Breakdown Cover
Discussion
Now then,
I'm not usually one to worry about this sort of thing, however, my poor little Honda is getting on a bit and just about to hit the magical 100k mark and its 10 year birthday. I don't bother with breakdown cover at home as i'm fairly mechanically minded and have a mechanic mate or two to help out should the worst happen. However, being in France, I won't have that luxury. The car is in fairly good health, aside from a noisy gearbox, which I beleive are some knackered bearings. I won't be able to get the box sorted before the trip though.
So, a quick search on the net has revealed RAC want about £52, AA £41 and another company "Vehicle Rescue Direct" want £21 which seems far more reasonable, they claim to be breokers for AXA recovery. Just after some opinions on these services, is the cheaper one any worse than the big names etc.?
I'm not usually one to worry about this sort of thing, however, my poor little Honda is getting on a bit and just about to hit the magical 100k mark and its 10 year birthday. I don't bother with breakdown cover at home as i'm fairly mechanically minded and have a mechanic mate or two to help out should the worst happen. However, being in France, I won't have that luxury. The car is in fairly good health, aside from a noisy gearbox, which I beleive are some knackered bearings. I won't be able to get the box sorted before the trip though.
So, a quick search on the net has revealed RAC want about £52, AA £41 and another company "Vehicle Rescue Direct" want £21 which seems far more reasonable, they claim to be breokers for AXA recovery. Just after some opinions on these services, is the cheaper one any worse than the big names etc.?
Coogy,
Something you might want to know about a breakdown in France is that if you breakdown on an autoroute (motorway) then it's not up to your recovery service to rescue you. It's the responsibility of a national service to get to you and get you off the autoroute. You have to sit tight and wait for them to turn up. Once done and you're off the autoroute your breakdown service will take over. Also, from first hand experience with my Son returning from Le Mans last year, the breakdown service will not automatically give you a get-you-home-service to the UK. Instead, it's a matter of getting you to the nearest dealer, Honda in France somwhere in your case, and then getting the motor fixed. If this takes time, say some days, then you may or not have accomodation, food, hire car etc, covered, but probably not, so you will have to pay for all of this. So, if you pay the least for breakdown cover you will get the minimum protection. My advice is to decide what you really want covered and try and get it at an acceptable price, and whatever you sign up for, make sure you are FULLY AWARE of WHAT IS and WHAT IS NOT covered.
We got my Son's car fixed in Bologne the day after it broke down. We stayed overnight and had associated expenses. I hired a car too. None of this was rebated under my Son's breakdown cover. By the way, we phoned many UK companies to find out the cost of repatriation to the UK. Basically, nobody was interested. We did have one suggested price of £500.
Still going to risk it? It's maybe a 700 mile return journey from Calais to Le Mans.
R.
Something you might want to know about a breakdown in France is that if you breakdown on an autoroute (motorway) then it's not up to your recovery service to rescue you. It's the responsibility of a national service to get to you and get you off the autoroute. You have to sit tight and wait for them to turn up. Once done and you're off the autoroute your breakdown service will take over. Also, from first hand experience with my Son returning from Le Mans last year, the breakdown service will not automatically give you a get-you-home-service to the UK. Instead, it's a matter of getting you to the nearest dealer, Honda in France somwhere in your case, and then getting the motor fixed. If this takes time, say some days, then you may or not have accomodation, food, hire car etc, covered, but probably not, so you will have to pay for all of this. So, if you pay the least for breakdown cover you will get the minimum protection. My advice is to decide what you really want covered and try and get it at an acceptable price, and whatever you sign up for, make sure you are FULLY AWARE of WHAT IS and WHAT IS NOT covered.
We got my Son's car fixed in Bologne the day after it broke down. We stayed overnight and had associated expenses. I hired a car too. None of this was rebated under my Son's breakdown cover. By the way, we phoned many UK companies to find out the cost of repatriation to the UK. Basically, nobody was interested. We did have one suggested price of £500.
Still going to risk it? It's maybe a 700 mile return journey from Calais to Le Mans.
R.
Coogy,
Something you might want to know about a breakdown in France is that if you breakdown on an autoroute (motorway) then it's not up to your recovery service to rescue you. It's the responsibility of a national service to get to you and get you off the autoroute. You have to sit tight and wait for them to turn up. Once done and you're off the autoroute your breakdown service will take over. Also, from first hand experience with my Son returning from Le Mans last year, the breakdown service will not automatically give you a get-you-home-service to the UK. Instead, it's a matter of getting you to the nearest dealer, Honda in France somwhere in your case, and then getting the motor fixed. If this takes time, say some days, then you may or not have accomodation, food, hire car etc, covered, but probably not, so you will have to pay for all of this. So, if you pay the least for breakdown cover you will get the minimum protection. My advice is to decide what you really want covered and try and get it at an acceptable price, and whatever you sign up for, make sure you are FULLY AWARE of WHAT IS and WHAT IS NOT covered.
