European breakdown cover

[Jim and Louise]

My breakdown cover is due for renewal mid December I am currently with the RAC for uk and Europe the renewal cost is £340.
I have had a quick look on the net for comparison there is an awful lot out there but who to trust?
any recommendations on previous experience ? It may be I already have a reasonable deal.
7.3m coachbuilt 3500kgs 2022.
would appreciate any input.

 

[The Coops]

Nationwide account with travel, phone and health insurance £13 a month covers vehicle (s) being used

 

[Lenny HB]

How much!
I pay £74 via my insurance (Comfort).

 

[Soycd]

£340, is very expensive. On out last van I think we paid same as Lenny £74 as an add on with Comfort.

 

[pagey]

Nationwide account with travel, phone and health insurance £13 a month covers vehicle (s) being used

me too covers any vehicle we are in but have not had to use their services yet

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[Jim and Louise]

How much!
I pay £74 via my insurance (Comfort).

I have obviously dropped a clanger here I actually have comfort vehicle insurance I have just checked the policy details and it reads I cannot add breakdown cover mid term or buy as a stand alone policy but the renewal is not due until July 24 I think I will give them a call tomorrow

 

[Jim and Louise]

We also have a nationwide flex plus account and have just read everything relating to the breakdown service which is operated by the AA so either way I will not be renewing with the RAC

 

[tonka]

£340 !!!!

I think thats the total of my whole van insurance plus European breakdown with LV.. !!!
8mtrs and 5 T....
And before anyone states about insurance price increases, that was last month with a jump up from £280.

 

[Jim and Louise]

£340 !!!!

I think thats the total of my whole van insurance plus European breakdown with LV.. !!!
8mtrs and 5 T....
And before anyone states about insurance price increases, that was last month with a jump up from £280.

I’ll have a busy day tomorrow looking for quotes for breakdown and insurance see what I can find

 

[VXman]

£340, is very expensive. On out last van I think we paid same as Lenny £74 as an add on with Comfort.

I agree it is. However, it is worth checking the T & C's. There have been a number of people on here that have had real rpoblems with breakdown on a European trip. They have been towed to the nearest garage and then presented with the possibility of a £10,000 repair bill. Others have found the amount allowed for 'expenses' such as hotel accommodation and travel have been nowhere near what they have needed to spend.

The key is having enough cover to allow your vehicle to be repatriated if necessary (not sure who allows this?) and a big enough allowance to cover possible expenses involved.

The OP needs to take a good look at the details of policies.

I am with Comfort at £74 but I will be taking a good look to see how the cover compares to more expensive polices when I come to renew.

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[JimmyB]

I was with Nationwide for breakdown cover with last van ( a few years ago now) and had to call on their services to repatriate van and travel costs for the family back from The Dordogne. Costs must have been in excess of £5k including hire cars, accommodation and taxis but all were met up front without any problem. I would use again but for the fact that cover is provided within current vehicle insurance.

 

[Jim and Louise]

I was with Nationwide for breakdown cover with last van ( a few years ago now) and had to call on their services to repatriate van and travel costs for the family back from The Dordogne. Costs must have been in excess of £5k including hire cars, accommodation and taxis but all were met up front without any problem. I would use again but for the fact that cover is provided within current vehicle insurance.

Very interesting I have just gone through the nationwide details and it is very comparable with the rac policy.

 

[L' Hobo]

Very interesting I have just gone through the nationwide details and it is very comparable with the rac policy.

The difference is, the Flex plus account, covers more than just vehicle.

 

[Soycd]

I have obviously dropped a clanger here I actually have comfort vehicle insurance I have just checked the policy details and it reads I cannot add breakdown cover mid term or buy as a stand alone policy but the renewal is not due until July 24 I think I will give them a call tomorrow

Now that is strange as I added breakdown cover with Comfort quite a while after starting the policy. I already had a stand alone policy when I took out insurance with them. I'd be tempted to give them a call?

 

[Jim and Louise]

Now that is strange as I added breakdown cover with Comfort quite a while after starting the policy. I already had a stand alone policy when I took out insurance with them. I'd be tempted to give them a call?

They are on my list “to do “ tomorrow

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[pat100]

RAC seem to have a 33% off offer at the moment. If you phone up, the AA and RAC will often price match other peoples offers. I used TopCashback to get £23 back on my RAC Overseas travel. Possibly the RAC is a little strange in that they seem to be a completely different agency to the RAC UK travel section.

 

[frwjd]

The RAC is expensive compared to most but their cover, countries covered and T&C's are the best around

 

[TinaLes]

I hate to point out to those with RAC EU cover that it is for those with MH's the biggest most expensive mistake, let down company thus far if you break down in France and want to be repatriated for repairs to the UK.

There are two horror stories of Funsters breaking down in France, being taken to garages that cannot repair their vans, or will not have time to even diagnose the problem for a month, yes a month plus and still no answers.!
The RAC have ignored several phone calls, e-mails and cries for help with Funsters in distress, no allocated hotel accommodation offered, or hire cars, as they have broken down in a "self sufficient mobile home", just dumped them at a garage on an industrial estate.
The RAC said they have fulfilled their responsibility in getting the van to a one of their "Garage Partners", the fact that the garage does not have the knowledge or tools to do the job is it would seem irrelevant.
Just check out the threads "Broken down in France" on here, see the frustration, the costs of repatriation to the UK, and the horrible way The RAC dealt with them in their hour of need, it was thanks to Funsters that help was organised to get them van back to the UK, however it was at their own expense.
Many of us on Fun, will never now renew or consider being covered by The RAC, and will be checking all the T&C's with all our covers with a fine tooth combe from now on, as many don't have 10K to get our vans repatriated and fixed for the road.
I am sure many Funsters will remember reading these nightmare stories, I have not mentioned who they were as its easy to find their tales of woe in the search facility.
Be careful who you chose for cover, and what the limitation's of that cover are, some will take your money, and expect you to pay your own way home to find a garage with the skills needed to fix the van.

LES

 

[pat100]

RAC seem to have a 33% off offer at the moment. If you phone up, the AA and RAC will often price match other peoples offers. I used TopCashback to get £23 back on my RAC Overseas travel. Possibly the RAC is a little strange in that they seem to be a completely different agency to the RAC UK travel section.

Sorry! Replying to myself as I don’t know how to edit. My reply here was about RAC Overseas Travel cover not Breakdown. I didn’t read the title carefully enough.

 

[pat100]

Sorry! Replying to myself as I don’t know how to edit. My reply here was about RAC Overseas Travel cover not Breakdown. I didn’t read the title carefully enough.

Double fault. Yes, it was about European Breakdown, after all. Must be past my bedtime…