Home in a hire car!
Discussion
Just in case this happens to me or anyone else, do you drop off the hire car at, say Calais, and become a foot passenger on a ferry? If not, what happens? Also, how do you go about getting your car back home? I ask this for future reference. particularly as last year my son's car broke down but we did get in repaired by the next day.
R.
R.
I did 
My engine started making a faint knocking noise about 120 miles south of Calais, so pulled in to the next services which fortunately was just a few miles up the road. By then it was getting louder, so I called the AA.
The Autoroutes are privately owned, so the AA can only help once you are off the motorway network, so I had to ask one of the staff in the service area to call out a recovery truck which turned up in about 20 minutes. They loaded the car on and took me to a little garage about 5 miles away where I called the AA again. They had a little think about what to do, and after about 30 minutes called me back to let me know that another truck was on it's way to take the car, my passenger and me to Calais where they had arranged for P&O to load the car on the ferry to be met by an AA transporter at Dover.
However when we arrived there, P&O and the Calais harbour master refused to allow the car onboard, as it didn't have a proper tow hook fitted. Another 30 minutes was spent on the phone to the AA who weren't able to persuade P&O or SeaFrance to take my car, so they arranged for it to be taken back to a garage to be recovered back to the UK later. We then boarded the ferry as foot passengers, and picked up a hire car at Dover which was all pre-booked.
Yet again (sadly, it's not the first time I've had to use AA European breakdown cover!) the AA were great - they always called me back when they said they would, and everything was organised for me. All I had to pay for was the ferry ticket, which they will refund me for.
My engine started making a faint knocking noise about 120 miles south of Calais, so pulled in to the next services which fortunately was just a few miles up the road. By then it was getting louder, so I called the AA.
The Autoroutes are privately owned, so the AA can only help once you are off the motorway network, so I had to ask one of the staff in the service area to call out a recovery truck which turned up in about 20 minutes. They loaded the car on and took me to a little garage about 5 miles away where I called the AA again. They had a little think about what to do, and after about 30 minutes called me back to let me know that another truck was on it's way to take the car, my passenger and me to Calais where they had arranged for P&O to load the car on the ferry to be met by an AA transporter at Dover.
However when we arrived there, P&O and the Calais harbour master refused to allow the car onboard, as it didn't have a proper tow hook fitted. Another 30 minutes was spent on the phone to the AA who weren't able to persuade P&O or SeaFrance to take my car, so they arranged for it to be taken back to a garage to be recovered back to the UK later. We then boarded the ferry as foot passengers, and picked up a hire car at Dover which was all pre-booked.
Yet again (sadly, it's not the first time I've had to use AA European breakdown cover!) the AA were great - they always called me back when they said they would, and everything was organised for me. All I had to pay for was the ferry ticket, which they will refund me for.
My car broke down at Le Nams last year ..
I have Euro assist with my classicline policy - I just called the number and a truck came and took the car home..
and I took the easy option .. finished watching the race and then called my mother to come pick me and the g/f up
Luckily she lives in France.
Then we got a cheap flight home.
Car arrived home about 2 days later..
Saved me a fortune in petrol.
I have Euro assist with my classicline policy - I just called the number and a truck came and took the car home..
and I took the easy option .. finished watching the race and then called my mother to come pick me and the g/f up
Luckily she lives in France.
Then we got a cheap flight home.
Car arrived home about 2 days later..
Saved me a fortune in petrol.
Bad luck Ed.. 
The AA have always been great with me when broken down overseas. The only problem I've ever had is that the motorway network is private and as Ed says, you have to find a way of getting off it before they will help you. Local recovery services can be a little less sympathetic over vehicles than the AA, but thats the same as over here in reality.
The AA have always been great with me when broken down overseas. The only problem I've ever had is that the motorway network is private and as Ed says, you have to find a way of getting off it before they will help you. Local recovery services can be a little less sympathetic over vehicles than the AA, but thats the same as over here in reality.
Old Geezer said:
Nope!!
The TVR got there and back without a blip!
We rescued a Fararri Dino on the way back!
Even ate a Porker 911 Turbo on the way home!
Ahh I saw you just join the M25 I was in the BMW 328 stickered up tried staying with you eventually caught the Porsche up but no sign of you in the Cerb!!The TVR got there and back without a blip!
We rescued a Fararri Dino on the way back!
Even ate a Porker 911 Turbo on the way home!
(now trying to work out how I can afford a Cerb for next year!)
robbydee said:
So who came home in a differnt car? due to technical problems..
