Breakdown cover

[gmrsupplies]

Anybody found anything decent, mine is up for renewal and I need half decent cover but must include travel in Europe (going to france for a week), is there any search engines i can use ?
All replies appreciated.

[Suzz]

See Martin's article here http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1068983668,99795,


At the bottom of the article there is a link to Moneysupermarket (a search engine).

[lisyloo]

I use www.quotelinedirect.com

It's with a group called Wilsons. They use local garages.
It is platinum style cover with Europe included for around £59.

I have been happy with the service I've received.

Not sure whether it's in Martins article.

No connection - but satisfied customer for 2 years (I called them twice during that time).

Note that there may be a short period at the beginning when you can't use it for Europe (I think this is to avoid people just taking it for their holidays and then cancelling).

When I called them recently they send me a text message back telling me which garage was coming which was quite useful as I could look out for their truck.

[lisyloo]

BTW - if you are getting a quote from quoteline direct then I suggest you put in a false email address.

They are really bad at spam.

Ultimately you will need to put in the correct one, but if you are just looking at the policy and haven't decided then go for a false one.

Mickey mouse gets all my spam ;)

Hi

I've just been quoted £53.00 from the RAC, that is European cover for 2 weeks, which I thought was quite expensive as I only pay £100 for the year. However he did mention that the cheaper companies often don't cover everything that the RAC do. For example recovery vehicles aren't allowed on the French motorways so you need to get towed off the motorway which will cost you £100 whether you are getting towed 2 metres or 2 miles, the RAC will refund this amount to you if you hold on to your receipt. Lots of things to take into consideration I think!

Try www.morethan.com (which is Sun Alliance) I have had annual cover for 2 years now and it's very competitive.

[Birdy]

Hi

I've just been quoted £53.00 from the RAC, that is European cover for 2 weeks, which I thought was quite expensive as I only pay £100 for the year. !However he did mention that the cheaper companies often don't cover everything that the RAC do. !For example recovery vehicles aren't allowed on the French motorways so you need to get towed off the motorway which will cost you £100 whether you are getting towed 2 metres or 2 miles, the RAC will refund this amount to you if you hold on to your receipt. !Lots of things to take into consideration I think!

What is it that tows you off a French motorway then?

[beelywoker]

I use tesco's www.tescofinance.com/personal/finance/index.html. for UK breakdown (It's under £7 a month - cheapest I could find at the time) And they do Euro cover to.

[Birdy]

Last year paid £28 for 12 days Belgium/Holland/Germany, from www.travelcover.co.uk (Vehicle Rescue Direct, european breakdown assistance for cars). As only going once in the year if possible, seemed good value for good cover. But as always, read the small print to check how comprehensive it is (particularly as this was last July, in case anything has changed drastically!) :)

[walsgravematt]

Hi - just checked on the above (www.travelcover.co.uk) as going to france in August - pleasingly i found this, and yes, for 12 days cover it remains at £28 - bargain - rac quoted me £58.55 inc members 10% discount...

"Assistance on Motorways
On many motorways or autoroutes, particularly in France, if you breakdown the emergency telephones will be answered by the police. They will arrange for a recovery vehicle to tow you off the motorway either to a local garage or perhaps to a service station. You may be required to pay for this assistance on the spot, in which case keep the receipt and we will reimburse you. Alternatively, once you have been towed to a place of safety, call Inter Partner Assistance, and the recovery agent may accept our guarantee of payment."

Hope its of use

Thanks for the tip

WM

[gmrsupplies]

Thank you all for the assisitance, I shall investigate more thoroughly tomorrow nigth at work, might as well use their electricity rather than my own !!!

Thanks again

[lisyloo]

or am i missing something

Some companies have clauses to cover this
e.g. european cover is not active for 21 days.

This looks like if to stop you doing exactly what you suggested.

If there is no such clause then it should be OK.

[Birdy]

Hi - just checked on the above (www.travelcover.co.uk) as going to france in August - pleasingly i found this, and yes, for 12 days cover it remains at £28 - bargain - rac quoted me £58.55 inc members 10% discount...

"Assistance on Motorways
On many motorways or autoroutes, particularly in France, if you breakdown the emergency telephones will be answered by the police. They will arrange for a recovery vehicle to tow you off the motorway either to a local garage or perhaps to a service station. You may be required to pay for this assistance on the spot, in which case keep the receipt and we will reimburse you. Alternatively, once you have been towed to a place of safety, call Inter Partner Assistance, and the recovery agent may accept our guarantee of payment."

Hope its of use

Thanks for the tip

WM
Glad to be of service - I thought it was a bargain too :)

[lisyloo]

For example recovery vehicles aren't allowed on the French motorways so you need to get towed off the motorway which will cost you £100 whether you are getting towed 2 metres or 2 miles, the RAC will refund this amount to you if you hold on to your receipt.

Heidi - can you tell me where you heard this or have your experienced it?

I called my breakdown company (Europ Assistance) today and they know nothing of it which is rather strange given that they are an international breakdown company.

Was is the RAC salesman by any chance?

My cheaper policy with quoteline direct covers this so I am a bit sceptical about what you have been told.
Can you reveal your source please?

[dick_turpin]

Renew your car breakdown cover and get the 'new member' benefits each year by cancelling your membership and renew in your spouses' name. As long as it is joint cover it works. I did it with the RAC and they even took payment on the previous years credit card details!!
Good Luck
::) ::)

[one-non-blonde]

I always buy mine through my insurance company who offer it at half price when I renew my policy.

[Viz]

I'm with the RAC and every year i gain an extra no claims bonus.
I will join again i make a claim and lose the bonus though.

[lesta_jesta]

See my thread on the AA Service before you do!!
23370

[Slimeball20]

I've just joined AutoAid after reading Martin's article about them.

Can anyone tell me what their overall service is like?

[FJSRiDER]

I've just joined AutoAid after reading Martin's article about them.

Can anyone tell me what their overall service is like?I hope they are good - I've just joined up (following Martins advice here!) after the AA tried to rob me of £129 again.

The AA left me stranded at the side of the roadside for over 2 hours waiting for a service that when it arrived was dire - I figured AutoAid couldn't be much worse than that!