European breakdown cover - any recommendations?
Discussion
We'll be taking the Tamora to Europe during the summer for an extended drive (probably 4-5k miles), so being prudent we'll be taking out European breakdown cover.
Does anyone have any recommendations? RAC seems the most comprehensive but isn't cheap, AA 5 star less comprehensive but cheaper, Green Flag pretty cheap, etc etc. Any good experiences with companies that have brought your car back to the UK unaccompanied (although of course needing to do this is clearly not a good experience)? Any damage to the bodywork during the recovery?
Julian
Does anyone have any recommendations? RAC seems the most comprehensive but isn't cheap, AA 5 star less comprehensive but cheaper, Green Flag pretty cheap, etc etc. Any good experiences with companies that have brought your car back to the UK unaccompanied (although of course needing to do this is clearly not a good experience)? Any damage to the bodywork during the recovery?
Julian
We took RAC, as they seem to be cheaper at £95 for an annual policy plus 5% discount if you book online.
www.rac.co.uk/breakdowncover/european/get_quote?drc=BORO
Hope this helps.
www.rac.co.uk/breakdowncover/european/get_quote?drc=BORO
Hope this helps.
mrmaggit said:
When I needed them, the AA were next to useless until I "went ape" at them. The RAC were brill.
Have to agree ... I have been lucky abroad with my car, but have been involved in tours with friends who have had totally shite service from the AA, whereas the RAC were brilliant.
i broke down 4 years back in my scoobie in italy, had to wait 3 hours (it was midnight), AA organised everything,hotel taxis garage, and when they couldnt fix it due to being an import, they shipped it back to the uk and gave me a hire car for 20 days, maybe i was lucky, but they sure looked after me.
Similarly I broke down near Boulogne in me Trev. I had taken out Norwich Union/RAC European cover. The chappie who came out with a low loader thankfully didn't even want to fix it so the RAC booked a taxi to take us to a hire car place and we had the car for the rest of our stay. We got low loader transported back from Boulogne to Cambridge at the end of our holiday. Very pleased with the service.
Again, many thanks for the responses. The factory has given me the names of the European Tiv dealers, so in the event of a problem I would prefer having her fixed over there rather than bringing her back to the UK (unless we were already on the way back.....).
Here's hoping it won't be needed!
Julian
Here's hoping it won't be needed!
Julian
julianc said:
Again, many thanks for the responses. The factory has given me the names of the European Tiv dealers, so in the event of a problem I would prefer having her fixed over there rather than bringing her back to the UK (unless we were already on the way back.....).
Here's hoping it won't be needed!
Julian
Here's hoping it won't be needed!
Julian
Anyone have this list "of European dealers" ?
Thanks
My experiences of one of these services this summer was not good. Refused a hire car (because the garage couldn't say whether the car could be fixed or not). I complained about this when I got back to the UK but they claim I refused a car!!! Just what you do on a motoring holiday. Will not name and shame openly, but will if you PM me.
Edited by timmybob on Friday 14th July 20:16
Broke down in Belgium last year in a two year old Passat.
Called the RAC.
Got a really nice and helpful lady (don't know if she was in UK or on the continent, but spoke perfect English).
She identified where we were and called us back within 5 mins to say breakdown truck with us within 45 mins, which it was.
Very helpful guy although spoke no English.
Had a high speed suspended tow for 25 mins to a massive VW dealer before they closed for the day.
VW dealer replaced turbo pipe within 45 mins and we were on our way, FOC under VW warranty.Try getting that sort of service in the UK.
And then the RAC lady called us back to make sure we were OK and wished us a pleasant holiday.
Sure it may have cost a bit more but that's what I call service
Called the RAC.
Got a really nice and helpful lady (don't know if she was in UK or on the continent, but spoke perfect English).
She identified where we were and called us back within 5 mins to say breakdown truck with us within 45 mins, which it was.
Very helpful guy although spoke no English.
Had a high speed suspended tow for 25 mins to a massive VW dealer before they closed for the day.
VW dealer replaced turbo pipe within 45 mins and we were on our way, FOC under VW warranty.Try getting that sort of service in the UK.
And then the RAC lady called us back to make sure we were OK and wished us a pleasant holiday.
