Car Breakdown with Recovery....are you covered.

leadhead

I've had many years of acceptable Breakdown Cover, always including recovery.

I've just realised that I've got a problem that doesn't seem to be insurable...or according to the AA and 3 other companies it isn't...unless someone can tell me different....

I live in the Durham area, a friend lends me their accomodation in North Yorkshire and the Lake District quite often. The problem I have found out I have is, If I go on a day out from either of these (which could be upto 50 miles away), and breakdown(needing a recovery...cam belt, clutch, gearbox etc) there is no option in the cover for me to call in at either of these venues to pick up our belongings before we are whisked off home by the recovery service...which could also mean the lodgings are left with all power and water on, my computer on and full of our belongings....So I suppose my question is....Does anyone know of a company that will provide this "call in" service, and does the company you are with provide it?

I had thought of an option of just leaving the vehicle, making our own way back to where we are staying, taking our belongings to the stricken vehicle, then calling the Breakdown service out....but this fails because I might breakdown on say Whinlatter Pass, and getting me and my family off Whinlatter pass and getting us and our belongings back would be a bigger ordeal...

It could be a much bigger problem for families say living in Kent, who are holidaying say in Northern Scotland....its a long and expensive journey just to pick up ones belongings.

AdrianC

Sounds like you want breakdown cover with the "onward travel" option.

531063

Bung the driver a nice drink

leadhead

AdrianC said:

Sounds like you want breakdown cover with the "onward travel" option.

I spoke to a guy from the AA but he never mentioned this as an option..

531063 said:

Bung the driver a nice drink

I've got no problem with that....but its not guaranteed that the driver would oblige.

AdrianC

leadhead said:

AdrianC said:

Sounds like you want breakdown cover with the "onward travel" option.

I spoke to a guy from the AA but he never mentioned this as an option..

https://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/onward-travel

forgotmyname

I had the RAC arrival but they increased the price too much and now use the GreenFlag Mayday option.
Covers what you require and far more.

Probably overkill for your needs byt why do you need to be whisked away? As mentioned onward travel

should cover most of those situations. Does your policy not provide a hire vehicle also?

leadhead

AdrianC said:

leadhead said:

AdrianC said:

Sounds like you want breakdown cover with the "onward travel" option.

I spoke to a guy from the AA but he never mentioned this as an option..

https://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/onward-travel

Yes, I realise they do "onward travel" but when I asked the AA guy about my scenario, he never suggested "onward travel " would be the answer, and looking at the link you provided, I dont think it is....

I am talking about already being at my destination, and wanting the Recovery Wagon to detour from his route to pick up our belongings before being recovered to our home address....which they said they couldnt do...Not continuing the holiday and picking the car up days later....but I will email the same guy and specifically ask if "onward travel" would cover my needs

forgotmyname said:

I had the RAC arrival but they increased the price too much and now use the GreenFlag Mayday option.
Covers what you require and far more.

Probably overkill for your needs byt why do you need to be whisked away? As mentioned onward travel

should cover most of those situations. Does your policy not provide a hire vehicle also?

Are you talking to me here or the guy that mentioned Mayday....as Mayday appears to be only for cars towing caravans....

The word "whisked" was used, as the breakdown company I spoke to said that the car and passengers would be taken straight to a single destination, on phoning for help.

Again, the companies I asked didnt mention an alternative cover when I questioned them about a Recovery via the accomodation I was staying at....so didnt look at Onward Travel.

AdrianC

leadhead said:

AdrianC said:

leadhead said:

AdrianC said:

Sounds like you want breakdown cover with the "onward travel" option.

I spoke to a guy from the AA but he never mentioned this as an option..

https://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/onward-travel

Yes, I realise they do "onward travel" but when I asked the AA guy about my scenario, he never suggested "onward travel " would be the answer, and looking at the link you provided, I dont think it is....

It is...

They give you a hire car. You sort your stuff out, have another day or two, then head back and pick your car up, fixed.

If you want to stay local, use the hire car while your car's being fixed locally.

Grumpy_chap

I don't think this is meant to happen like this, but I once broke down (clutch failed) and the AA attended.  For some rather weird reason they could not arrange the hire car that should have been provided under the "onward travel" policy, so my car and I were transported home on the flat bed, then the car taken to the garage I wanted for repair, and the next morning the flat bed came back to take me where I needed to be.

On other occasions, the "onward travel" has been very efficient at arranging a transfer of the car for repair and a hire car for myself.  

On way or the other, though, the AA keep you mobile through this level of cover.  Other breakdown services also offer the same provision as a policy option but I've never had to claim with other providers so I can't say how well they deliver when needed.  I have no doubt they do just as well as the AA.

forgotmyname

Mayday is aimed at the caravan market but covers more than just that. Covers you even before the holiday starts.

If i broke down on the way there they would take us to the destination and then either take the car to be repaired or
arrange to take us home after the holiday also. Not just straight home either, if we need to put the caravan into storage
they will do that also.

leadhead

AdrianC said:

leadhead said:

AdrianC said:

leadhead said:

AdrianC said:

Sounds like you want breakdown cover with the "onward travel" option.

I spoke to a guy from the AA but he never mentioned this as an option..

https://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/onward-travel

Yes, I realise they do "onward travel" but when I asked the AA guy about my scenario, he never suggested "onward travel " would be the answer, and looking at the link you provided, I dont think it is....

It is...

They give you a hire car. You sort your stuff out, have another day or two, then head back and pick your car up, fixed.

If you want to stay local, use the hire car while your car's being fixed locally.

I think this might be ok for say brake pad change or something similar, but I am only concerned with non repairable problems like gearbox failure, clutch failure, etc, where I would prefer to get the job done at home...(at a much cheaper price)...The waiting time for a Hyundai Suspension part I recently needed is 2 months.....A gearbox problem 3 years ago, took the dealer 7 days to repair..

This is why I need to pick my stuff up and head home...and afaik and can see, onward travel wont cover this, but I have asked the AA about this, and am awaiting their reply.

Addendum....According to the link above to the AA, under the heading "Onward Travel"

It's an add-on to Roadside Assistance that helps keep you on your journey if you break down.

Its NOT part of the Recovery Service