Breakdown cover for bikes and cars

[vee5]

I've been using ADAC for the last few years for breakdown cover - they do a policy which covers myself and wife on any bike or car across Europe. Trouble is, they don't really want to be dealing with non German residents so each year it seems to become more and more difficult to renew the policy and it can be a bit hit or miss getting through to someone with good English in the event of an actual breakdown.

I don't want to pay through the nose for an equivalent AA/RAC policy - can anyone recommend a UK based breakdown cover that gives personal (as opposed to vehicle based) cover for both of us for cars and bikes and doesn't cost the earth?

I should add that I don't want to rely on getting breakdown cover via individual vehicle insurance policies....

Thanks!

[Mr OCD]

I just use my bank... Covers me on any vehicle in Europe for a tenner a month...

[theshrew]

I have mine included with my bank account. It seems like a pretty good policy.

If your going into Europe then it also has the benefit of having travel insurance included in the same thing to.

Might be worth looking into.

OCD beat me to it

Edited by theshrew on Saturday 30th May 09:54

[LoonR1]

You can't post stuff like that about banks. You should be demanding your money back along the lines of PPI

Travel insurance may well not cover bikes or other dangerous sports such as skiing / snowboarding, so well worth checking that.

[vee5]

Appreciate the suggestions about banks and travel insurance etc but for various reasons those are not options I'm interested in - just interested in a standalone breakdown policy but haven't had the time yet to find out if people like LV, GEM, Autoaid cover bikes - anyone?

[darkyoung1000]

I found GEM to be the most reasonable when I had a standalone policy. Around £80/year to cover me which included a 1930s car and a 2001 bike....

Cheers,
Tom

[vee5]

Thanks Tom, and that reminds me I need to be careful about age of vehicle as one of the cars is now 10 years old.

[SteveSteveson]

Check your T&Cs with the bank. I had cover with HSBC but they stopped doing bikes...

[moab78]

Autoaid cover bikes over 150cc.

If you want to pay more, AA and RAC do with personal cover too.

[shielsy]

Also check what service your bank gives you. Mine was just roadside assistance with no recovery.

[anonymous-user]

vee5 said:

Trouble is, they don't really want to be dealing with non German residents so each year it seems to become more and more difficult to renew the policy

Are you absolutely sure? There was a thread recently where someone described having difficulty renewing on-line.
The website needs a Geman address. Doing it by by phone doesn't.