Sure it may have cost a bit more but that's what I call service
TVR keith said:
Broke down in Belgium last year in a two year old Passat.
Called the RAC.
Got a really nice and helpful lady (don't know if she was in UK or on the continent, but spoke perfect English).
She identified where we were and called us back within 5 mins to say breakdown truck with us within 45 mins, which it was.
Very helpful guy although spoke no English.
Had a high speed suspended tow for 25 mins to a massive VW dealer before they closed for the day.
VW dealer replaced turbo pipe within 45 mins and we were on our way, FOC under VW warranty.Try getting that sort of service in the UK.
And then the RAC lady called us back to make sure we were OK and wished us a pleasant holiday.
Sure it may have cost a bit more but that's what I call service
Called the RAC.
Got a really nice and helpful lady (don't know if she was in UK or on the continent, but spoke perfect English).
She identified where we were and called us back within 5 mins to say breakdown truck with us within 45 mins, which it was.
Very helpful guy although spoke no English.
Had a high speed suspended tow for 25 mins to a massive VW dealer before they closed for the day.
VW dealer replaced turbo pipe within 45 mins and we were on our way, FOC under VW warranty.Try getting that sort of service in the UK.
And then the RAC lady called us back to make sure we were OK and wished us a pleasant holiday.
Sure it may have cost a bit more but that's what I call service
Exactly my point - i'd rather pay £10/£20 more and get the better service even though on paper they appear the same....
Only had good experience in Europe (well France anyway) with the AA.
Had problems with a TR6 and they went out of their way to find someone to fix
in S. France.
Also had accident in Chim (some dopey bint making illegal turn hit me in the side) and they
helped out with various things including later on when a fan failed as a result of accident.
For anyone on Cote D'Azur then "The English Mechanics" in Opio are the ones to go and see
Great bunch originally from Essex and they are the only TVR dealer in France.
www.angloinfo.com/showcase/englishCarMech/
Andy
Had problems with a TR6 and they went out of their way to find someone to fix
in S. France.
Also had accident in Chim (some dopey bint making illegal turn hit me in the side) and they
helped out with various things including later on when a fan failed as a result of accident.
For anyone on Cote D'Azur then "The English Mechanics" in Opio are the ones to go and see
Great bunch originally from Essex and they are the only TVR dealer in France.
www.angloinfo.com/showcase/englishCarMech/
Andy
Ummm - I used mine two weeks ago!!
Had a romantic trip around France planned but Tuscan Mk2 broke down just north of Paris.
Fortunately I had used Eurotunnel's breakdown cover (although I used Greenflag before). I got it with Eurotunnel tickets and I think it was about £50. Under the policy they shipped my car back to the UK (fix it in France? HAH!!) and paid for my travel onto Paris and then back to the UK so I could complete my trip.
Some shots of it at:
www.flickr.com/photos/rosswilliams/190046896/in/set-766562/
www.flickr.com/photos/rosswilliams/190047430/in/set-766562/
www.flickr.com/photos/rosswilliams/190047204/in/set-766562/
It took about a week and half for them to get the car back to the UK - that was the biggest pain.
R
Had a romantic trip around France planned but Tuscan Mk2 broke down just north of Paris.
Fortunately I had used Eurotunnel's breakdown cover (although I used Greenflag before). I got it with Eurotunnel tickets and I think it was about £50. Under the policy they shipped my car back to the UK (fix it in France? HAH!!) and paid for my travel onto Paris and then back to the UK so I could complete my trip.
Some shots of it at:
www.flickr.com/photos/rosswilliams/190046896/in/set-766562/
www.flickr.com/photos/rosswilliams/190047430/in/set-766562/
www.flickr.com/photos/rosswilliams/190047204/in/set-766562/
It took about a week and half for them to get the car back to the UK - that was the biggest pain.
R
I had the misfortune for my clutch slave cylinder seals to pack up on teh forecourt of a hotel in Diezma ( nearest town Granada Spain) Green Flag were brilliant - within an hour my car had been collected for repatriation, they organised a hire car for th erest of the trip in Spain - and a hire car from Partsmouth home, and paid all my taxi fares. They were polite, helpful and reassuring at all times. I now think they're great!!
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