European vehicle recovery due to illness.

[Mick and Ruth]

In that case son will be removed from the policy at next renewal

Leave him on mate look at post #30

 

[grasscutter]

We became aware of this issue a few years ago and for that reason I am insured as the only driver.
Like many others my wife could drive the MH no problem but would not feel comfortable driving on her own across Europe while I was being repatriated.

 

[JockandRita]

For years many now, I too have not included Rita on the MH insurance or breakdown insurance, for the very reasons discussed earlier in the thread.
She too wouldn't be happy driving our large MH at any time.

Mick and Ruth, glad to see that it's all been clarified for you, by Comfort themselves.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Tonks]

I wonder if all breakdown policies have this condition?

No. I specifically checked this out with my breakdown provider before I took my van to the Netherlands. I wanted to be sure that should I be ill or incapacitated that my van would be repatriated home to the UK rather than being dumped in a local garage (which I know is not always the case, as a friend had to leave his van behind in Austria, and then fly back out to retrieve it later on). I have another 'named driver' on my policy, and there's no way they would travel abroad to recover my vehicle for me, and nor would I expect them to.
I made sure that my van would be recovered home to the UK should it be necessary, and that my 'named driver' wouldn't be involved in the process.

 

[royandsharont]

Well done Comfort for identifying and contacting Mick and Ruth to give them some assurance, pleased I emailed them for my own piece of mind.

They asked which forum it was when we spoke and I gave them my details to locate the thread. Well done those managers & Nicole I feel

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[pampam]

And thankyou royandsharon for getting in touch with comfort

 

[kingspeed]

Thanks for the reminder.
My wife is also on "for emergencies" but doesn't drive the motorhome.
My insurance is due in Jan (currently also with Comfort) and I will likely remove her name then.
I wonder if all breakdown policies have this condition.

Hello, be very cautious about how you interpret that post,
If you fill in an insurance proposal form or answer the questions online, on the phone or in person adding a named driver you are offering the insurance company a get out of jail card.
That person's name generates a small discount which you accept . In doing so it is your obligation to provide that named driver in the event of a driver being needed to relieve you the policy holder.
Do not just assume it is for a medical emergency. It for ALL eventualities. Accident, illness you name it.
My dear wife was always named on ALL our insurances. She had Alzheimer's for years, and I would just mention it when answering the questions, until one day I just asked "if I was in France and something/anything happened where I needed a relief driver would the insurance company expect her to drive in that condition" the answer was YES. However they would not she as fit to drive, and you would have to fund the replacement driver yourself.
I have now had to become a solo traveller, and not liking it much.
Safe travels to you all.

 

[scotzsue]

well we are both insured to drive the van, always have been from our little 6M coachbuilt with the motorbike on an easilifter to our 4 tonner. I have done the majority of the driving over the years, especially when john was recovering from radiotherapy. Our new van is an auto and he is driving more now, we both still have our C1 licences a;though both due for renewal in January john says he's not going to bother but i am reluctant to give it up.
Travel with friends who have the wife on the policy, she can't physically drive the van as she is vertically challenged, but it does reduce their insurance cost to have her on it. One of their sons would repatriate the van in case of illness.
would i be happy to drive home on my own? Don't see why not, i go off on my own in this country and enjoy the quieter roads abroad.
to all those partners both male and female who aren't happy driving abroad, give it a go, it's mostly much easier than driving in the uk.

 

[ontheroadagain]

Another grey area is getting your pet home if the vehicle or driver is unable to return home.
Not all policies cover this.

 

[John Barrett]

Nationwide BS travel insurance flew us both home when I had my eye trouble and repatriated my car and caravan. No questions asked!

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[Tony50]

Just been on the phone to Comfort doing the renewal. I happened to mention did European recovery cover illness and if hospitalised/couldn't drive would they get van back to UK.
If you are the sole driver named on the policy then Yes. However .....if you have your partner/kids/mate named on the policy as a driver, it is their responsibility to deal with and if it means they have to fly out to that country to get to it so be it.
I have my wife named for "emergencies" but she's happy to let me drive as I do enjoy it, but as we are heading to Sothern Spain in November I know she definitely wouldn't be comfortable having to drive back if I took ill or something.
So if she doesn't feel she can do European driving I will remove her from the policy and put her back on when we get back and just pay any excess for a name change.
I know most people have someone else on the policy for emergencies but it might catch you out if overseas and need recovering.

Hi I did mention this a few year's ago on here , I'm glad you brought it up again , I think it was 2017 I phoned Comfort and got the same answer "Use your son to recover vehicle back to UK as he is on Insurance if he weren't Comfort would recover it to UK" wife was not on insurance as she would not drive it.
That's the reason I went for "Safeguard" happily I didn't use it, the other thing was my son is in full time employment travelling the UK.
I think Comfort has lost out on this Policy, in, percentage terms hopefully not many people in the scope of things need help . PS. I hope !!

 

[royandsharont]

Hi I did mention this a few year's ago on here , I'm glad you brought it up again , I think it was 2017 I phoned Comfort and got the same answer "Use your son to recover vehicle back to UK as he is on Insurance if he weren't Comfort would recover it to UK" wife was not on insurance as she would not drive it.
That's the reason I went for "Safeguard" happily I didn't use it, the other thing was my son is in full time employment travelling the UK.
I think Comfort has lost out on this Policy, in, percentage terms hopefully not many people in the scope of things need help . PS. I hope !!

TONY 50 If you look at all the comments you will see the original post was not correct, albeit that is what they told him at the time, and the OP has now been contacted by Comfort to tell him so.

 

[Dorset Diver]

My insurance went up £38 when I took my wife of the motorhome insurance as a named driver with comfort.

Mine also and I'm with NFU Mutual. They clearly had a different view of Dorset Lady's driving skills to me .

 

[Tony50]

TONY 50 If you look at all the comments you will see the original post was not correct, albeit that is what they told him at the time, and the OP has now been contacted by Comfort to tell him so.

Got yer thanks , I have a look at their policy if I can find it, and read the small print

 

[Stewart J]

3 years ago on the current site near Roses an Irish guy was involved in an accident on his bicycle and broke his atm. His wife was on the policy but would not drive abroad so the insurers refused to recover the vehicle. He had to put his son on the policy and bring him out on a schedule flight to drive the van back home. It cost a lot of money and as his son took unpaid leave he compensated him. The taxi from the airport to the campsite was I recall over 100 euros.

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[royandsharont]

3 years ago on the current site near Roses an Irish guy was involved in an accident on his bicycle and broke his atm. His wife was on the policy but would not drive abroad so the insurers refused to recover the vehicle. He had to put his son on the policy and bring him out on a schedule flight to drive the van back home. It cost a lot of money and as his son took unpaid leave he compensated him. The taxi from the airport to the campsite was I recall over 100 euros.

Yes that is understandable, you have to know the rules and their impact, and make your decisions. We have gone both ways over the years. It was a good OP to be fair to raise the awareness.

 

[Stewart J]

Yes that is understandable, you have to know the rules and their impact, and make your decisions. We have gone both ways over the years. It was a good OP to be fair to raise the awareness.

It is indeed many folk probably are unaware of the implications of having a spouse or partner on the policy. Good post by the OP to raise what is a very important consideration.