Travel and Breakdown insurance (with particular reference to packaged bank accounts)

[VXman]

It's an often discussed subject and there has been some concern recently over the hike in the previously popular Nationwide Flex account cover. I have done some research into alternative packaged bank accounts and thought I'd post my findings.

A few caveats:
I might have got some details wrong!
There are still lots T & C's to consider - e.g. Excess amounts.
You need to think - do I need worldwide cover? If you only travel in the EU or UK then separate Breakdown/Travel policies may work out better.
Most breakdown polices are personal (not related to the specific vehicle) and cover partners/family so can be very good value if you have multiple vehicles (co-op excepted)
All policies will charge extra for specific medical conditions but may vary in price.
I am not sure of the cost of extending breaks beyond 31/45 days or whether other companies take Nationwide's approach of charging for every extension individually. This looked to complex to work out. If anyone can shine a light here it would be useful.

Some interesting points - Only Nationwide seem to cover over 3.5 tonnes/up to 8 metres in EU. Lengths in other policies seem a little unclear. - except co-op. Some breakdown policies are quite basic! None other than Nationwide mention motorhomes specifically. The
Gadget cover in the Virgin account seems good - particularly for laptops.

For me personally the Nationwide still seems the best but it very much depend on your travel patterns.

Hope this might be useful for some but will reinforce - it is only a starting point. You will need to read the T & C's.

By the way - you do not need to use these bank accounts as your everyday accounts. They are easy to open and you just need to make sure enough money is n them to cover the monthly fee. An additional plus over traditional insurances is that you can leave at any time with no additional charge.

 

[BusyBuilder]

Nationwide are not too bad ? I'was thinking of looking elsewhere but not worth the hassle. Thanks for doing that.

 

[Speedyian]

Like normal insurance you only know if they are any good until you need to use them.
My experiences with Nationwide have been positive. Two breakdowns with the wife's car, one breakdown with my motorcycle, and one mobile phone repair.

 

[jerryz]

I have stuck with NW ,,,

 

[LesW]

I thought Nationwide (Aviva) didn't have age limits..

 

[VXman]

I thought Nationwide (Aviva) didn't have age limits..

hmmm - i think you are correct. It changed with the switch to Aviva a few months ago. Not sure how that crept in. Unfortunately I cannot edit the original post now.

 

[VXman]

Disappointed no one has commented on the rather interesting aspect of the co-op cover. Any golfers on here?

 

[Fdhadi]

I have NW accounts.
It states account holders and family in your charts.
I’m sure both travel and breakdown cover only covers children in full time education.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Barchetta47]

Disappointed no one has commented on the rather interesting aspect of the co-op cover. Any golfers on here?

There’s so many at our club!! The standard practice is to buy a bottle of Scotch and leave it on the bar for people to help themselves. Hardly worth insuring.

 

[VXman]

I have NW accounts.
It states account holders and family in your charts.
I’m sure both travel and breakdown cover only covers children in full time education.

They all vary slightly in ages etc. I seem to recall it was up to 22 years old in one of the banks. But yes - in general there is a limit to the term 'family' usually meaning living at home.

For NW travel insurance it says you, your partner and dependent children living at the same address. That includes up to 23 years old! (just checked) Partner can be any gender, married or not but must be living at the same address.

Breakdown - Personal cover for the account holder in any vehicle they travel in. Plus any person driving a vehicle owned by the account holder. - so this covers pretty much anyone.

Ownership - interesting one this. Our main car has always been my wife's in the sense that I bought it for her for Christmas as a surprise many years ago. Nowadays it's a shared car. However, I paid for it, my name is on the receipt and the log book is in my name. Insurance is in hers though with me as additional driver. Proof of ownership is always difficult with cars and I doubt a breakdown company would bother to investigate that.

As said in the first post - T & C's are important and it is too difficult to summarise all the policies in one spread sheet - so many variables.

 

[VXman]

There’s so many at our club!! The standard practice is to buy a bottle of Scotch and leave it on the bar for people to help themselves. Hardly worth insuring.

No it's not specifically - but the co-op will pay up to £250 for a bar bill. Worth having if its effectively free!

 

[BikerGraham]

They all vary slightly in ages etc. I seem to recall it was up to 22 years old in one of the banks. But yes - in general there is a limit to the term 'family' usually meaning living at home.

For NW travel insurance it says you, your partner and dependent children living at the same address. That includes up to 23 years old! (just checked) Partner can be any gender, married or not but must be living at the same address.

Breakdown - Personal cover for the account holder in any vehicle they travel in. Plus any person driving a vehicle owned by the account holder. - so this covers pretty much anyone.

