I recently joined the ETA, the world’s only climate neutral motoring organisation. It didn’t cost me any more to join the ETA than it had cost me to belong to the AA, and as well as all the services offered being as good or better than the AA’s, the ETA also paid £22 of my annual membership fee towards a project to restore rainforests, and so offset 10,000 miles, which is what I am likely to drive in a year.
It was easy to apply online, and within days I had received a welcome letter and membership card, the direct debit forms required to pay for my year’s membership, an ETA tax disc holder and a bumper sticker promoting greener motoring.
I’ve fortunately not had the need to use the breakdown service yet, so can’t report on it from personal experience, but I have read the glowing references that they have received from their customers and so have every confidence that they will perform admirably should I require their help.
“We have found time and again the the ETA service is quick and very reliable.”
Phil Gomersall, BCTV Fleet Services
Comparisons of the ETA and the AA’s Breakdown Service packages:
AA
Annual cost for joint membership (2 people) Roadside & Relay cover - �95
Including: assistance if you break down more that a quarter of a mile from your home, if your car can’t be fixed at the roadside, they will take you, your car and your passengers to the nearest garage, and if a local repair isn’t possible, they will take you and up to seven passengers home or to another UK mainland destination.
Response times: The AA claim that their average waiting time for assistance is one hour, however I once waited two hours for an AA man on the side of the road in Peckham.
ETA
Annual cost for car cover (no matter who is driving) Journey Completion package - �89
Including: roadside assistance called on an 0800 number (free call) , cover starting a mile from the registered address, if your car can’t be repaired at the roadside, they will take you, your car and passengers to the nearest appropriate garage for repair. They will also offer you recovery to a single destination in Britain; overnight accomodation for you and your passengers while waiting for local repair; car rental; or, train tickets to allow you to complete your journey and return later to collect your vehicle; PLUS a year’s carbon offset from driving.
Response times: The ETA promise roadside rescue within one hour of your call, and have an average response time of 35 minutes.
The ETA have some other great services too, for example their Cycle Insurance that includes free Cycle Rescue, similar to their vehicle roadside assistance, and their green Car Buyers Guide to help you compare the environmental ratings of new cars before you make that big purchase.
As being car-free is no longer an option for my family since we moved out of London, I feel that the ETA is our best bet to keep our motoring kind to the environment until we can afford that Toyota Prius.
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