I did after an engine bay fire, home in a Citroen C3 instead of my
Still waiting for the car, have been told 10 -14 days, i also can highly recommend the AA faultless service (sofar). Swapped the french C3 for a Mondeo at Eastern Dock Dover..I did after an engine bay fire, home in a Citroen C3 instead of my
2003 I was a member of the AA, at that time in your membership you had 72hrs of FREE european cover! However we had a very early Thursday morning start to our Le mans trip (sea cat, portsmouth to cherbourg) and I did not read the small print on terms and conditions as a result when I broke down and phoned the AA, I was not covered as I did not regester with them that I was going to europe The result of this was expencive! I had to pay for the car to be taken off the toll road and kept locked up in a garage overnight. Then pay for a taxi to camping Houx Lemans (20 odd miles),my so called mates could not be bothered to come back and pick me up 
The following day (friday) I got a lift into Le mans town centre and Hired a car from Le Mans to Cherbourg (one way). With my co pilot we went back to the garage where the car was stored disconnected the propshaft and towed the car back down to camping Houx. Sunday morning, left the campsite and started out intrepped journey back home! NOTE: THEY DONT SELL TOW ROPES IN FRANCE! I had one tow rope which broke several times and in the end we lashed togther washing lines and anything else we found along the way We towed the car all the way to cherbourg!!! When we got to the docks we were told that broken down cars were not allowed on the sea cat and that we had to wait another 5hrs for the boat I returned the Hire car to the office in cherbourg and got a taxi back to the docks. Once we arrived back in england the AA relayed me home!
2004 This time I made sure I paid for AA 5* Eupopean recovery, After the car engine fire I contacted the AA, they picked up the car and took it to a garage in Le mans which was the last time I saw the car untill it arrived back to a garage of my choice in england some time later. However this was where the fun started. The car was a Dax Tojerio regestered in 1997, hovever the number plate finished 'R' reg (1977), After paying for a taxi to take me to the Hertz hire car office in Le Mans, I was informed that I would have to pay another 100 pounds as I did not inform the AA that the car was over ten yrs old (its bad enough seeing your pride and joy go up in flames but when the b
ds threw that one at me I was realy upset). The choices were that I could not argue with them while in france If I did they would cancel my european cover and I would be back to the same situation as the year before , I paid out the money and got given a Hire car! This time we were traveling to the Euro tunnel terminal at calias. We had to drop off the french car at the Hertz depot by the terminal and picked up another car which we had to transfer all our belongings into. Once back in england, I returned the Hire car the next day to my local Hertz office (croydon), Where I was charged more money! Would I recommend AA 5*european cover....WOULD I Fk.
I tried to argue with the AA when I got home, stating the car was under 10yrs old according to the Log Book, but it fell on deaf ears with them and I gave up putting the whole thing down to bad luck and experence
as a result when I broke down and phoned the AA, I was not covered as I did not regester with them that I was going to europe The result of this was expencive! I had to pay for the car to be taken off the toll road and kept locked up in a garage overnight. Then pay for a taxi to camping Houx Lemans (20 odd miles),my so called mates could not be bothered to come back and pick me up The following day (friday) I got a lift into Le mans town centre and Hired a car from Le Mans to Cherbourg (one way). With my co pilot we went back to the garage where the car was stored disconnected the propshaft and towed the car back down to camping Houx. Sunday morning, left the campsite and started out intrepped journey back home! NOTE: THEY DONT SELL TOW ROPES IN FRANCE! I had one tow rope which broke several times and in the end we lashed togther washing lines and anything else we found along the way We towed the car all the way to cherbourg!!! When we got to the docks we were told that broken down cars were not allowed on the sea cat and that we had to wait another 5hrs for the boat I returned the Hire car to the office in cherbourg and got a taxi back to the docks. Once we arrived back in england the AA relayed me home!2004 This time I made sure I paid for AA 5* Eupopean recovery, After the car engine fire I contacted the AA, they picked up the car and took it to a garage in Le mans which was the last time I saw the car untill it arrived back to a garage of my choice in england some time later. However this was where the fun started. The car was a Dax Tojerio regestered in 1997, hovever the number plate finished 'R' reg (1977), After paying for a taxi to take me to the Hertz hire car office in Le Mans, I was informed that I would have to pay another 100 pounds as I did not inform the AA that the car was over ten yrs old
(its bad enough seeing your pride and joy go up in flames but when the bds threw that one at me I was realy upset). The choices were that I could not argue with them while in france If I did they would cancel my european cover and I would be back to the same situation as the year before , I paid out the money and got given a Hire car! This time we were traveling to the Euro tunnel terminal at calias. We had to drop off the french car at the Hertz depot by the terminal and picked up another car which we had to transfer all our belongings into. Once back in england, I returned the Hire car the next day to my local Hertz office (croydon), Where I was charged more money! Would I recommend AA 5*european cover....WOULD I Fk.I tried to argue with the AA when I got home, stating the car was under 10yrs old according to the Log Book, but it fell on deaf ears with them and I gave up putting the whole thing down to bad luck and experence
Edited by fatboy18 on Thursday 19th June 11:54
ehasler said:
I did
My engine started making a faint knocking noise about 120 miles south of Calais, so pulled in to the next services which fortunately was just a few miles up the road. By then it was getting louder, so I called the AA.