We got my Son's car fixed in Bologne the day after it broke down. We stayed overnight and had associated expenses. I hired a car too. None of this was rebated under my Son's breakdown cover. By the way, we phoned many UK companies to find out the cost of repatriation to the UK. Basically, nobody was interested. We did have one suggested price of £500.
Still going to risk it? It's maybe a 700 mile return journey from Calais to Le Mans.
R.
Something you might want to know about a breakdown in France is that if you breakdown on an autoroute (motorway) then it's not up to your recovery service to rescue you. It's the responsibility of a national service to get to you and get you off the autoroute. You have to sit tight and wait for them to turn up. Once done and you're off the autoroute your breakdown service will take over. Also, from first hand experience with my Son returning from Le Mans last year, the breakdown service will not automatically give you a get-you-home-service to the UK. Instead, it's a matter of getting you to the nearest dealer, Honda in France somwhere in your case, and then getting the motor fixed. If this takes time, say some days, then you may or not have accomodation, food, hire car etc, covered, but probably not, so you will have to pay for all of this. So, if you pay the least for breakdown cover you will get the minimum protection. My advice is to decide what you really want covered and try and get it at an acceptable price, and whatever you sign up for, make sure you are FULLY AWARE of WHAT IS and WHAT IS NOT covered.
We got my Son's car fixed in Bologne the day after it broke down. We stayed overnight and had associated expenses. I hired a car too. None of this was rebated under my Son's breakdown cover. By the way, we phoned many UK companies to find out the cost of repatriation to the UK. Basically, nobody was interested. We did have one suggested price of £500.
Still going to risk it? It's maybe a 700 mile return journey from Calais to Le Mans.
R.
A couple of years ago we were on a boat back to England with some guys who had been at LM. One was an Impreza Turbo which had completely lunched its engine while at LM but had no breakdown cover, so he was towed all the way from Le Mans to Boulogne by his mate in an M5 and onto the boat. The plan was to drag it off the boat at Dover, stick it in a layby and then call the AA to get it home!
Personally, I'd just get the breakdown cover!
Personally, I'd just get the breakdown cover!
The Leaper sums it up, whatever you go for, read the policy summary thoroughly. Check that they will provide a hire car and repatriate your vehicle if it is not repairable, most do. Usually the hire car vs repair is at the insurers discretion depending on how long the repair is expected to take. Although the French authorities organise your recovery from the Autoroute the cost should still be covered by your policy. The big firms sting you for cars over ten years old, the smaller insurers seem to offer equivalent cover for much less, have used them before but the only time I've had to claim with was Green Flag. Once had the diode pack replaced on an altenator, another time had the full Monty - tow off the motorway, hire car & repatriation, no problems with the service on either occasion.
Mellow_Yellow said:
The Leaper sums it up, whatever you go for, read the policy summary thoroughly. Check that they will provide a hire car and repatriate your vehicle if it is not repairable, most do. Usually the hire car vs repair is at the insurers discretion depending on how long the repair is expected to take. Although the French authorities organise your recovery from the Autoroute the cost should still be covered by your policy. The big firms sting you for cars over ten years old, the smaller insurers seem to offer equivalent cover for much less, have used them before but the only time I've had to claim with was Green Flag. Once had the diode pack replaced on an altenator, another time had the full Monty - tow off the motorway, hire car & repatriation, no problems with the service on either occasion.
Except they gave you a Megane and you couldn't keep up 
Bit like this year then in your RS4??
Rob
Many thanks for the responses guys, so it sounds like cover is pretty much a given.
These guys do look quite good and their recovery sounds reasonable, what do ya reckon?
http://www.vehicle-rescue.com/
These guys do look quite good and their recovery sounds reasonable, what do ya reckon?
http://www.vehicle-rescue.com/
Robscim said:
Mellow_Yellow said:
The Leaper sums it up, whatever you go for, read the policy summary thoroughly. Check that they will provide a hire car and repatriate your vehicle if it is not repairable, most do. Usually the hire car vs repair is at the insurers discretion depending on how long the repair is expected to take. Although the French authorities organise your recovery from the Autoroute the cost should still be covered by your policy. The big firms sting you for cars over ten years old, the smaller insurers seem to offer equivalent cover for much less, have used them before but the only time I've had to claim with was Green Flag. Once had the diode pack replaced on an altenator, another time had the full Monty - tow off the motorway, hire car & repatriation, no problems with the service on either occasion.
Except they gave you a Megane and you couldn't keep up Bit like this year then in your RS4??
Rob
Just got the cover through from the AA for the Classic Le Mans.
Five days cover for £52.06. Not bad, but especially when you realise it is for a 1935 Rolls Royce!
coogy said:
Many thanks for the responses guys, so it sounds like cover is pretty much a given.
