Trouble in France.

[Glenowen]

Can anyone provide sound advice, please?

We are motorhoming on Ile de Re at the moment and I have had an accident - not in the vehicle - where I have broken my arm, which is now in plaster. The insurance company are refusing to repatriate the vehicle to the UK on the grounds that my wife is entered on the policy as a driver, although she has never driven it - we only acquied it last year - and is extremely reluctant to do so now, for the first time, in France.

Does anyone know roughly how much it would cost to repatriate a small MH from Western France to Northern England? And recommend a particular company?

Our only other feasible solution is to find a storage site on Ile de Re, fly home to England and then for me to return to Ile de Re, in 5 or 6 weeks, when my injury has healed and plaster cast removed to retrieve the MH. My initial online search for a storage site on the Ile has drawn a blank, so any recommendations or advice would be very much appreciated.

 

[yodeli]

genuine reason

Errrr... is not fear a genuine reason? Not everyone is feeling fine with driving, whatever you have to drive, but certainly reinforced if it comes to something like a huge vehicle

 

[Grasmere9]

The OP seems to have disappeared... hopefully they are all sorted with a solution.

 

[Mad dog]

Just break the wife's arm!

 

[Howard B]

When I fractured my shoulder last year I was told if I drive I would invalidate my insurance!

Shoulder is not an arm is it

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[StevenLynne]

Can anyone provide sound advice, please?

We are motorhoming on Ile de Re at the moment and I have had an accident - not in the vehicle - where I have broken my arm, which is now in plaster. The insurance company are refusing to repatriate the vehicle to the UK on the grounds that my wife is entered on the policy as a driver, although she has never driven it - we only acquied it last year - and is extremely reluctant to do so now, for the first time, in France.

Does anyone know roughly how much it would cost to repatriate a small MH from Western France to Northern England? And recommend a particular company?

Our only other feasible solution is to find a storage site on Ile de Re, fly home to England and then for me to return to Ile de Re, in 5 or 6 weeks, when my injury has healed and plaster cast removed to retrieve the MH. My initial online search for a storage site on the Ile has drawn a blank, so any recommendations or advice would be very much appreciated.

Same thing happened to us. I fractured my arm in Portugal a few years ago. My wife had to drive us back to the UK, having never driven a motorhome before. We have a 3.5 ton van and were towing a trailer with a scooter on the back. She did a little test drive and found it easier than she thought…then drove all the way from Portugal to the train at Calais. I had to drive it on to the train as she wasn’t too confident with that.
She might want to try using the pay roads (if you don’t already) which are easier to drive on and which would be cheaper than flying home and you flying back to France. Good Luck anyway, whatever you decide.

 

[Libellula]

Sadly, I think your van insurance would be in jeopardy if you drove knowingly incapacitated by a plaster on your arm, having told your insurers.
May even be illegal.
best idea to me would be to get a friend or family member to fly out to drive you home. Sorry about your accident and I hope things get sorted quickly for you.
I learnt how to drive with a large trailer on our Landy in France on the empty motorways at night.

 

[Linda farley]

Can anyone provide sound advice, please?

We are motorhoming on Ile de Re at the moment and I have had an accident - not in the vehicle - where I have broken my arm, which is now in plaster. The insurance company are refusing to repatriate the vehicle to the UK on the grounds that my wife is entered on the policy as a driver, although she has never driven it - we only acquied it last year - and is extremely reluctant to do so now, for the first time, in France.

Does anyone know roughly how much it would cost to repatriate a small MH from Western France to Northern England? And recommend a particular company?

Our only other feasible solution is to find a storage site on Ile de Re, fly home to England and then for me to return to Ile de Re, in 5 or 6 weeks, when my injury has healed and plaster cast removed to retrieve the MH. My initial online search for a storage site on the Ile has drawn a blank, so any recommendations or advice would be very much appreciated.

Has your wife tried driving the van? Take a deep breath and give it a go . One step at a time, you can do it.

 

[Dolmen]

The OP seems to have disappeared... hopefully they are all sorted with a solution.

I guess he got fed up of everyone telling him his wife has to drive it home when he specifically said she was reluctant to do so and was asking if anyone knew of a company who would do it for him, lets hope the silence means they are underway

 

[Littlewheels]

Yep. Driving one handed with in a modern vehicle isn’t difficult, especially if auto.

Just smiffy manages fine and he has no legs and has a Beer in one hand and a Yorkie in the other​

Erm, do they still sell Yorkies?

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[TheTwoOfUs]

Unless the Spouse intends to drive the vehicle don’t put their name on the policy, and it costs more.

