European Breakdown Cover (Advice Needed)
Discussion
Hi to all my TVR driving friends,
Three weeks before I land on French & Italian soil.
I will be taking the Chimaera for a sixteen day three thousand mile trip of a lifetime to show our snail & pasta eating cousins what a proper car looks like.
I was just wondering if anyone can tell me if the £116.40 the AA are proposing to charge me for breakdown cover is realistic, I am an AA member.
I am currently insured with Direct Line who have offered similar breakdown cover with repatriation of car driver and passenger for £55.45.
Anyone one out there with experience of prices and the level service I can expect?
The AA are selling on quality of service but at twice the price!
The AA use associated European breakdown organisations and Direct Line use a network of local garages, both offer English speaking or Scottish speaking
UK call centres.
Ideally I would be hunting for a new insurer that offers the Euro breakdown cover as part of their package but my Direct Line policy doesn't run out until 18th May this year.
Not sure I need the hassle of cancelling and re-tendering my insurance business just because of one Euro trip.
Should I splash out on the AA cover or would the Direct Line offering suffice?
I would be very grateful for any recommendations of good value breakdown cover that does not compromise on quality of service should the unthinkable happen.
Many thanks, Dave.
Three weeks before I land on French & Italian soil.
I will be taking the Chimaera for a sixteen day three thousand mile trip of a lifetime to show our snail & pasta eating cousins what a proper car looks like.
I was just wondering if anyone can tell me if the £116.40 the AA are proposing to charge me for breakdown cover is realistic, I am an AA member.
I am currently insured with Direct Line who have offered similar breakdown cover with repatriation of car driver and passenger for £55.45.
Anyone one out there with experience of prices and the level service I can expect?
The AA are selling on quality of service but at twice the price!
The AA use associated European breakdown organisations and Direct Line use a network of local garages, both offer English speaking or Scottish speaking
UK call centres.Ideally I would be hunting for a new insurer that offers the Euro breakdown cover as part of their package but my Direct Line policy doesn't run out until 18th May this year.
Not sure I need the hassle of cancelling and re-tendering my insurance business just because of one Euro trip.
Should I splash out on the AA cover or would the Direct Line offering suffice?
I would be very grateful for any recommendations of good value breakdown cover that does not compromise on quality of service should the unthinkable happen.
Many thanks, Dave.
That AA qoute is extortionate - the Directline one seems more realistic,
e.g I paid approx £35 last year with the RAC for premium euro breakdown cover - although they did ask which countries I was visiting (France, Belgium, Germany).
This summer we will be doing France, the Alps, Italy & Germany - my recently taken out classic insurance includes Euro breakdown cover - (worth a thought if you need to renew soon).
e.g I paid approx £35 last year with the RAC for premium euro breakdown cover - although they did ask which countries I was visiting (France, Belgium, Germany).
This summer we will be doing France, the Alps, Italy & Germany - my recently taken out classic insurance includes Euro breakdown cover - (worth a thought if you need to renew soon).
SteveGRF said:
That AA qoute is extortionate - the Directline one seems more realistic,
e.g I paid approx £35 last year with the RAC for premium euro breakdown cover - although they did ask which countries I was visiting (France, Belgium, Germany).
This summer we will be doing France, the Alps, Italy & Germany - my recently taken out classic insurance includes Euro breakdown cover - (worth a thought if you need to renew soon).
Thanks Steve, I did think the AA were taking the P.e.g I paid approx £35 last year with the RAC for premium euro breakdown cover - although they did ask which countries I was visiting (France, Belgium, Germany).
This summer we will be doing France, the Alps, Italy & Germany - my recently taken out classic insurance includes Euro breakdown cover - (worth a thought if you need to renew soon).
I did a quote on-line so I will try calling them to give them one last chance.
If that's how they treat their long standing members I think I may switch to the RAC.
Dave,
When you arrange european breakdown cover, check that there are no age restrictions (not you, your car). I know that some of these services are fussy when it comes to cars over 10 years old.
You could take your Prius, but then that would probably attract an extra premium of it's own these days!