Ownership - interesting one this. Our main car has always been my wife's in the sense that I bought it for her for Christmas as a surprise many years ago. Nowadays it's a shared car. However, I paid for it, my name is on the receipt and the log book is in my name. Insurance is in hers though with me as additional driver. Proof of ownership is always difficult with cars and I doubt a breakdown company would bother to investigate that.

As said in the first post - T & C's are important and it is too difficult to summarise all the policies in one spread sheet - so many variables.

I opened nationwide account as a joint account so it cover the boss and I for any of our vehicles. No extra cost.

 

[VXman]

I opened nationwide account as a joint account so it cover the boss and I for any of our vehicles. No extra cost.

How would this affect the potential to get the Nationwide members payout each year?. At the moment I have the flex plus account and she has flex direct. we have the potential to get a payout each. If she joined my account I'm am not sure how the payouts would work.

 

[BikerGraham]

How would this affect the potential to get the Nationwide members payout each year?. At the moment I have the flex plus account and she has flex direct. we have the potential to get a payout each. If she joined my account I'm am not sure how the payouts would work.

dont know is the honest answer.

when I opened the account I wasn't aware of the bonus payout. Only recently opened a savings account so will find out in due course. Maybe not receive it, will find out sooner or later.

main reason for opening it though, like others, was for the breakdown and travel insurance. OK the travel insurance has changed but it is still worth while cost for us. Next year will be our first trip over 31 days so will be interesting to see what additional charge they make.
The breakdown cover, well it covers all our cars, motorbike and motorhome for both of us. plus if either of us are in another car. So for that alone the now £18 a month is worthwhile.

 

[royandsharont]

VXman does your list suggest the max number of days on the policies are 31, is that for one trip or annually for travel, assuming breakdown is 360 in UK, and is it 31 abroad

 

[VXman]

VXman does your list suggest the max number of days on the policies are 31, is that for one trip or annually for travel, assuming breakdown is 360 in UK, and is it 31 abroad

It's 31 days per trip. (45 for co-op) You can do as many as you like in a year but you need to come home and start again! You can extend trips for additional cost - generally up to 90 days.

I cannot see any time limits in Nationwides EU breakdown policy but I guess it is limited to 90 days as
1. you cannot stay in the EU for more than 90 days in 180 and
2. 90 days is the limit of travel insurance. (per trip)

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[VXman]

Next year will be our first trip over 31 days so will be interesting to see what additional charge they make.

I have already done an extended trip. We have just returned from a 35 day trip around South America. The additional 4 days cost £30!!

I've experimented with other extensions.

Europe only for 60 days is £95.

Europe for 90 days is £180

Europe for 35 days is £30

 

[BikerGraham]

I have already done an extended trip. We have just returned from a 35 day trip around South America. The additional 4 days cost £30!!

I've experimented with other extensions.

Europe only for 60 days is £95.

Europe for 90 days is £180

Europe for 35 days is £30

Thanks for the info.

Planning 53 days December to February. So have idea now of additional cost

 

[Casper46]

We called out Nationwide and we’re told that our Motorhome was too ‘big’ to be covered, it was the AA that answered the phone. I explained that the operator was mistaken and would he please check. He was very apologetic and said that he had never been told about different weights for Nationwide customers.
Like other oldies we have to pay a surcharge for travel insurance.

 

[VXman]

We called out Nationwide and we’re told that our Motorhome was too ‘big’ to be covered, it was the AA that answered the phone. I explained that the operator was mistaken and would he please check. He was very apologetic and said that he had never been told about different weights for Nationwide customers.
Like other oldies we have to pay a surcharge for travel insurance.

It is odd that the AA have different Agreements with different providers. Its not surprising operators will not get confused. As a customer you just need to be confident of your position and make sure they check.

 

[Gellyneck]

VXman

Very useful spreadsheet.

We'll be starting to look at this same thing in the next week or two so an excellent starter for ten!

I see you've got age limits included and was just wondering if you have any knowledge of if any or all charge a premium surcharge for 70+ age?

 

[VXman]

VXman

Very useful spreadsheet.

We'll be starting to look at this same thing in the next week or two so an excellent starter for ten!

I see you've got age limits included and was just wondering if you have any knowledge of if any or all charge a premium surcharge for 70+ age?

None of those banks mentioned will charge an age related premium at or below the ages mentioned on the spreadsheet.

For whether they will cover you above those ages and how much they may charge you will have to ask each one individually. My guess is you will be able to get cover but will have to pay an extra premium.