It's the opposite, adding a spouse usually reduces the premium.

 

[eddie]

My wife drives anything, 40’ RV’s 911 Porsche, V8 Landcruisers, 44‘ 20t boat, RIB’s literally anything.

She is scathing about females who won‘t drive yet expect others to drive them.

My Sister wanted us to do a forty miles detour to collect her en route to a family event as “I only comfortable driving around town really!” lyn told her she shouldn’t be driving all all then!

 

[yodeli]

My wife drives anything, 40’ RV’s 911 Porsche, V8 Landcruisers, 44‘ 20t boat, RIB’s literally anything.

She is scathing about females who won‘t drive yet expect others to drive them.

My Sister wanted us to do a forty miles detour to collect her en route to a family event as “I only comfortable driving around town really!” lyn told her she shouldn’t be driving all all then!

Sometimes Phobia is stronger than anything else. Some people can't even see spiders or mice or rats or snakes or... pigeons! We are all different. May be your sister can do things Lyn can't do. I'm very patient with babies. Deffo not the same with adults here being stupid

 

[eddie]

Sometimes Phobia is stronger than anything else. Some people can't even see spiders or mice or rats or snakes or... pigeons! We are all different. May be your sister can do things Lyn can't do. I'm very patient with babies. Deffo not the same with adults here being stupid

Is someone being stupid then?

Lyn’s argument is you get caught in roadworks, diverted to new roads, possibly end up on a by pass or even a motorway panic, crash and potentially kill other innocent roads users!

The driving test should be to ensure a potential driver is safe and confident on all roads, to ensure their and other peoples safety

If you cannot control a vehicle safely on all road types you shouldn‘t be allowed a ‘full licence’

 

[yodeli]

Is someone being stupid then?

You took me wrong Eddie , I said "here" meaning at the stadium, not here on the forum. I should have been more precautious with my English . Sorry if you took it for you. I understand your point and Lyn's one. Still I think we are not all made of the same material , and can react to things in a different way. Actually I would tend to think the same way than Lyn. Life just taught me it is not that simple.

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[DexterP]

Can anyone provide sound advice, please?

We are motorhoming on Ile de Re at the moment and I have had an accident - not in the vehicle - where I have broken my arm, which is now in plaster. The insurance company are refusing to repatriate the vehicle to the UK on the grounds that my wife is entered on the policy as a driver, although she has never driven it - we only acquied it last year - and is extremely reluctant to do so now, for the first time, in France.

Does anyone know roughly how much it would cost to repatriate a small MH from Western France to Northern England? And recommend a particular company?

Our only other feasible solution is to find a storage site on Ile de Re, fly home to England and then for me to return to Ile de Re, in 5 or 6 weeks, when my injury has healed and plaster cast removed to retrieve the MH. My initial online search for a storage site on the Ile has drawn a blank, so any recommendations or advice would be very much appreciated.

As many have replied, Roads in france are so easy to start driving a motorhome
My 70 wife would not drive our previous 7m coach built, so we downsized to a 6.3m Fiat Ducato ( IH ) van with Automatic gearbox
She has started driving this on our trip to France and is quite happy driving here

 

[dayo]

Can anyone provide sound advice, please?

We are motorhoming on Ile de Re at the moment and I have had an accident - not in the vehicle - where I have broken my arm, which is now in plaster. The insurance company are refusing to repatriate the vehicle to the UK on the grounds that my wife is entered on the policy as a driver, although she has never driven it - we only acquied it last year - and is extremely reluctant to do so now, for the first time, in France.

Does anyone know roughly how much it would cost to repatriate a small MH from Western France to Northern England? And recommend a particular company?

Our only other feasible solution is to find a storage site on Ile de Re, fly home to England and then for me to return to Ile de Re, in 5 or 6 weeks, when my injury has healed and plaster cast removed to retrieve the MH. My initial online search for a storage site on the Ile has drawn a blank, so any recommendations or advice would be very much appreciated.

£3500 was a quote last September from a company in Oxford as the AA we’re wanting 8 weeks to repatriate our vehicle. They took 9!!

 

[Snapper]

We had the same problem when I broke 2 bones in my hand cycling a few years ago. My wife was not keen because we were also towing a car. But after about 30 minutes driving she coped magnificently. Tell yours to give it a go and be confident.

 

[Happydays!]

You could look on the expat forums, French Entree is one. There's usually people wanting to travel back to UK, you may find a suitable person to drive it back.

