European breakdown for older vans
- Thread starter ChrisInNotts
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Cath D-W
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We use the RAC Arrival when we are in France, they are amazing and as we have a 23 yr old Hymer we have needed tham several times, some using the hotel stay needed. We got ours through CCC. We wouldn't be without it, the only thing you need to know that on the Autoroutes in France the police have to be called to get you off to a nearby garage, that is when RAC take over. If you need this you will be asked for the number on the road (like ours by the hard shoulder, theirs can be in the central reservation), nothing will happen without it, believe me I tried it!! I haven't needed to do it recently but I dont know if 'what three words' would work!
Canalsman
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Don't the authorities just remove your vehicle from the autoroute to a place of safety, not necessarily a garage?
ChrisInNotts
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I thought I would finally update this thread. The option we went with in the end was to open a joint Nationwide Flex account. This costs us £13 a month and comes with European breakdown (up to 7.5 ton motorhome), travel insurance and phone cover. No age restrictions on the vehicle!! The travel insurance even includes winter sports.
Keith
Keith
Fazerloz
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What does the European breakdown actually give you.
UFO
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The breakdown cover is very good. I can't find any mention of; maximum trip duration outside the UK or age of vehicle. The countries covered are one of the best I have seen as well as the usual European countres also included are; Albania, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia (west of Urals), Turkey in Europe plus Uskudar and Ukraine even San Marino, which is often overlooked, gets a mention.
Cover includes motorhomes up to 7.5 tonnes, length: 8m, width: 2.55m.
12 months at £13 = £156. My current cover is from AIB is £89.77 but does not cover these countries. So if you are travelling further afield Flex Plus could be worth it for the breakdown cover alone.
European Breakdown Cover is underwritten by Acromas Insurance (AA cover in the UK). From their website 'We are the Underwriters for a variety of personal lines policies for other companies including Saga Services Limited and AA Insurance Services Limited' so I will be looking at the this cover when I renew later in the year.
The travel insurance also looks good but has a 31 day trip limit. This can be extended, up to a maximum 120 days. I put in dates for our upcoming 82 day trip and countries to be visited and the supplement was £256.88 for 2 people. Adding pre-exisitng medical conditions for 2 of use, nothing major, added another £140. The best quote I have had for this 82 day trip including the pre-existing medical conditions was £251 for the two of us.
Cover includes motorhomes up to 7.5 tonnes, length: 8m, width: 2.55m.
12 months at £13 = £156. My current cover is from AIB is £89.77 but does not cover these countries. So if you are travelling further afield Flex Plus could be worth it for the breakdown cover alone.
European Breakdown Cover is underwritten by Acromas Insurance (AA cover in the UK). From their website 'We are the Underwriters for a variety of personal lines policies for other companies including Saga Services Limited and AA Insurance Services Limited' so I will be looking at the this cover when I renew later in the year.
The travel insurance also looks good but has a 31 day trip limit. This can be extended, up to a maximum 120 days. I put in dates for our upcoming 82 day trip and countries to be visited and the supplement was £256.88 for 2 people. Adding pre-exisitng medical conditions for 2 of use, nothing major, added another £140. The best quote I have had for this 82 day trip including the pre-existing medical conditions was £251 for the two of us.
ChrisInNotts
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It does state repatriation is covered. However, if we tow our 2 bike trailer then the entire vehicle is over 8m so we may have have problems. There is also a clause that says repatriation will not be offered if the costs exceed the value of the vehicle.
Keith
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Most add on breakdown cover has the "value of the vehicle" caveat. We had cover for Europe with Flux, but in the event of a breakdown and being unrepairable where we were (maybe expense?) and recovery was more than the estimated value of the vehicle (6k Old Talbot) It wouldn't be brought home. When I called them, they actually said that if it was "close" to that figure, it may be left where it was. When I looked at the cost or repatriation, I knew our Howie would be left. Low loader from the South of France or further afield, ferry across the channel to home and the return journey to the trucks home town. It would never have been recovered.
So we got RAC Arrival from CCC!
wildebus
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Another thing to consider with this .... When you get Breakdown cover as part of an insurance policy, like a lot of people are mentioning, that breakdown cover is for the vehicle insured. If you get cover via something like a Nationwide FlexPlus Account, it is YOU that gets the cover, not any specific vehicle, so you have cover for any vehicle you are in - as a Driver or Passenger. Plus, go with the Joint Account and it covers both Account Holders.
If you have two vehicles that you want breakdown cover for and at least one of them is a heavy motorhome, I doubt if there is a better value option than the Nationwide, including the RAC Arrival option from the C&CC?
Are you sure there is a length limit? when Nationwide changed the Breakdown provider from Green Flag to the AA, there was some incorrect info provided within their vehicle limits which they subsequently corrected. I don't recall a length limit in the correct details.
Not sure if you meant specifically in France or generally, but I had a callout last week and tried to explain where I was (as I was right in front of a Junction sign on the road it should have been easy?) but after a biut 5 minutes of describing, I asked "can you use 'what three words'?" . Answer was yes, so quoted the three words and location was set. Very worthwhile having that info
PS. It is VERY important for anyone taking out cover with anyone to check what is covered and what is not. You cannot rely on the Breakdown Provider to actually know as they often have different limits for different policies.
I found this out just last week when I had an issue with my >3.5t Motorhome on the A1. Getting through to the AA was an initial PITA as you have a different number to call if you have cover via Nationwide (make sure you have your Nationwide Account Number and Sort Code! without that you are stuck
).Getting through eventually via the 'special' number, I was told they could not assist me as my vehicle was too heavy! I pointed out that 3.5t limit did not apply with my account and they went off for a couple of minutes and came back and agreed to send out a patrol.
It should not have been necessary to tell them what service they are contracted to perform!
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Stonies13
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Our van is over 20 years old and is insured and has green flag/red pennant cover through the caravan club.
Camper1
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Our 'van is a space oddity, 2001. This year we arranged RAC cover. Never bothered with cover before. We had a blow-out on the motorway near Carcassonne (sp). You can't use anything other than the motorway rescue on motorways. They got us off and fitted the spare at their garage - cost 300 Euros. We limped to a campsite near Carcassonne where I called the RAC. Absolute rubbish! Finally got through and was told that 'as I was in France' I had to speak to their French operation - they would transfer me. Hung on for an age then got cut off. Downloaded the app, no good, cannot work as you are not in UK. Rang again - we'll transfer you. NO! give me the number I'll ring them.
Got through no worries and guy arrived in about 40 minutes. Spent an hour on his back under the 'van fixing the wiring that had been ripped out when the tire exploded.
Reasonable English and Google Translate helped with the difficult bits. Highly recommend GT, though I must admit I hate just about everything else Google <G>
We took the 'van to his garage the following day to have the wires made tidy rather than functional and had 2 new tires fitted. Total cost? 1000 Euros including motorway rescue. Still cheaper than flying somewhere and staying in a crappy hotel for two weeks when we were on a 4 week holiday so no real complaints.
happy Motorhoming
Keef & Lesley
PS. Any thoughts on the NC500? We're thinking of a few weeks up there in September
TJBi
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There is a French language version of What 3 Words, so the words would be different. However, I do not believe that the French authorities are aware of What 3 Words, let alone use it, and the same is likely true of breakdown companies there.
Canalsman
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I believe that the motorway recovery cost can be reclaimed from your breakdown recovery insurer.
