Euro breakdown cover: Repatriation of low-value car
Discussion
I've just come back from a trip to France, during which my TVR broke down and I've had to leave it there and wait for them to repatriate it.
Perhaps I was naive, but I was a little shocked when they told me that the decision to repatriate the car was based on its market value. They told me if the value is less than the repatriation cost, then they won't repatriate it.
This wasn't much of a worry for the TVR, being worth at least £8-10k even on a low valuation, but I'm wondering what would have happened if I'd been in my other car (an elderly high-mileage SEAT probably worth no more than a grand).
Would the AA really have simply abandoned me and paid out nothing? If so, this seems bloody outrageous. If they don't pay out an amount that relates to the car's value then that value isn't a financial risk to them, so why is it relevant?
On the other hand, perhaps they force you to "top-up" by paying the difference between the car's market value and the repatriation cost. This would be slightly less outrageous, though still somewhat mean-minded.
If, say, the repatriation costs £1000 and you're in a car worth £1100 then you're laughing - they'll repatriate you free of charge. But what if you're in a car that they deem is worth only £900? Are you totally screwed, or do you simply have to pay a hundred quid towards the repatriation?
Has anyone been in the situation of needing repatriation in a low-value car?
Perhaps I was naive, but I was a little shocked when they told me that the decision to repatriate the car was based on its market value. They told me if the value is less than the repatriation cost, then they won't repatriate it.
This wasn't much of a worry for the TVR, being worth at least £8-10k even on a low valuation, but I'm wondering what would have happened if I'd been in my other car (an elderly high-mileage SEAT probably worth no more than a grand).
Would the AA really have simply abandoned me and paid out nothing? If so, this seems bloody outrageous. If they don't pay out an amount that relates to the car's value then that value isn't a financial risk to them, so why is it relevant?
On the other hand, perhaps they force you to "top-up" by paying the difference between the car's market value and the repatriation cost. This would be slightly less outrageous, though still somewhat mean-minded.
If, say, the repatriation costs £1000 and you're in a car worth £1100 then you're laughing - they'll repatriate you free of charge. But what if you're in a car that they deem is worth only £900? Are you totally screwed, or do you simply have to pay a hundred quid towards the repatriation?
Has anyone been in the situation of needing repatriation in a low-value car?
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