Breakdown cover, UK and European

MickandHelen

MickandHelen

Joined
Apr 6, 2017
Posts
134
Likes collected
109
Location
Coventry
Funster No
48,061
MH
A Class
Exp
since 2013
Hi all,

I would welcome some views on Breakdown cover. Our insurance is up for renewal in a couple of weeks and having a look around. We are currently with Safeguard with breakdown cover which is provided by AA. Following posts on here about the AA limiting cover, I checked the renewal carefully and there is no restriction on length and weight so we are still covered for our MH which is 7m and 3850. The issue we are concerned about though is punctures as our van does not have a manufacturer supplied spare wheel. What we do is carry a tyre plus a puncture repair kit. The wording in the policy document for UK breakdown recognises that you may not have a servicable spare wheel or tyre but as we carry a tyre we think we are covered. There is no wording in the European conditions so I asked them. There was in my view a case of "making it up as we go along", the agent had to refer it and came back with, you will need to be able to lift the wheel so they can pump it up. But I said if it is a puncture how do they pump it up. Comfort quote is cheaper but indicate that you are not covered if you do not carry a legal and serviceable spare wheel but when I questioned as not being supplied as standard I was told we would be covered if we carried a puncture repair kit. I suppose the manufacturer's equivalent of the spare wheel is the puncture repair kit that they supply as standard. As always with insurance the devil is in the detail (or not).
Would be grateful to hear what you think.

Thanks
 
My experience with safeguard, albeit about 8 years ago now.
I had a blow out on the M5 whilst heading home after a trip to Cornwall ( this was the second call, I had a flat battery in morning before leaving camp) Sure enough the AA turned up and together we fitted my spare.
A few hours later still heading home, the spare gave up the will to live on the A46.
Now dark and late Saturday night Sunday morning, numerous phone calls were made ( first name terms by this time) .They were trying to find a tyre company to come out and replace one of my shreaded tyres but without any luck.
The decision was made to send out a recovery truck to take me the rest of the way home.
It was a bloody long day but I cannot fault the way safeguard dealt with it.
Mike
 
That's good to hear. They have offered me a discount on my renewal premium after I mentioned the price I was quoted by Comfort.
 
Give LV= a try they are very competitive we have MH insurance including UK and European breakdown £434 that’s for a 7.5m x 4500kg A class .
We have since taken up their travel insurance it’s very good.😊
 
Speve said:
Give LV= a try they are very competitive we have MH insurance including UK and European breakdown £434 that’s for a 7.5m x 4500kg A class .
We have since taken up their travel insurance it’s very good.😊
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Hi thanks will do. Have tried on their website but they couldn't find the vehicle. Do you have a tracker fitted, some of them I think won't quote without one.

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MickandHelen said:
Hi thanks will do. Have tried on their website but they couldn't find the vehicle. Do you have a tracker fitted, some of them I think won't quote without one.
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No I do have an alarm but they did not ask for any of that and van is £80k+ they will base it on the base vehicle so if you have a Ducato that’s what you put in and the windscreen cover is not limited either.😊
 
Speve said:
No I do have an alarm but they did not ask for any of that and van is £80k+ they will base it on the base vehicle so if you have a Ducato that’s what you put in and the windscreen cover is not limited either.😊
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Thanks will have a go.
 
Well done for checking out The T&C's a lot of detail is often hidden away & you only find out the shortfalls when you break down and need help.
From what I have seen recently, if you are taking your van over to the continent, you need to check out the following.
1. If you have dogs with you they will probably not cover the full costs of repatriation to The UK, as they are not allowed on many trains, aeroplanes ( or at considerable cost), many hotels dont allow them, hire car's have to be switched at borders in some cases.
CMC Red Pennant cover I was told do cover pets, but I would check as you sure will pay for it.
2. check your van length & weight is covered, for full repatriation if required.
3. Check how many nights hotel cover is provided, while your van is repaired or repatriated.
4. Check all taxi fares, train fares, air travel is fully covered.
5. make sure the premium you pay is enough to cover these eventualities.

I follow the Girls at Camper Vibe on you tube,(see below) they broke down in southern Spain with a head gasket failure, The AA towed the van to a local Citroen Dealership for repair, they had it two weeks over Xmas, stiped it down, quoted thousands to repair it, so it was decided to sent the van back to The UK, it arrived weeks later in this condition:eek:
There was a happy ending, result from Citroen UK, maybe because they have so many you tube subscribers, who knows?
This is why you need decent cover, especially with pets on board, check out the girls previous vlogs to see the trauma they had to get home, needing dog friendly hotels, Taxis, and Hire cars. Lets hope it never happens eh.🤞
LES.