 

[StephandJohn]

I had to drive the motorhome back from Germany when John was taken ill. What calmed me down was when we moved from the grass we were on to get ready to go and I saw that the 'footprint' of the van wasn't nearly as big as I'd imagined.
with John's advice and help on the way it was only about ten minutes before I knew I could do it. Great relief.
It was scary though before i got started.

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[qsydavid]

Can anyone provide sound advice, please?

We are motorhoming on Ile de Re at the moment and I have had an accident - not in the vehicle - where I have broken my arm, which is now in plaster. The insurance company are refusing to repatriate the vehicle to the UK on the grounds that my wife is entered on the policy as a driver, although she has never driven it - we only acquied it last year - and is extremely reluctant to do so now, for the first time, in France.

Does anyone know roughly how much it would cost to repatriate a small MH from Western France to Northern England? And recommend a particular company?

Our only other feasible solution is to find a storage site on Ile de Re, fly home to England and then for me to return to Ile de Re, in 5 or 6 weeks, when my injury has healed and plaster cast removed to retrieve the MH. My initial online search for a storage site on the Ile has drawn a blank, so any recommendations or advice would be very much appreciated.

 

[qsydavid]

If of help, we live permanently in Normandy, 1 hour Cherbourg and 1 hour Caen ferries. We can store the MH for free and take you to the ferry if you can get this far.

 

[Bessy765]

with the greatest respect to all, if the OP wanted all the experts to tell home she could or should drive it I am not surprised he may have disappeared. If he or his wife thought they could manage he may not of posed the question. Instead some of the offhand comment’s may have diminished the confidence. So not even though well meaning not helpful. We have a cottage just south of Limoges were not there but if the OP could get it there you are most welcome to leave it in our garden and we could probably arrange for someone to drop them at Limoge airpor

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Major drama with Mrs CC the other day when setting up, I was outside and asked her to move it forward 2ft, took her about 10min to get sorted and then she didn’t have to touch the throttle it just moved on tickover
No way would she be able to drive it around the narrow lanes In Switzerland

 

[Tombola]

And actually the same was said when I'd had wrist surgery, even though I wasn't in plaster. While I needed the strapping I wasn't allowed to drive. (About a fortnight if I remember right.)

Can I ask tonks..was this carpel tunnel. My wife just had the op and the surgeon said no driving to whic I said to her he means a car with gears you'll be fine in the automatic?

Even though she hasnt drove it anyway but I assumed that's what they meant.

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[Minxy]

I wouldn't know if legal or not but would be interested in seeing any specific case law / legislation supporting these statement.
I suspect each case would be different depending on type of break , medical advice and insurance company accepting the risk.

If you are told by a medical practitioner you are not to drive then you will invalidate your insurance if you do, simple as that.

 

[Minxy]

Can I ask tonks..was this carpel tunnel. My wife just had the op and the surgeon said no driving to whic I said to her he means a car with gears you'll be fine in the automatic?

Even though she hasnt drove it anyway but I assumed that's what they meant.

No he means no driving full stop, I had mine done but wasn't told and drove a Smart car (auto) from Wales to our home near Hull, hubby put a steering wheel knob on which made it easier.

When I saw the consultant again and had the other one done I was told not to drive for 2 weeks minimum, I told him about my Wales trip and he said I shouldn't have done it as I wouldn't have had insurance!

 

[Minxy]

Major drama with Mrs CC the other day when setting up, I was outside and asked her to move it forward 2ft, took her about 10min to get sorted and then she didn’t have to touch the throttle it just moved on tickover
No way would she be able to drive it around the narrow lanes In Switzerland

So long as she isn't on the insurance no problem but if she is you could find yourself in the same situation as the op.

 

[Howard B]

If you are told by a medical practitioner you are not to drive then you will invalidate your insurance if you do, simple

Which is what i indicated in my post. You haven't answered my question to you. You said “not legal” with no context. Where is the case law or legislation? I didnt see anything in the op original post indicating he had not been advised he couldnt drive.

 

[Minxy]

Errrr... is not fear a genuine reason? Not everyone is feeling fine with driving, whatever you have to drive, but certainly reinforced if it comes to something like a huge vehicle

If she is frightened of driving it then she shouldn't be on the insurance as a named driver, something people do this purely to get lower premiums, but obviously with the risk of no insurance provided relief driver, that's part of the reason that it's cheaper as the risk of the insurer having to provide one is less and therefore less likely they'd have to foot the bill.

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[Minxy]

Which is what i indicated in my post. You haven't answered my question to you. You said “not legal” with no context. Where is the case law or legislation?

Go find it! I'm not your ruddy PA and am too busy sunning myself by a lake in France!