Roy
When you arrange european breakdown cover, check that there are no age restrictions (not you, your car). I know that some of these services are fussy when it comes to cars over 10 years old.
You could take your Prius, but then that would probably attract an extra premium of it's own these days!
Roy
Edited by Roy C on Tuesday 9th March 14:27
Roy C said:
Dave,
When you arrange european breakdown cover, check that there are no age restrictions (not you, your car). I know that some of these services are fussy when it comes to cars over 10 years old.
You could take your Prius, but then that would probably attract an extra premium of it's own these days!
Roy
Hi Roy,When you arrange european breakdown cover, check that there are no age restrictions (not you, your car). I know that some of these services are fussy when it comes to cars over 10 years old.
You could take your Prius, but then that would probably attract an extra premium of it's own these days!
Roy
Edited by Roy C on Tuesday 9th March 14:27
Nice to hear from you, did you sell the TVR?
Are you really building a Suffolk SS? I would love to see that, what a fantastic car!
Perhaps the age of the Chim is pushing the AA price up, Direct Line should know how old it is as they insure it.
When I called them today they told me my fully comp cover mysteriously changes to third party when I cross the channel?
They charged me £35.00 to bring it back to fully comp?
I cant believe you are suggesting I should take the Prius, bloody thing is a curse, already had complete brake failure on three occasions
.Company car and a big tax break are the only reasons its still outside the house.
Best regards, Dave.
Not wanting to add any confusion but I have membership with the German ADAC.
For 12 months full Euro cover costs me ca. €80,- per year.
They have shipped my Mk 1 Tuscan back to the UK twice in the last 3 years completely free of charge, hastle free and as you might expect, very efficiently and in both cases to garage addresses dictated by me.
For 12 months full Euro cover costs me ca. €80,- per year.
They have shipped my Mk 1 Tuscan back to the UK twice in the last 3 years completely free of charge, hastle free and as you might expect, very efficiently and in both cases to garage addresses dictated by me.
Hi
I used the AA 5 Star a few years ago when my Griff's engine melted in the heart of rural France.
After a 'phone call they had a flatbed pick her up within the hour and take her away. They then arranged a courtesy car for us for the rest of the week. They paid for a taxi to take us to near the German border to pick the courtesy car up (about an hour 1/4 drive).
At the end of the week we able to take the French courtesy car through the tunnel and drive it to Dover where they had a British one waiting. I was then allowed to drop this back to the local depot on the Monday (we arrived back late on the Saturday) rather than the Sunday. My Griff was repatriated and back in Blighty by the Friday - which was a day before we got back!
Whilst your price does sound expensive I would not personally switch to anyone else - ever. This service was first class. Maybe a 'phone call can get the price down but for me it is well worth it
Oblio
I used the AA 5 Star a few years ago when my Griff's engine melted in the heart of rural France.
After a 'phone call they had a flatbed pick her up within the hour and take her away. They then arranged a courtesy car for us for the rest of the week. They paid for a taxi to take us to near the German border to pick the courtesy car up (about an hour 1/4 drive).
At the end of the week we able to take the French courtesy car through the tunnel and drive it to Dover where they had a British one waiting. I was then allowed to drop this back to the local depot on the Monday (we arrived back late on the Saturday) rather than the Sunday. My Griff was repatriated and back in Blighty by the Friday - which was a day before we got back!
Whilst your price does sound expensive I would not personally switch to anyone else - ever. This service was first class. Maybe a 'phone call can get the price down but for me it is well worth it
Oblio
oblio said:
Hi
I used the AA 5 Star a few years ago when my Griff's engine melted in the heart of rural France.
After a 'phone call they had a flatbed pick her up within the hour and take her away. They then arranged a courtesy car for us for the rest of the week. They paid for a taxi to take us to near the German border to pick the courtesy car up (about an hour 1/4 drive).
At the end of the week we able to take the French courtesy car through the tunnel and drive it to Dover where they had a British one waiting. I was then allowed to drop this back to the local depot on the Monday (we arrived back late on the Saturday) rather than the Sunday. My Griff was repatriated and back in Blighty by the Friday - which was a day before we got back!