 
TinaL said:
Well done for checking out The T&C's a lot of detail is often hidden away & you only find out the shortfalls when you break down and need help.
From what I have seen recently, if you are taking your van over to the continent, you need to check out the following.
1. If you have dogs with you they will probably not cover the full costs of repatriation to The UK, as they are not allowed on many trains, aeroplanes ( or at considerable cost), many hotels dont allow them, hire car's have to be switched at borders in some cases.
CMC Red Pennant cover I was told do cover pets, but I would check as you sure will pay for it.
2. check your van length & weight is covered, for full repatriation if required.
3. Check how many nights hotel cover is provided, while your van is repaired or repatriated.
4. Check all taxi fares, train fares, air travel is fully covered.
5. make sure the premium you pay is enough to cover these eventualities.

I follow the Girls at Camper Vibe on you tube,(see below) they broke down in southern Spain with a head gasket failure, The AA towed the van to a local Citroen Dealership for repair, they had it two weeks over Xmas, stiped it down, quoted thousands to repair it, so it was decided to sent the van back to The UK, it arrived weeks later in this condition:eek:
There was a happy ending, result from Citroen UK, maybe because they have so many you tube subscribers, who knows?
This is why you need decent cover, especially with pets on board, check out the girls previous vlogs to see the trauma they had to get home, needing dog friendly hotels, Taxis, and Hire cars. Lets hope it never happens eh.🤞
LES.

Click to expand...

Crikey that's unbelievable, and yes we will have a dog with us so thanks for the advice
 
EuroTrotters said:
I have 4 cars, a van and the motorhome. All covered by Nationwide Building society
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And me: 2 cars, m/home and three motorbikes. All for £13 a month. Europe-wide, plus loads of other things covered - incl, travel illness, camera, phone........it also saves faffing about getting/renewing individual policies for each vehicle too.
 
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Spriddler said:
And me: 2 cars, m/home and three motorbikes. All for £13 a month. Europe-wide, plus loads of other things covered - incl, travel illness, camera, phone........saves faffing about getting/renewing individual policies for each vehicle too.
Click to expand...
Presume you have to be a customer?
 
Since ADAC pulled the plug on uk members For ADAC plus

For the car I use Auto Aid personal so any vehicle covered UK up 15 Yr old.
Had a senior moment whilst getting nagged at and did a miss fuel conked out at traffic lights.(knew instantly what had happened and how to cure it) Gave them a call, & out came a local garage whom I knew was a back up to rac. Loaded me up and off to yard to sort out.
Total time - 1hr.

The moho I'm currently using is 23yr old breakdown included in UK. Told I could upgrade if going abroad at anytime (motorhome direct part of markerstudy group)
They lied but that's insurances for you.
So a few calls and Web searches yesterday the same firm that do my disco couldn't load a second vehicle but signposted me to the right section in CBC breakdown.
(Using call assist Eversure)
They have AA as back up I'm told. £109.84. Per annum multi trip
90 day but good enough for me

CBC Breakdown Cover with assistance by Emergency Assist Ltd

CBC Breakdown Cover with assistance by Emergency Assist
www.comparebreakdowncover.co.uk www.comparebreakdowncover.co.uk

Nationwide.

Brother had that a few years back.
I'm behind him and notice no brake lights.
We have a root around and find it's a switch, easy access, a 10 mm spanner is all that's needed so we carry on to L'Apolla pitch up for a few days.
Pete decides to give nationwide breakdown a go.
A few phone calls withe the English speaking site owner doing translation to Spanish garage.
Couple hrs later a breakdown truck arrives lots of paper he wants Pete to sign.
And off he goes in b.Down mode to lower the bed on his truck.
To take Pete ad his wife off to wherever till they get to do the job.
We explain again its a switch that's needed.

Yes but we do it at the garage miles away.

A bit of "conversation" back an forth.
Off goes the breakdown guy nothing signed and not needed would have been an expensive repair, probably?

Google and a couple of calls to parts place in Tortosa we get the switch on the way. €5 or there abouts

So you pays your money and takes your chance.

Reading some of the horror stories on fun re breakdowns. No-one wants one but they happen
Breakdown cover It's a minefield.
 

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