Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Could I call the RAC out for this or would I be taking the piss?

30 replies

NicoAndTheNiners · 31/12/2018 12:21

Can't find a garage open today.

One of my headlight bulbs has fallen down into the headlight casing so even though it's still lit up because it's so out of place it doesn't light the road up when driving in the dark.

My bonnet won't open. I've had this a few months ago at the MOT and they had to order a new bonnet opening thing which cost me £70 and obviously hasn't fixed the issue.

I want to drive the car tonight in the dark and don't feel it's safe.

I don't have home recovery but I could drive to the gym a mile away and call them and go and have a workout while I wait. I've been a member for ten years and never called them.

OP posts:
Original poster
NicoAndTheNiners · 31/12/2018 12:21

I can't fix the headlight because I can't open the bonnet.

OP posts:
OhTheRoses · 31/12/2018 12:23

Have you tried Halfords? Think it would have to be dark to qualify as an emergency.

bobstersmum · 31/12/2018 12:24

Call them they might say it's not an emergency but you pay your subs so you can try!

Santaisfastasleepatlast · 31/12/2018 12:25

Google!!

Sirzy · 31/12/2018 12:26

I doubt they would come for that and if they did it would take them hours to get to you!

Halfords?

Original poster
NicoAndTheNiners · 31/12/2018 12:28

I don't want to touch Halfords with a barge pole.

Think I will wait for the garage to open on weds and use my fog lights in the mean time. Thanks.

OP posts:
Santaisfastasleepatlast · 31/12/2018 12:29

Loads of advice if you Google - my bonnet won't open!!

gamerchick · 31/12/2018 12:31

You need to get your bonnet sorted man, how do you expect roadside assistance to sort it out if they can't open the bonnet?

StoorieHoose · 31/12/2018 12:32

You can’t use your fog lights!!! Unless your front fogs come on independently of your rear ones

PickleSarnie · 31/12/2018 12:35

It's illegal to use your fog lights when the visibility is fine. Appreciate you'll probably never actually get caught and fined but it's still pretty inconsiderate.

Original poster
NicoAndTheNiners · 31/12/2018 12:35

Yeah my front fogs come on without the back ones.

I thought roadside assistance might fix my bonnet!

OP posts:
Dogsmellssobadbob · 31/12/2018 12:38

Phone them! If they say no so be it.

Tbh they came to me for less as I didn’t feel safe to drive and I had away from home assistance and was at a hotel for the weekend. The chap was lovely and said it was fine!

bobstersmum · 31/12/2018 12:39

Hey gamerchick, how do you know the op is a man?

MirandaWest · 31/12/2018 12:39

Please don’t use your fog lights if it isn’t foggy - they’re horrible for other drivers

PattiStanger · 31/12/2018 12:42

In the time it took you to post you could have rung and asked them Grin

OhTheRoses · 31/12/2018 12:42

Why avoid Halfords? Always foynd them v v helpful for bulbs and stuff and I bet they'd get your bonnet open.

Sirzy · 31/12/2018 12:43

Calling them out, or using fog lights, because you don’t want to use a sensible alternative, seems rather daft!

Even if they do come on a day like today you will be waiting hours for anyone!

Sugarhunnyicedtea · 31/12/2018 12:44

What's wrong with Halfords? You may have to pay them but it'll be about £5.
Driving with your fog lights on is both inconsiderate and illegal. I've been stopped for having mine on before, I didn't know they were on and the police were nice about it but it would have been different if I couldn't have switched them off, left normal lights on and carried on driving.
You would be low priority for the RAC as it's not dark and you can still drive your car.

smartcarnotsosmartdriver · 31/12/2018 12:44

My mum had a grill snapped off by Halfords so I get why you would avoid them. I'd call the RAC and see what they say.

PickleSarnie · 31/12/2018 12:45

Although, there are bound to be significantly more police about tonight than any other night of the year so there's actually an increased chance of being caught with your fog lights on illegally tbh.

Its horrible having fog lights dazzle you when you're driving at night. Please don't do it.

Just call RAC and see what they say. Or suck it up and go to Halfords.

FlosCampi · 31/12/2018 12:45

I always thought fog lights were for other cars to see you? Not sure if they even illuminate the road.

OliviaBenson · 31/12/2018 12:47

Your car is unfit for the road. Do not drive tonight, it would be incredibly irresponsible.

MuttsNutts · 31/12/2018 12:49

Ring them. They will tell you if it isn’t covered.

I once got relayed all the way home from Oban to Hertfordshire because a wiper blade stopped working on a Sunday. It was the last day of a touring holiday - saved a fortune in petrol!

Tony2 · 31/12/2018 12:51

If you call them from the gym, someone rocks up, you say yeah sorry can't open bonnet been meaning to get it fixed you are likely to get a nasty look. Go to Halfords, and accept that on many cars nowadays fixing a light bulb is a bloody nightmare. Good luck.

treegone · 31/12/2018 12:56

This is the exact point of an on call breakdown service. Your car is not safe to drive so you can call them out. They may charge more for parts than a garage or Halfords but they will know in advance what they're arriving to because you'll have told the operator when you call. Drive to your gym, call and say you've just noticed your headlight has slipped and your bonnet won't open. It's an issue you had fixed but it seems to have broken again. You can't drive home without a light and it's New Years even so no chance of having it repaired. They may say go to Halfords but I'd be surprised. You'll have to wait as you won't be a priority and the car can move and isn't somewhere unsafe.