UK Breakdown cover with foreign car

lauremin

I live half the year in France and my car has French number plates. Although I have fully comp French cover (including breakdown) I want to get cover for breakdown and recovery in the UK. The RAC can't do it. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

benjus

I thought most French breakdown policies were Europe-wide. Is UK cover definitely not included?

If not, you might have a look at ADAC ( http://www.adac.de/mitgliedschaft/adac_membership/default.aspx )

Katiehound

Can't you just extend your french cover to include the rest of europe to include the UK? I would have thought that would have been the cheapest option.

lauremin

Thanks to Ben and Katie. I didn't explain myself clearly. I have French cover - but not wanting to have to ring a call-centre in the Pyrenees while broken down on the B1067 on a wet night, I thought that having (as belt and braces) UK breakdown + recovery might be a help.

I can't be the only person in this position! I simply donn't understand why - as we are in the EU - a UK insurer cannot cover a car with French plates. Yer Frogs cover English cars with UK plates!!

benjus

I assume your French provider has an agreement with the local services (AA, RAC, Green Flag etc), so why is calling a call centre in the Pyrenees a problem? Is it the language? The cost of the phone call (there are plenty of ways around this)?

Did the RAC say why they won't cover you? Were you asking about vehicle cover or personal cover? Do you consider yourself a UK resident?


The RAC's terms and conditions don't (as far as I can tell) have any conditions about the country the vehicle is registered in; however, they do state that they can only cover UK residents. I suspect French insurers have a similar rule.

glenbois

If you don't mind reclaiming the vehicle recovery fees - then perhaps you could look at just insurance for breakdown cover. I have "autoaid", when my car broke down they called the recovery company and paid them direct without me actually paying the breakdown company and then reclaiming. Covers you and your spouse, regardless of what car you are in.

I paid £38 for a year's cover as my car is 13+ years old.

benjus

glenbois wrote: »

If you don't mind reclaiming the vehicle recovery fees - then perhaps you could look at just insurance for breakdown cover. I have "autoaid", when my car broke down they called the recovery company and paid them direct without me actually paying the breakdown company and then reclaiming. Covers you and your spouse, regardless of what car you are in.

I paid £38 for a year's cover as my car is 13+ years old.

AutoAid only covers UK vehicles.

Bob_the_Saver

I guess you are not a UK resident otherwise what you are doing would be illegal. A UK RESIDENT cannot drive a foreign registered vehicle in the UK unless the law has very recently changed.

Otherwise we'd all do it and pay no tax disc and have 2 year MOTs. I did want to bring my mobylette back a couple of year ago. Road legal in France with no Number Plate (then) no CT (MOT) and see what plod thought of that, so I looked in to it but no go for the above reason.

glenbois

benjus wrote: »

AutoAid only covers UK vehicles.

From the policy documents, the definations:

The vehicle – a saloon car, hatchback, estate car,
car derived van or motorcycle. Motorised caravan under
2.5 tons gross vehicle weight and with an engine
capacity of no more than 2500 cc.

Territorial limits – within the mainland of England,
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Worth a phone call unless you know for a fact that's correct.

benjus

glenbois wrote: »

From the policy documents, the definations:



Worth a phone call unless you know for a fact that's correct.

From https://www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk/autoaid/join/yourdetails.jsp?cid=21601 :


Qualifying vehicles:
• UK vehicles only
• Private cars, car derived vans and motorcycles over 150cc. Motorised caravans will only be covered if they do not exceed 2.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight and 2500cc.

knightstyle

Have you checked your French insurance policy and asked them for a special number to call from outside France. Maaf did when we were with them.