Whilst your price does sound expensive I would not personally switch to anyone else - ever. This service was first class. Maybe a 'phone call can get the price down but for me it is well worth it
Oblio
Many thanks, a true account of the service I am paying for is exactly what I wanted.I used the AA 5 Star a few years ago when my Griff's engine melted in the heart of rural France.
After a 'phone call they had a flatbed pick her up within the hour and take her away. They then arranged a courtesy car for us for the rest of the week. They paid for a taxi to take us to near the German border to pick the courtesy car up (about an hour 1/4 drive).
At the end of the week we able to take the French courtesy car through the tunnel and drive it to Dover where they had a British one waiting. I was then allowed to drop this back to the local depot on the Monday (we arrived back late on the Saturday) rather than the Sunday. My Griff was repatriated and back in Blighty by the Friday - which was a day before we got back!
Whilst your price does sound expensive I would not personally switch to anyone else - ever. This service was first class. Maybe a 'phone call can get the price down but for me it is well worth it
Oblio
Sounds like the AA really looked after you, I will give them a call in the morning.
Thanks again.
I've used the AA 5 star European cover a few times, and every time they have been excellent. The first time was when the clutch broke on my Tuscan 1/2 a day into a 3 week driving holiday to Italy, and they very quickly sorted me a pretty decent hire car for the duration of the trip with no issues at all.
You may find cheaper cover, but to me it was well worth paying the extra.
You may find cheaper cover, but to me it was well worth paying the extra.
Spoke to the AA on the phone and the price went up from the on-line quote of £116.40 to £148.70!!!
Told them they needed to have another think as Direct Line have offered similar breakdown cover with repatriation of car driver and passenger for £55.45.
They put me on hold then came back with £104.87, bloody big drop and shows you the greedy margins they try at get away with before they are challenged.
So now I have a choice.
Go on the cheap with Direct Line or go with the gold service from the AA and splash an extra £50.00?
I guess like any insurance I'm just gambling on the likelihood of needing it.
The odds against a breakdown stack up like this:
Told them they needed to have another think as Direct Line have offered similar breakdown cover with repatriation of car driver and passenger for £55.45.
They put me on hold then came back with £104.87, bloody big drop and shows you the greedy margins they try at get away with before they are challenged.
So now I have a choice.
Go on the cheap with Direct Line or go with the gold service from the AA and splash an extra £50.00?
I guess like any insurance I'm just gambling on the likelihood of needing it.
The odds against a breakdown stack up like this:
- My Chimaera has been fantastically reliable since I bought it last year, I have serviced it twice in 6,000 miles eliminating every little fault, I have also replaced most of the ignition side as a preventative.
- I am confident the car is as well prepared for the trip as I can make it, I am an ex-mechanic & I will be taking a comprehensive selection of tools and spares.
- Its a TVR!
Edited by Chimpaholic on Wednesday 10th March 12:31
On the basis that we're on the continent 3-4 times a year at least I have full european cover and the usual UK stuff apart from home start with RAC.
I pay £160ish for 12mths of cover. I don't have to worry about notifying them every time I hit the continent. It covers me what ever car I happen to be in at the time as we sometimes go in the run around rather than the TVR if we're going racing for the weekend and there's 4 of us instead of 2.
I understand buying for each trip, but in the end for the aggravation of going through quote after quote etc etc I go with the minimum stress option.
AA and RAC seem to come out pretty much identical to be honest in terms of service. I've been with friends who've needed their car recovered and AA were appalling. I've been with others when AA were brilliant as highlighted here. Overall RAC on the continent have in my experience between frineds turned out to be the best, but it's a fine balance.
ADAC do get really good write ups and I may consider them . . I never used to have any recovery in the UK or the continent and that got caught out coming home from Mallory park with a screwdriver blade through the tyre on a Sunday evening in pouring rain in the TVR. No spare wheel, no chance of foam sorting it. Got the g/f at the time to go to a mates, borrow a wheel, drive 80 miles and deliver it to me so I could change it and drive home . . feck that. Decided to take the plunge for annual policy that covered everything.
