European Breakdown Cover

[gary_de_tam]

Who covers themselves when they venture across the water,
I have the TVR cover for mainland UK but the add-on they
provide sounded a bit light on cover. Interested to hear
what other fans do when they travel...

[Antrocks]

Get European Breakdown - for peace of mind if nothing else.

I took my T350 down to Bordeaux at the end of April, and had a slight 'technical hitch' when the ledge in the engine bay caught and eventually sliced a nick in a coolant pipe (with subsequent pissing of coolant all over the floor). The AA sorted out local breakdown to flat bed the car to their garage and fully repair it (which they did, remarkably well).

Having to deal with the hassle of breakdown services myself, with my French only passable, would have been tough. And expensive.

[alt]

I was just about to add European cover to my AA policy for two weeks in June for Le Mans but ended up taking out the Recovery with my insurance (Mannings) as it includes European cover with Assure for the same price.
No experience of using either and hope I never do.
Cheers.... Andrew

[targarama]

I'm belt & braces when it comes to this. Never had to call anyone while abroad yet. But I don't want a bit hole in my tyre on a Sunday morning in rural France with nobody to help me (remember France is closed on Sunday - no quick trips to Kwik Fit).

I take out AA 5 Star cover. Lots of people recommend the German ADAC cover - I may take this out next time as our next trip will avoid France except a short dash from Calais and focus on Germany/Switzerland.

[gary_de_tam]

thanks for the thoughts, I have the TVR recovery policy which covers UK mainland
and uses TVR specialists. If you need Euro cover, it is an add-on with another
company and sounds a little lite on cover. Like if you break down on a highway,
that is not covered and sounded basic in other area's...

[the pits]

Year round cover with Eurotunnel cost me less than 80 quid.

That's top value. Especially as it's something you hope you'll never use. And I haven't had to yet.

Which is nice.

[julianc]

We had RAC European breakdown cover for our recent trip to France. We used the service to identify a local tyre repair garage when we found an almost flat tyre after a day walking around - 2 nails in the middle of the tread of a 4-week old tyre! Always the case.

The RAC were very good, did all the initial discussions with the garage (in French), and within the hour the tyre was repaired. We now have to send the garage a copy of the photograph of the Tamora with the garage people taken post repair!

So to summarise, well worth it, even though we only needed 'minor' help in this case.

Julian

[shifty]

Also need to be aware that some breakdown companies state in the terms and conditions that a "usable spare wheel" must be supplied in the event of a puncture if not you have to pay.

The AA states in its T&C's that if the car is not supplied with a spare from the factory they will still attend FOC.

I am with National Breakdown (two cars with European breakdown £120 year) this was a new T&C this year, verbally they stated that it would still be included FOC, I now have this backed up with a letter from them.

[sportie]

I took out RAC cover last year when going to Le-mans and boy did I need them. Following the bonnet coming off and the radiator bursting a major leak they recovered the Sagaris to the UK (subcontracted to a campany called "On Time". Service whilst in France was good, service after that was crap......

They took three weeks to get the car back to Blackpool, they do say in the small print can take up to 2 weeks. However after 3 weeks of calling Paris (no uk nomber) I threw my toys out of my pram as they had lost the car and couldn't tell me were it was.

Thankfully tracker were very helpfull and I was able to tell the RAC idiots were it was.

Who will I use this year

[targarama]

sportie said:

I took out RAC cover last year when going to Le-mans and boy did I need them. Following the bonnet coming off and the radiator bursting a major leak they recovered the Sagaris to the UK (subcontracted to a campany called "On Time". Service whilst in France was good, service after that was crap...... They took three weeks to get the car back to Blackpool, they do say in the small print can take up to 2 weeks. However after 3 weeks of calling Paris (no uk nomber) I threw my toys out of my pram as they had lost the car and couldn't tell me were it was. Thankfully tracker were very helpfull and I was able to tell the RAC idiots were it was. Who will I use this year

Hmm, good use of tracker there!

[sportie]

Yes especially as it was the RAC tracker.....

I have looked at the AA and the RAC cover last night and will be going with the RAC again this year when going to Le mans despite the problems of last year.

The AA cover is not as comprehensive as the RAC as they will not return your car if you are unable to drive though illness etc. This is a good feature if you go on your own or with someone who cannot drive.