The Autoroutes are privately owned, so the AA can only help once you are off the motorway network, so I had to ask one of the staff in the service area to call out a recovery truck which turned up in about 20 minutes. They loaded the car on and took me to a little garage about 5 miles away where I called the AA again. They had a little think about what to do, and after about 30 minutes called me back to let me know that another truck was on it's way to take the car, my passenger and me to Calais where they had arranged for P&O to load the car on the ferry to be met by an AA transporter at Dover.
However when we arrived there, P&O and the Calais harbour master refused to allow the car onboard, as it didn't have a proper tow hook fitted. Another 30 minutes was spent on the phone to the AA who weren't able to persuade P&O or SeaFrance to take my car, so they arranged for it to be taken back to a garage to be recovered back to the UK later. We then boarded the ferry as foot passengers, and picked up a hire car at Dover which was all pre-booked.
Yet again (sadly, it's not the first time I've had to use AA European breakdown cover!) the AA were great - they always called me back when they said they would, and everything was organised for me. All I had to pay for was the ferry ticket, which they will refund me for.
Thats pretty good service from the AA. So it will cost you nothing to get the car home?! Brilliant. What AA package do you have? (Is it expensive?!)My engine started making a faint knocking noise about 120 miles south of Calais, so pulled in to the next services which fortunately was just a few miles up the road. By then it was getting louder, so I called the AA.
The Autoroutes are privately owned, so the AA can only help once you are off the motorway network, so I had to ask one of the staff in the service area to call out a recovery truck which turned up in about 20 minutes. They loaded the car on and took me to a little garage about 5 miles away where I called the AA again. They had a little think about what to do, and after about 30 minutes called me back to let me know that another truck was on it's way to take the car, my passenger and me to Calais where they had arranged for P&O to load the car on the ferry to be met by an AA transporter at Dover.
However when we arrived there, P&O and the Calais harbour master refused to allow the car onboard, as it didn't have a proper tow hook fitted. Another 30 minutes was spent on the phone to the AA who weren't able to persuade P&O or SeaFrance to take my car, so they arranged for it to be taken back to a garage to be recovered back to the UK later. We then boarded the ferry as foot passengers, and picked up a hire car at Dover which was all pre-booked.
Yet again (sadly, it's not the first time I've had to use AA European breakdown cover!) the AA were great - they always called me back when they said they would, and everything was organised for me. All I had to pay for was the ferry ticket, which they will refund me for.
mrmr96 said:
Thats pretty good service from the AA. So it will cost you nothing to get the car home?! Brilliant. What AA package do you have? (Is it expensive?!)
I have the full annual European breakdown package as well as the UK one - I think it cost me an extra £85 for the year - worth every penny!!
The Leaper said:
Just in case this happens to me or anyone else, do you drop off the hire car at, say Calais, and become a foot passenger on a ferry? If not, what happens? Also, how do you go about getting your car back home? I ask this for future reference. particularly as last year my son's car broke down but we did get in repaired by the next day.
R.
When this happened to me I took the hire car on the ferry, drove it round at home for a week and then took it back on the ferry once my car was fixed and left it at the garage my car had been towed to. I left the keys with the garage and the local branch of the car hire company came to collect it after I'd gone with my own car. Job done. R.
ehasler said:
mrmr96 said:
Thats pretty good service from the AA. So it will cost you nothing to get the car home?! Brilliant. What AA package do you have? (Is it expensive?!)
I have the full annual European breakdown package as well as the UK one - I think it cost me an extra £85 for the year - worth every penny!!I did, our blimmin 911 brokedown on the A11 off to Paris after leaving Le Mans.....
Luckily with the other cars in our convoy, we managaged to sqeeze in to get home...(after copious amounts of beer in Le Touquet). The lifts were needed due to having no European Breakdown cover, so we would have found it hard to get a hire car on a Sunday afternoon!
Unluckily, the tow truck cost over £500 for the car to Porsche Paris (ouch) 125 Euro minimum to get off the motorway alone? and also it's an engine out diagnostic ???? (bigger ouch)
Heard a few people "tooting" us as they caned it by? Anybody see us?? We were a silver 911 with the truck and then a grey LandCruiser, grey 911 Turbo and Red Corvette - all stickered up with our Rusty Ring Race team livery - big purple stickers?
Chalky
Luckily with the other cars in our convoy, we managaged to sqeeze in to get home...(after copious amounts of beer in Le Touquet). The lifts were needed due to having no European Breakdown cover, so we would have found it hard to get a hire car on a Sunday afternoon!
Unluckily, the tow truck cost over £500 for the car to Porsche Paris (ouch) 125 Euro minimum to get off the motorway alone? and also it's an engine out diagnostic ???? (bigger ouch)
Heard a few people "tooting" us as they caned it by? Anybody see us?? We were a silver 911 with the truck and then a grey LandCruiser, grey 911 Turbo and Red Corvette - all stickered up with our Rusty Ring Race team livery - big purple stickers?
Chalky
Edited by Chalky180 on Friday 20th June 14:37
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