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TheAA Insurance is part of the Automobile Association, a company that offers services to motorists including loans, breakdown recovery, car insurance, motoring advice, travel insurance, route planning ... the list goes on.

Although the AA has a history dating back to 1905 when a group of twenty-nine motoring buffs first joined together in a bid to help motorists avoid speed traps, the AA Insurance brand did not emerge until 1967. This came about after the fall of many cut-price insurance companies at the time and because the AA was a name motorists trusted. Their motor insurance soon became extremely popular and today as well as car cover they also sell motor bike, van, student, travel, and home insurance.

The AA's 94-year independence came to an end in September 1999 when its members voted to sell to Centrica, Britain's biggest gas and electricity supplier, for £1.1 billion. At this time AA Insurance was Britain's largest motor insurance broker with about 1.6million home and motor insurance policies in effect and the UK's largest travel publisher with books available in 29 languages.

However less than five years later in June 2004 it was again up for sale for £1.5 billion. It was actually sold a month later in July 2004 for £1.75bn to CVC and Permira, the private equity firm. This sale was the focus of The Money Programme in 2007 and was criticised for the detrimental effect it had on the company's down turn in performance. In June 2007 the Telegraph reported that the Over-50's organisation Saga were to merge with AA in a £6.15bn surprise move to create one of the UK's largest private equity companies.

AA house contents insurance includes accidental damage cover for all gas and electrical, as well as non-portable home entertainment equipment. Buildings insurance covers unlimited rebuilding cost for houses up to the value of £1 million and accidental damage is included. If your home is un-inhabitable, then alternative accommodation costs are included in this policy for both you and your pets.

If you are looking to insure your bike, motorcycle insurance with the AA includes up to sixty days cover in EU countries – we don't think that covers the Nurburg ring though ... If you have a commercial vehicle AAInsurance will search a panel of insurers rather than cover you themselves, but, holders of an already existing AA insurance policy may qualify for a discount.

AA Breakdown membership is also, obviously, available from their main website TheAA.com (though theaa.co.uk also works fine) and with more than a thousand patrols the AA aim to repair breakdowns rather than tow to a garage. The usual range of services and products are available as with most breakdown services including recovery rescue and home start. The AA also have a driving school and you can find out prices and book driving lessons on the website by filling in a simple form with the postcode where you want to be picked up, lesson type, as well as preferred dates and times. You are also given the options to choose manual or automatic gearbox, to request what language your instructor speaks and note any special requirements that you may have. †

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Your Comments on The AA:

06/01/2010 I took out aa car insurance, but when renewal was up i decided to go elsewhere, problem was i needed proof of my no claims bonus for my new insurer. It took months for me to get the document through from AA, many many calls to them, they kept saying they had sent it out but would do so again, but nothing arrived on my doorstep, my new insurers had no option to threaten me with cancelling my policy! so much stress and anxiety, it all made me ill, it was an absolute nightmare, for such a big company i thought they would be the best, but they turned out to be the worst.

16/12/2009 Just a note have just tried to renew my insurance with break down cover but was told that this could not be done I would have to call another number - not sure why attitude of the customer service person was not at all friendly or helpful no wonder people become cheesed of with the bad attitude - the quote for my car insurance is so very high plus road side cover it would take it to more than £500 this seems over the top to me. Will have have to find a new provider

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