Also RAC do 10% discount each year you don't claim, so my premium has kept going down to date, which is a bonus as well ..
I pay £160ish for 12mths of cover. I don't have to worry about notifying them every time I hit the continent. It covers me what ever car I happen to be in at the time as we sometimes go in the run around rather than the TVR if we're going racing for the weekend and there's 4 of us instead of 2.
I understand buying for each trip, but in the end for the aggravation of going through quote after quote etc etc I go with the minimum stress option.
AA and RAC seem to come out pretty much identical to be honest in terms of service. I've been with friends who've needed their car recovered and AA were appalling. I've been with others when AA were brilliant as highlighted here. Overall RAC on the continent have in my experience between frineds turned out to be the best, but it's a fine balance.
ADAC do get really good write ups and I may consider them . . I never used to have any recovery in the UK or the continent and that got caught out coming home from Mallory park with a screwdriver blade through the tyre on a Sunday evening in pouring rain in the TVR. No spare wheel, no chance of foam sorting it. Got the g/f at the time to go to a mates, borrow a wheel, drive 80 miles and deliver it to me so I could change it and drive home . . feck that. Decided to take the plunge for annual policy that covered everything.
Also RAC do 10% discount each year you don't claim, so my premium has kept going down to date, which is a bonus as well ..
I've used the ADAC for longer than I've known about PH
Absolute bargain due to their concept of being European IMHO
ahhhhdeeeahhhhseee is just really the German AA BTW
They're always "fetching banged up VW campers back from all over europe, so there should be plenty of capacity to get you back home" was a line I was given over a beer in Munich with one of their staff
They have a better class of hippies down South
Absolute bargain due to their concept of being European IMHO
ahhhhdeeeahhhhseee is just really the German AA BTW
They're always "fetching banged up VW campers back from all over europe, so there should be plenty of capacity to get you back home" was a line I was given over a beer in Munich with one of their staff
They have a better class of hippies down South 
Just had an online quote from the AA for £89, two week trip in April.
This is about 20% higher than last year.
Bit concerned though, that it says £2000 claim limit.
That doesn't go very far!
ETA just checked and last year it was £50 !!!!
That's nearly an 80% increase FFS
This is about 20% higher than last year.
Bit concerned though, that it says £2000 claim limit.
That doesn't go very far!
ETA just checked and last year it was £50 !!!!
That's nearly an 80% increase FFS
Edited by sgrimshaw on Wednesday 10th March 19:32
Just spoken with the AA.
£2000 excludes the recovery to UK, so cover is actually same as last year - the website is confusing.
He put details through, and came up with £89.
Why the increase I asked.
Car is now over 10 years old, it is actually 11.
Then he asked - when was it registered?
After some hunting, found the v5 ........... registered 9/5/1999.
Car is only 10 years old says the nice man from the AA - cover will be £49 again this year.
Result!
£2000 excludes the recovery to UK, so cover is actually same as last year - the website is confusing.
He put details through, and came up with £89.
Why the increase I asked.
Car is now over 10 years old, it is actually 11.
Then he asked - when was it registered?
After some hunting, found the v5 ........... registered 9/5/1999.
Car is only 10 years old says the nice man from the AA - cover will be £49 again this year.
Result!
Right that's it, I have made up my mind.
Over £100 is just too much for a sixteen day trip no matter how good the AA service is.
Direct Line it is then.
If I break down I will put a post up from my Iphone at the roadside so you can all say I told you so.
I will at least have £50.00 worth of snails to snack on while I wait for that stupid red phone with wheels to turn up.
Thanks to everyone that joined in here with your experiences.
Over £100 is just too much for a sixteen day trip no matter how good the AA service is.
Direct Line it is then.
If I break down I will put a post up from my Iphone at the roadside so you can all say I told you so.
I will at least have £50.00 worth of snails to snack on while I wait for that stupid red phone with wheels to turn up.
Thanks to everyone that joined in here with your experiences.
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