These guys do look quite good and their recovery sounds reasonable, what do ya reckon?
http://www.vehicle-rescue.com/
i just used this lot, £24.75 for single trip cover to europe, seems to include all the necessary parts of cover, good value!These guys do look quite good and their recovery sounds reasonable, what do ya reckon?
http://www.vehicle-rescue.com/
Thanks for this tip, I've just arranged annual cover (including Europe) for £57 which could come in handy for my France trip next month!
Unfortunately I'll be passing through Le Mans the week before and the week after the race, but c'est la vie, at least I'll be able to sneak off to see the museum for a couple of hours....
Cheers
Unfortunately I'll be passing through Le Mans the week before and the week after the race, but c'est la vie, at least I'll be able to sneak off to see the museum for a couple of hours....
Cheers
Adrian Flux offer an optional UK (inc homestart) & Euro breakdown cover with their car insurance for under £50, which seems a billy bargain to me.
Just to echo previous advice, it is not worth skimping on this - in two consecutive years PH'er MikeN blew up his Imprezza en route to LM and then in an apres LM hoon his Noble decided it would like to come back to Blighty on a flat bed. Without breakdown insurance his bank account would have been many hundreds lighter on each occasion.
Just to echo previous advice, it is not worth skimping on this - in two consecutive years PH'er MikeN blew up his Imprezza en route to LM and then in an apres LM hoon his Noble decided it would like to come back to Blighty on a flat bed. Without breakdown insurance his bank account would have been many hundreds lighter on each occasion.
Just thought I'd get this organised and got a quote from the AA. £70!!! This is with the "online discount" and 10% off as I'm an AA member.
My car is now 11 years old so they whack an extra £35 on! Thieving gypsies!!
Anyway http://www.vehicle-rescue.com/ came out at £35, so guess where my money is going.
My car is now 11 years old so they whack an extra £35 on! Thieving gypsies!!
Anyway http://www.vehicle-rescue.com/ came out at £35, so guess where my money is going.
https://www.travelcoverquote.com/vehiclerescue/pop...
and
https://www.travelcoverquote.com/vehiclerescue/pop...
and
https://www.travelcoverquote.com/vehiclerescue/pop...
Edited by markCSC on Thursday 29th May 15:15
markCSC said:
Just thought I'd get this organised and got a quote from the AA. £70!!! This is with the "online discount" and 10% off as I'm an AA member.
My car is now 11 years old so they whack an extra £35 on! Thieving gypsies!!
Anyway http://www.vehicle-rescue.com/ came out at £35, so guess where my money is going.
My car is now 11 years old so they whack an extra £35 on! Thieving gypsies!!
Anyway http://www.vehicle-rescue.com/ came out at £35, so guess where my money is going.
That seems a bit steep. I got AA cover with the online discount and 10% off as an existing member. My car is also 11 yrs old and I paid £55!I'm a member over on BMW5.co.uk, and there's a forum member offering breakdown cover over there:
Incidentally I don't know this guy personally, but it seems a pretty good deal.
bmw5.co.uk said:
Motor Breakdown cover with a company called Europ Assistance which provides
full breakdown cover for any car under 15 years of age (it can also cover bikes and vans but there are further restrictions)
The cover provided is:
Homestart
Roadside Assistance
Relay
European Cover
The policy is based on the car covered only.
The policy is not cancellable but is transferrable. A £5.00 administration charge is made for any change.
Please call, Steve, Neil or David on 020 77021915 for further details of cover or to arrange your cover
Harrington Adams Insurance Associates are based in London E1.
We are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services authority.
We are a small company who pride ourselves in offering a personal service for our clients but still being able to compete with the callcentres.
I've just signed up with them, seems better value (and cheaper) than the last lot of cover I bought.full breakdown cover for any car under 15 years of age (it can also cover bikes and vans but there are further restrictions)
The cover provided is:
Homestart
Roadside Assistance
Relay
European Cover
The policy is based on the car covered only.
The policy is not cancellable but is transferrable. A £5.00 administration charge is made for any change.
Please call, Steve, Neil or David on 020 77021915 for further details of cover or to arrange your cover
Harrington Adams Insurance Associates are based in London E1.
We are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services authority.
We are a small company who pride ourselves in offering a personal service for our clients but still being able to compete with the callcentres.
Incidentally I don't know this guy personally, but it seems a pretty good deal.
markCSC said:
Just thought I'd get this organised and got a quote from the AA. £70!!! This is with the "online discount" and 10% off as I'm an AA member.
My car is now 11 years old so they whack an extra £35 on! Thieving gypsies!!
Anyway http://www.vehicle-rescue.com/ came out at £35, so guess where my money is going.
Do read the policy cover properly. This policy doesn't seem to cover damage following an accident and is restricted to straight breakdown. As someone said above, ready the policies properly. My car is now 11 years old so they whack an extra £35 on! Thieving gypsies!!
Anyway http://www.vehicle-rescue.com/ came out at £35, so guess where my money is going.
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