Breakdown cover, over 15, caravan

harrym1byt

Hi All,


I'm looking breakdown cover which if the worst happens would get me, family and caravan taken back home from anywhere in the UK, except I am really struggling on one particular point...



Supposing I was staying 200 miles from home, my caravan on a site and I was out touring the area in my car and broke down, with an issue which could not be fixed and I elected to be returned to home. Most companies suggest my caravan would need to be attached to the car, or it would just be abandoned were it is, which is an absolute nonsense.


Car is 15 years old.



In previous years I have emailed companies prior to taking out cover and they have agreed they would collect car and caravan within reason, but this year I am stuck - anyone?

forgotmyname

Depends if you want cover if a wheel falls off the caravan or only if the car breaksdown?

Caravan club - Green Flag (Mayday) Will cover the car and caravan.

Caravan and Camping Club - RAC (Arrival) Will cover the car and caravan.

Standard breakdown will cover the car breaking down and will take the car to a local garage or your single destination and tow the caravan behind as long as its within specific size limits. This will not cover issues where the caravan cannot be towed.

harrym1byt

There lies the problem, they (most/all) will take both to home if caravan is attached, but will just abandon it on site if it is not attached. Car is far more likely to suffer a breakdown than caravan.

AdrianC

If the caravan's safely parked up on the site, then there's no need for it to be recovered there and then. Get the car recovered, arrange for the site owner to store the caravan, then fetch it later when the car's fixed.

forgotmyname

Yes the cars more likely to suffer a breakdown. But is the caravan always going to the same place as the car?

What if your going away and breakdown closer to the campsite than home. Do you go home or do you get taken to the campsite or to a garage for repairs?

With the Arrival package they will take me to the campsite and then take the car to be repaired. If it cannot be repaired in time then they will take us home as well and stop off at the caravan storage on the way.

You don't get that with the standard breakdown cover, usually its one destination.

harrym1byt

Not all of the places I might go, will have any storage, so may insist on it being moved.



I had what would have been a minor breakdown a couple of years ago, something could have fixed in an hour at home, but it needed parts, so it was off the road for 2 days, whilst the garage sourced the parts and fitted. They made an unbeleivable mess of it and charged me way over the top at £500 for the job, but 250 miles from home, I was over a barrel.

Herzlos

I'd assume most caravan parks have somewhere they can store a van at least temporarily.

harrym1byt

Herzlos wrote: »

I'd assume most caravan parks have somewhere they can store a van at least temporarily.

No, some just have a field, upon which they are allowed five caravans. If a pitch is booked and there are five caravans already there, one has to move off, to allow another on - or the booking cancelled.


Besides, if I my car were taken home from 200 miles away, it would be quite a bind to drive 200 miles there and back, to collect a caravan, plus the risk of it being damaged/stolen when left unattended.

AdrianC

harrym1byt wrote: »

No, some just have a field, upon which they are allowed five caravans. If a pitch is booked and there are five caravans already there, one has to move off, to allow another on - or the booking cancelled.

Besides, if I my car were taken home from 200 miles away, it would be quite a bind to drive 200 miles there and back, to collect a caravan, plus the risk of it being damaged/stolen when left unattended.

Neither of which are the problem of the breakdown cover provider. Their job is to get you away from being stuck at the roadside. No more, no less.

Of course, you may be able to get specialist cover that will provide the add-ons that you require, which most people won't require... But you can expect to pay more for that than for the basic cover.

Herzlos

harrym1byt wrote: »

No, some just have a field, upon which they are allowed five caravans. If a pitch is booked and there are five caravans already there, one has to move off, to allow another on - or the booking cancelled.

I dare say that's your worst case, but even then I'd be surprised if they couldn't do something if you said you were broken down and can you store a van for a couple of days until you can return. It doesn't need to be a pitch, just a corner somewhere or on a nearby farm or something.

forgotmyname

The problem is how will they get the van to the campsite if they breakdown on the way there?

Standard breakdown will be do you want to go home or to your destination or a garage. They wont take the van to one place and the car to another. The club schemes add that onto the package.

So mine will take the van to the site and the car to a garage and then it will take both home if it cannot be repaired in time.

I have my caravan in storage local to home, the Arrival package will drop the van there on the way. Stabdard breakdown will be point to point.

Proper price is silly expensive but you can haggle the deal down a lot.