checked the NRMA website for what is included in premium care as I just renewed with out really looking and Accommodation is still included it you break down more than 100km from home

Ex cert from their website below (Premium care plus is for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes GVM)

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.
Accident Assistance
Accidents happen, and if you're over 100km from home and it's going to take more than 24 hours to get your car moving again, we'll organise and provide:

Accommodation
Passenger transport

LB

[evanw]

How many levels did they have before?

RACV has had 3 levels for at least 15 years.
Basic, includes 25km towing, I think - might be just 10km.
Intermediate:  100km towing, from memory; and
Total Care - That will bring me home from any government road in the country ... FREE!   

If NRMA is now 3 levels it is similar to RACV.
If more than 3 it is definitely playing 'slice and dice'.

Rour rates are certainly higher than ours, but then probably a greater chance of 'locals' needing longer tows in NSW than Vic.

I have a mate who was hauled back from the middle of the Nullabor to Melb. for just the cost of his total care membership.

That one trip puts him ahead for life. 

Hi Barry, i was looking at RACV total care the other day and it now states:

"towing

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

Now I am confused!

[Bird]

I have a mate who was hauled back from the middle of the Nullabor to Melb. for just the cost of his total care membership.
That one trip puts him ahead for life. 

thats the way I look at it ... $300 dont get you very far on a tow truck normally..

[Barry G]

Hi Barry, i was looking at RACV total care the other day and it now states:

"towing

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

Now I am confused!

FEK!

Looks like the mongrels have changed it...

[Wortho]

I might be mistaken but I just checked the NRMA website for what is included in premium care as I just renewed with out really looking and Accommodation is still included it you break down more than 100km from home

Ex cert from their website below (Premium care plus is for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes GVM)

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.
Accident Assistance
Accidents happen, and if you're over 100km from home and it's going to take more than 24 hours to get your car moving again, we'll organise and provide:

Accommodation
Passenger transport

LB

According to the letter I recieved I need to upgrade to the Premium care "Plus" to get the extra's like accomodation & unlimited towing. I'll double check tonight though.

[Wortho]

I might be mistaken but I just checked the NRMA website for what is included in premium care as I just renewed with out really looking and Accommodation is still included it you break down more than 100km from home

Ex cert from their website below (Premium care plus is for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes GVM)

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.
Accident Assistance
Accidents happen, and if you're over 100km from home and it's going to take more than 24 hours to get your car moving again, we'll organise and provide:

Accommodation
Passenger transport

LB

I just rang NRMA and it seems that you are covered for extra towing and accomodation (up to $3000) under the standard Premium cover. Unless you have a vehicle over 3500kg or trailer/camper over 2000kg, its then that you need the extra Premium "Plus" cover. Even if you have a vehicle under 3500kg but a trailer over 2000kg you need the "Plus" cover for towing.
Thanks for pointing this out and as my CT is under 1 ton I can stick with the standard Premium cover 

[hargs]

Thanks Wortho, I'm much reassured !!!

[Bird]

do they weigh the car/trailer or go on factory empty figures... many 4bs touring are well over 3500....

[achjimmy]

Id say they would use the factory figures Lost.

[LB]

I just rang NRMA and it seems that you are covered for extra towing and accomodation (up to $3000) under the standard Premium cover. Unless you have a vehicle over 3500kg or trailer/camper over 2000kg, its then that you need the extra Premium "Plus" cover. Even if you have a vehicle under 3500kg but a trailer over 2000kg you need the "Plus" cover for towing.
Thanks for pointing this out and as my CT is under 1 ton I can stick with the standard Premium cover 

Good to know about the trailer, we should be right as well.

You certainly gave me a scare

[Fivid]

SWMBO went to the NRMA today to check our cover was still the unlimited towing, etc.  Was told there has been no change, they checked our membership and at the $182 renewal we are covered for the lot including CT and as many passengers as the vehicle is licensed to seat.


Dave

[Wortho]

Good to know about the trailer, we should be right as well.

You certainly gave me a scare

Sorry about the scare 
All very confusing when you get the renewal as they don't make things clear. Such as....

We recommend...
Add 10km extra towing for $10 with tow plus (why would I do that when i have up to $3000 worth of towing already as a Premium care member)

Add our Premium Plus service for $122.
Complete coverage, even for heavy vehicles, plus receive breakdown benefits such as accommodation and/or a rental car, regardless of where you are - Add Premium Plus for only $122.

(Does not mention that you still get the above on the standard Premium service if under 3500kg or trailer 2000kg, makes it sound like you need the Plus cover for the benefits mentioned above regardless of the weight of vehicle/trailer)

Cheers
Mark

[bushrat]

thats the way I look at it ... $300 dont get you very far on a tow truck normally..

We have only ever had to use it once when our old girl decided to have a rest last year out west ,if we didn't have cover it would have cost around $5 a km and the next town was 200km away.

[LB]

Sorry about the scare 
All very confusing when you get the renewal as they don't make things clear. Such as....

I think confusing is the tact, most end up paying more because they cant figure out if they need it and don't want to get caught out.

LB

[Wortho]

I think confusing is the tact, most end up paying more because they cant figure out if they need it and don't want to get caught out.

LB

I'd have to agree with that. Clever marketing eh!