Self-Build European Breakdown Cover?

[Scorchio!]

Hi, Self-Build types.
Anyone recommend a Breakdown/ Recovery Company?
I've just been turned down by Green Flag as they apparently don't like the risk of a 2008 Ducato van conversion.
I also suspect repatriation recovery will be out of the question as it would cost more than market value?

 

[Baggydave]

Hi, Self-Build types.
Anyone recommend a Breakdown/ Recovery Company?
I've just been turned down by Green Flag as they apparently don't like the risk of a 2008 Ducato van conversion.
I also suspect repatriation recovery will be out of the question as it would cost more than market value?

Hi
We used our nationwide bank policy on our 7.5m tag axel. Called out three times in eu & not a problem. It does need to be a motor caravan on the v5 though I think although I don’t believe they asked.

 

[Bertilak]

+1 for Nationwide Flexplus: The subscription costs £216 pa, but covers all your vehicles, and all your travel insurance, for a couple (if you take it out as a Joint Ac).
I think the "Motor Caravans only" stipulation only affects vehicles over 3.5 ton;
i.e. there is a 3.5T max weight limit, except "motor caravans" , where it is 7.5T.

and if you do breakdown somewhere in southern Europe, garage prices could be substantially less than the UK... assuming you've got the time to wait...

 

[Baggydave]

+1 for Nationwide Flexplus: The subscription costs £216 pa, but covers all your vehicles, and all your travel insurance, for a couple (if you take it out as a Joint Ac).
I think the "Motor Caravans only" stipulation only affects vehicles over 3.5 ton;
i.e. there is a 3.5T max weight limit, except "motor caravans" , where it is 7.5T.

and if you do breakdown somewhere in southern Europe, garage prices could be substantially less than the UK... assuming you've got the time to wait...

Agree. We have also had “fair schemes” paybacks from nationwide, bit like a share holder dividend of @£200 a year. So it’s effectively free. It cover any car your in I think.

 

[chesterfield hooligan]

Greenflag turned it down on the vehicle's age I think their age limit is 15 years so we use nationwide flexi account

 

[Lumpy]

Yes, I have been a member and have used Green flag for my self build successfully for a number of years but It looks like 2026 may be my last year with them because of the vans age. Although I did cost them a fair bit this year with re-patriation from Bordeaux.
Be careful who you go to, for instance, I think I am right in saying Nationwide do not do re-patriation!!

 

[Scorchio!]

Greenflag turned it down on the vehicle's age I think their age limit is 15 years so we use nationwide flexi account

Green Flag's UK+Europe policy ("Euro+") has a 25 yr limit.
15 is the Europe-only policy.
The wording read out to me on the phone was 'the premium cost for this vehicle exceeds our maximum price'.

 

[Scorchio!]

Yes, I have been a member and have used Green flag for my self build successfully for a number of years but It looks like 2026 may be my last year with them because of the vans age. Although I did cost them a fair bit this year with re-patriation from Bordeaux.
Be careful who you go to, for instance, I think I am right in saying Nationwide do not do re-patriation!!

Oh oh. What went wrong in Bordeaux?

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[Lumpy]

Oh oh. What went wrong in Bordeaux?

Very long story, it's all on here somewhere. We had a breakdown near Bordeaux back in late June this year which turned into a nightmare and we eventually asked for a repatriation which was a god send, and would never take out breakdown cover for our van without it.
Basically it would have cost more than double to get it repaired in France and we would have had to leave it there with an open cheque book or we would no longer own our van (scrap) this also shows how important it is to have your self build properly registered because had it not been registered as a "motorcaravan" it would not have been repatriated. Repatriation is for some reason based on UK market value and as a "van" ours would not have been repatriated.
Thankfully it is all repaired and now running really nice. NEW turbo, EGR, DPF, Oil pump plus lots of pipework filters etc. ££££.